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Jordinmayhaveexplainedto the bridal stylist, Marleen, that she wanted a dress that was traditional and understated, but when she stepped out wearing an embellished lace off-the-shoulder A-line satin dress with laced ¾ sleeves, it was anything but. She was so stunning my breath caught in my throat.
Christina let out a gasp, and I swallowed hard, setting my glass of champagne down as Jordin stood on the raised platform.
“Jordin. Wow! You look…stunning.”
“Lexy’s right, sweetheart. You’re an absolute vision. Saint will faint when he sees you in this dress,” Christina cries, her words holding a genuine way. Though still fragile, a bond had formed between them that gave me a glimmer of solace that at least someone from that household was there for Jordin.
I nodded in agreement, further appreciating Christina’s supportive presence amid the absence of Gale, Jordin’s stepmom, and her little sister Millie, who would have loved to have seen Jordin in her dress. It breaks my heart for her that they can’t be here. But this was no joyous occasion, and Ian being the complete dick that he is, wouldn’t have allowed it anyway. Not after James kept her hidden from him for so long.
Jordin’s sorrow-filled gaze flickers to mine, and I offer her a reassuring smile to let her know I’m okay.
Am I though? For a while, I thought I was. As the wedding day draws closer, I’m not so sure. Nothing more has been mentioned about Marcus’s release. Saint assured me that their plan would work, but my confidence is diminishing. Could I really stand there and watch Jordin marry Saint if Marcus isn’t out on time? That’s the question that remains unanswered.
Christina reaches for the box of tissues on the glass coffee table and dabs her tear-soaked face with a tissue while Marleen smiles victoriously after Jordin tells her she’ll take it. She likely thinks she’s made another bride’s dream come true by finding her the perfect dress for the big day on the first try when, in fact, it couldn’t be further from the truth. It must be a record, though. I mean, there are so many stunning dresses to choose from. How many brides pick the first dress they see?
Jordin doesn’t allow her gaze to linger on her reflection in the three-way mirror, and I can see the strain she hides beneath her smile. The dress, undoubtedly beautiful, is nothing but a cloak of imprisonment.
Jordin and I sat in silence as the conversation between Marleen and Christina shifted to veils and shoes before changing to the logistical details—alterations and the timeline for the dress to be ready. Marleen panicked at the five-day deadline, but Christina played her cards — two surnames that held enough sway to silence any objections.
As we move on to bridesmaid dresses, Marleen guides us through the color options available. Jordin didn’t have a specific dress style in mind, but she did have a color – Royal blue. My favorite.
After being ushered into the dressing room, we found a moment of privacy as Marleen leaves to fetch her measuring tape and box of pins.
“Ugh, I thought she’d never leave,” Jordin sighs, lifting the heavy material of her dress to walk over to the door and lock it. “I need to talk to you alone, and I couldn’t risk a call or text in case my phone was being monitored.”
My jaw drops. “Would Ian do that? Actually, now that I think about it, yes, he would.”
“I wouldn’t put anything past that man,” she grumbles, sitting on the plush chair beside mine. “Anyway, I wanted to ask if Saint said anything to you about the wedding. Caleb’s been giving me the mushroom treatment and won’t tell me anything except to trust him. But I’m panicking. I can’t help it. My nerves are shot to shit.”
“What’s the mushroom treatment?”
“You know, keeping me in the dark and feeding me a bunch of bullshit!”
I can’t help but let out a chuckle at her terminology. “I don’t think he’s feeding you shit. I think he’s trying to keep you safe.”
“I know, but it’s the not knowing part that’s driving me crazy. It’s totally stressing me out. And every time I ask Caleb, the only thing I get back is that he has a plan and to trust him, but I can’t help it, Lex. The wedding is five days away.” She blows out a shaky breath. “Has Saint said anything about what they’re planning?”
My throat tightens with guilt. “No. Nothing,” I lie, aware of the awful taste of deception in my mouth. “And, of course, you can’t help it. It’s completely understandable. I’d feel the exact same if I were in your position.”
She removes the veil from her hair, disdain evident in her eyes. “It just feels so real. I mean, look at where we are, Lex.” Her lip quivers, and her eyes begin to glisten. “How can I trust that their plan will work when I’m sitting here in a freaking wedding gown for crying out loud.”
“I know,” I sympathize, grappling with the knowledge that my silence adds to her torment. “You’re right. Whatever it is, it should have been taken care of before now,” I agree. “None of this is fair to you.”
“Do you wanna know what scares me the most?”
“What?”
“The secrets and the lies. I know Caleb’s keeping something from me. Something big. I can see it in his eyes whenever he looks at me.”
“Whatever it is, I’m sure he’s doing it to protect you. To keep you safe, especially from Ian.”
“That’s the other thing. Caleb doesn’t realize how dangerous Ian truly is. The man is seriously fucking unhinged and doesn’t possess an ounce of humanity. It doesn’t matter what Caleb and Saint are planning to do to stop the wedding. Ian is never going to allow Caleb and me to be together. Someone’s going to end up getting hurt because of this, Lex. I can feel it.”
My brows furrow at the stark truth. I hadn’t considered the potential consequences if the plan went awry.
I hold her hand, mustering a half-smile, my own fears reverberating in the silence between us.
“We’ll get through this, Jordin,” I assure, my voice steady despite the storm raging within me. My palms grow sweaty as the secret between us rests on the tip of my tongue, wanting nothing more than to spill my guts to her, but I maintain my composure. “We just need to hold on a little longer. We have to trust Saint and Caleb to get us through this.”
