AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I pinch the bridge of my nose and breathe for a moment. I hear her sigh heavily beside me. It sounds beyond tired. It sounds sad. Broken even.
So, I nod and get out.
It takes all the will I have to grin and wave and clap backs with the few people between Eleanna’s car and mine. I am tired down to the cellular level. My very skin aches. I almost don’t feel my phone buzz.
Eleanna: Thank you for checking on me. Get some rest.
Eleanna: And before you yell at me, for the first time ever, you look tired. This IS an actual emergency.
I don’t reply. What I wouldn’t give to go home and get some rest. Instead, I’m sure Robbie and I will be pulling an all-nighter. In the morning I’ll have to fix myself with an IV drip and B12 shots and a million other annoying as hell things.
But I will. Because I didn’t find the unwelcome guest, but I could almost feel them there lurking. It felt a lot like a threat.
CHAPTER 14
Eleanna
“Blink twice if you want me to somehow get you out of here.” Mia whispers in my ear.
I let out a little laugh that eases my nerves. She squeezes my shoulders and watches in the mirror as my stylist finishes my hair’s long waves. I’ve let it grow from long to longer these last few months, and this week, I’ve been using color-depositing shampoo to get it a rich auburn. It looks like a natural dark red, unique even.
Mark has never commented, but now, I just like it. It reminds me that I can do bold, daring things. I can be bright, too. I’m powerful and strong. I will have to be ridiculously strong today.
My dress still fits, despite the stress baking I’ve been doing. It’s a simple satin gown that hugs every curve of my figure. It has spaghetti straps and a plain, modest V in the front, but, of course, it’s backless.
I can’t help myself. I keep hoping for some grand reaction. I want to see him finally lose it with me, even if it’s in exasperation. Last night was the closest he came in the car, and even then, he just nodded and left. Unbothered.
He hasn’t made any passes at me yet, either. That would also be a welcome surprise. And this gown does look like it was made for me. The skirt hugs just above my generous ass and has a thousand buttons all along the center down into a very long train. The little satin circle clasps are dainty and classic and I love them.
I’m wearing Mamá’s long veil, a simple gold bracelet and my favorite diamond and gold stud earrings. My engagement ring really pops against my tanned skin. All the accent florals are in autumn colors with a focus on my favorite color. My bouquet is only that deep red, but not just roses. There are seven different types of flowers. It’s gorgeous.
The huge Catholic church is dripping in white satin and white flowers to match my dress. I didn’t want red in the church and everyone agreed. No one wants an actual red wedding. Mark didn’t want a church wedding at all, which I was surprised by. He’s Catholic, I’m Catholic, of course we’re having a church wedding. He eventually agreed.
Mia and Luna are in flowing gold dresses with red shoes and ruby jewelry. The men, Mark and my two brothers, are in classic black tuxes with black ties. They’re supposed to be wearing red pocket squares though I haven’t seen any of them yet. Mamá says the church is freezing. That’s good.
Everything is, well, perfect. No big mistakes, no missed orders, or wrong dimensions or quantities. It’s all ready. Except for me and my groom, obviously.
Maybe he is ready. I have no idea. He didn’t even text me back last night.
Ugh, Ellie,get a grip.
I pat my lipstick one more time. He’s the one who bumped up the date. He’s ready. Papá comes to the door of the bridal suite and I stand. I guess I’m ready too. I have to be.
I go through all the motions in a haze. Not in a dreamy way, more like I’m in a cloud of nerves, awe, worry, and denial. I see Mark at the end of the aisle. He smiles his absolutely beautiful, completely fake smile at me. I almost wish he would give me a mean smirk instead, a real one. He takes my hand, we climb the steps to the priest. We listen to the homily, say our prayers, and finally recite our vows. They’re the traditional standard versions, but we are saying “I will” in Spanish instead of “I do.” It’s a longstanding family tradition that I was shocked Mark agreed to.
We haven’t discussed kissing at the altar. I’m assuming he must. How can the press take our triumphant wedding photo with no first kiss? My pulse is bombastic as the moment nears. I know I can’t touch him or initiate, so will I just have to stand here and smile while he rejects me? Will he raise our hands again like we’re a winning sports team? I should’ve asked him last night! ¡Estupida!I’m going to faint. The priest is saying we can kiss and I’m going to die instead.
I turn to Mark and try to keep my smile in place. He raises an eyebrow at me, just slightly. I know it’s a warning, a reminder. I relax a tiny bit and smile wider at seeing a hint of something real from him. He firmly takes my face in his hands, tilts my head with his fingers, and leans in. His smile is gone just before he looks at my mouth and covers it with his own. His lips are cool and soft and full and…
Gone.
It’s already over.
I barely register that I’ve been led back down the aisle. My first kiss, and it was so soft and quick I’m not sure it really happened. Was it even long enough for photographic evidence? When we get through the doors, Mark, as I should have expected, pulls away.
That almost-kiss would cement my idea that he is a passionless person, except I know Lydia and her many, many friends would say otherwise. It’s justmehe has no passion for. I blink back the tears before they can gather.
I’m moving into his house tonight. Everything will start to change. Tonight. It will. It has to.
