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"At least, sit down." Gio drags a seat over and Karma sinks into it.
"Thanks, that's much better." She places her hands on her belly and surveys my mermaid dress. "If I’d had more time, I’d have designed you a more spectacular one. But given the urgency I had to go over the dresses I had in stock and choose one and alter it to your measurements."
"This is perfect." I turn around, glance over my shoulder and take in how the neckline dips down almost all the way to the crack of my butt. "Is it too sexy?"
"Nope," Gio says with conviction.
"The long sleeves down to your wrists and the modest neckline that only hints at your cleavage make the entire effect even more startling." Summer nods.
"And sexy." Gio’s eyes gleam. "Priest is going to swallow his tongue when he sees you."
"I doubt he’ll even notice," I murmur. I rub my fingers lightly down the silky fabric. I mentioned to Karma that I’d always wanted an unusual wedding dress. To consider it my last stand at being independent. I wanted to break from what's customary and have a dress in a shade of purple for my wedding. She’d used that as a guide and while the dress looks different from a normal wedding dress, her genius is such that the pale lavender color is both demure and sexy, at the same time.
"Oh, he’ll notice all right." Summer laughs.
"You do realize, he couldn’t take his gaze off of you earlier," Karma says slowly.
"What do you mean?"
"He went all protective when Arthur announced the wedding was today. If I’m not mistaken, he was upset on your behalf."
I don’t comment. I sensed the same, but my thoughts were all over the place, so I wasn't sure.
"Arthur swore us to secrecy. I was tempted to break it, but the man has so much power and connections—" Gio shakes her head. "I should have told you what he was planning."
"I don’t think it’s advisable to go up against a man like Arthur," I say slowly.
"But it’s your wedding, your life, Mira." Gio takes my hand in hers. "If you don’t want to go through with it, say the word, and we’ll get you out of here."
"We’re on your side," Summer says softly, but there’s a hint of steel in her tone.
"Only you know what’s right for you." Karma rubs her belly. "No one knows what’s happening in a relationship except for the people involved, so if this isn’t what you want—"
"I do." I draw in a sharp breath. "I know it seems strange. But I believe Edward has—feelings for me—" It’s half true. He’s not impervious to my presence, as he’s demonstrated, but he’s good at hiding behind that wall he’s built around himself. "I know he’s not very demonstrative—"
"That’s putting it kindly." Gio snorts.
I half smile. "But if it weren’t Edward, my father would want me to marry someone else."
"You did mention arranged marriages are a norm in your family," Summer says slowly.
Gio stiffens. "Are you marrying him because you love him or because you think he’s a better option than someone else your father would choose for you?"
"A little bit of both, I don’t know. I mean, my father did choose him." I touch the petals of the flowers in my bouquet. "I think Edward will make a good husband. He’s not very demonstrative, but I don't think he’s the kind of man who’d knowingly hurt me."
"You sure?" Summer touches my arm. "The offer stands… If you want to call off the wedding—"
"—we’ll march right out and tell Arthur." Karma nods.
"He doesn’t scare us," Gio says with a fierce look in her eyes.
I sniff. "You girls are the best friends ever. I appreciate the offer. Truly. But I want to get married."
There’s a knock on the door and Rachel the wedding planner, pops her head in. "Are you ready?"
* * *
I stand at the threshold of the library. Earlier, I got a glimpse of the skylight, the stained glass windows set high up in the walls, the floor-to-ceiling books, and the massive fireplace on the far side, before G-Pa’s announcement scattered my thoughts. As venues go, this is exactly the space I’d have chosen to have my wedding. And my wedding dress could not be more perfect. It's only the bride-groom I’m not sure about.
