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Bianca McCue, like myself, is an only child, but unlike my family who enjoys an upper-middle-class lifestyle, Bianca's family is positively loaded. Her parents are often away, jet-setting from one bustling metropolis to another, but they always tithe their ten percent. They attend services when they’re in town and that’senough for my father to overlook any indulgences the McCue family enjoys. Even if they are complete hypocrites.
The plush carpeting makes my footsteps silent as I walk along the long hallway to Bianca’s bedroom. She’s practically got a wing of the house all to herself and her childhood room puts most master bedroom suites to shame. Bianca has a walk-in closet bigger than most guest bedrooms and an en-suite bathroom, complete with a glass-walled shower and soaking tub.
When I reach Bianca’s door, I can hear the faint sound of rock music playing. My knuckles knock on the heavy wood before I swing the door open.
“Hey, B,” I call out, looking around the room. If Bianca’s not splayed out on her canopy bed, browsing social media on her phone, then she must be touching up her make-up.
I walk towards the en suite to find Bianca sitting at her princess-like vanity. All the lights around the mirror are turned on and Bianca sits motionless, except for the steady hand holding a liner pencil along her lashes.
I don’t want to startle her, so I wait patiently in the doorway until Bianca sets the pencil down.
“B,” I say and Bianca jumps. She lets out a squeal before hopping out of her seat to wrap her arms around me.
“Mer,” Bianca exclaims, using her nickname for me. “I can’t believe your dad let you out of the house!”
“I know,” I reply, rolling my eyes in annoyance. “You won’t believe what happened tonight.”
I relay the story of my incredibly exciting evening, but even though Bianca tries to humor me, I can sense that she’s getting bored. Bianca lives a much more exciting life than I do and three strange, sexy men showing up at Wednesday night church service just doesn’t cut it.
“But what were they doing there?” Bianca asks, covering her mouth to mask a yawn.
“I don’t know,” I reply, frowning. I don’t know why the men were there and I have absolutely no way of finding out.
“Well, you’ll probably never see them again,” Bianca shrugs, and I can tell that she’s trying to change the subject. But there’s one more thing I have to get off of my chest.
“There’s something else,” I say, pausing for dramatic effect. Bianca raises one perfectly manicured eyebrow and I reveal my father’s comments about Thaddeus’s imminent intent to court me.
“Ew,” Bianca cries, her doll-like face contorting in disgust. She flips her long brown hair over one shoulder before shaking her head. “What are you gonna do?” She asks, but she already knows the answer.
“Nothing,” I sigh. “What can I do?”
It’s the truth and we both know it. No matter how much I might hate the man, the reality is that whatever my father says goes. He’s the boss and eventually I’ll have to do whatever he says. It’s my duty: First, I must obey my father and then I must obey my husband. It’s what I’ve heard all of my life.
Bianca turns back around and resumes inspecting her reflection. She picks up a small make-up brush and searches her face for the smallest imperfection. If you ask me, there is none. Bianca’s beauty brings to mind the brunette starlets that graced film during the golden age. Her face is perfectly symmetrical, with no single feature too large or small as to cause an imbalance. She has high cheekbones and an overall air of haughtiness that screamsold money.
“Bianca,” I say slowly, trying to regain her attention. Bianca’s favorite pastime has always been, well,Bianca, but I still love her despite it all. She’s the only friend I’ve got.
“Mmmm,” Bianca mumbles in response. Now, she’s applying some light pink blush.
“I think I want to do it. Finally.”
Bianca drops the makeup brush, and it clatters against the glass tabletop of the vanity.
“What?” Bianca snaps, a slow smile spreading across her lips. “Are you serious?”
“Yes,” I nod, but my heart begins to pound and I feel like it might beat out of my chest.
Bianca lets out a squeal of delight. She’s been sneaking out forages. It’s easy for her since her parents are so often away from home. Despite Bianca’s pleas to accompany her, I’ve always been too afraid. I live under a microscope and if someone spotted the preacher’s daughter out at a bar…Well, let’s just say that my father probably wouldn’teverlet me out of the house again.
“I can’t believe this! We’ve got to get you ready!” Bianca claps her hands together before rushing to her walk-in closet to select an outfit.
I let out a sigh of trepidation. “Nothing too revealing, okay?” I call behind her.
“You need to live a little!”
I let out a humph, but Bianca’s got me there. I need to live a little. I’m a twenty-two-year-old virgin who’s never even been out to a bar.
I sit down on a white upholstered bench in Bianca’s closet, patiently waiting for her selections. Bianca’s right, so I’m not going to argue with her. That’s why I agreed to this. I need to go at least a little wild before my father has me married off.
