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“How’s the honeymoon, cuz? Do you need a shovel?”
“Nah, Summer. I need your help. I need a whole-ass Michelle Obama wardrobe. Mathias gave me his black card.”
I hold the phone away as she screams.
Two hourslater I’m clothed in a raw silk platinum-gray pencil skirt, a pale pink sheer cotton blouse, and a small sweetheart ruffled neckline.
“We are accentuating the positives, so giving a peek of those gorgeous titties ain’t hurting nobody,” Summer giggles, and I can’t help but laugh. The matching jacket sets off the outfit perfectly.
“This is a good start for last minute,” she says, handing me several tissue-wrapped parcels. “Everything I make for you will have some platinum running through it to match his eyes. No matter the color. Honey, it’s going to be so subtle, that shit is going to be subliminal.” Her excitement is contagious. “Of course, you need bags and shoes. You have to look like you married a billionaire senator.”
Hugging her close, I breathe in the calming vanilla-rose scent she wears. “Thank you so much. I know it was super last minute.”
“No worries, cuz. But I have an appointment at the mayor’s house. His girls want some dresses made.”
“Ohhh, wow, that’s awesome.” I’m impressed with my cousin who dropped out of veterinary school to be a designer. In a short amount of time, she’s already in high demand.
“I know.” She twirls in a pink confection she made herself. “They like my fashion.”
“Nikki, are you ready we need to—” Mathias stops when he enters the bedroom, his eyes going wide as he takes me in. “Leave.” He sounds like air is whooshing from his lungs.
“Yes—”
“Wow.” We cut each other off.
“Summer, you are incredible.”
I smile, watching my cousin blush from his praise.
“Thanks.” She dimples. “Well, I have to be off.”
After she hugs us both, she practically skips out of the suite.
“You made her day.” Grabbing the small pink and gray clutch, I give him a tentative smile.
“Then we are even because she sure as hell made mine.” Crooking his elbow as an offering, he asks softly, “Ready, Mrs. Shelby?”
“Yes, Senator Shelby.” The smile he gives me makes hope explode in my heart.
“Mathias,Nikki, tell us how you met.”
“Nikki, was it love at first sight?”
“Nikki, why does it look like you were living on Shelby property?”
“Mathias, were you cheating on Natalie?”
“Nikki, care to respond to the allegations that you are a gold-digging sugar baby?”
The crush of press outside the little boutique hotel is like nothing I’ve ever seen, except for the times FADE, my cousin Delightful’s husband, came to visit and the first couple weeks after it was revealed that rock star Santiago was my cousin Mimi’s, aka Dr. Everything’s, baby daddy.
It’s weird being the focus of all the press attention. I sympathized with my cousins, but I didn’t really appreciate the amount of strain this kind of scrutiny can have on your mental health.
By the time we reach the caravan of SUVs Mathias’s campaign uses, I’m shaking like a leaf from the sheer aggression. I freeze as he helps me into the back seat. In the seats facing us are LL and Natalie. Normally, I wouldn’t be bothered by either of them being there, but it’s just jarring after the gauntlet of press we just endured.
A strong arm wraps around my middle. “It’s okay. G’head.” Mathias then grips my elbow, ushering me inside. I get in, turning my body away from the other occupants to look out the window on the opposite side.
“You okay, cuz?” LL asks after we pull off away from the press rushing to their cars to follow us.
