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Loretta doesn’t notice my reaction. She sits down on the bed next to me. She even has the gall to pat my arm.
“You sowed some wild outs and you’re lucky you got away with it,” Loretta lectures, but then her voice softens. “Thaddeus is agoodman. He’s going to follow in your father’s footsteps.”
“Like that’s a good thing.” I roll my eyes.
Loretta clucks her tongue at me. “Now, now,” She says, eyeing my unkempt, unwashed body. She wrinkles her nose and I can tell she finds my state distasteful.
“You need to get up and into the shower,” Loretta sings, standing up. She lowers her voice conspiratorially.
“You need your nails done and you can try on your dress,” She whispers, before looking away dreamily. “That should cheer you up!”
Loretta pulls back the curtains with a flourish, snaps the blinds open, and light floods my bedroom. I scowl at her, but fling the covers off and stomp off to the en-suite bathroom.
“You’ve got thirty minutes!” Loretta calls, but I slam the bathroom door behind me. I hear her sigh and the click of her heels against the hardwood floor as she walks away.
I turn on the water, as hot as I can stand it, and position my body directly underneath the shower head. The shower fills with steam as the water rains down on my body. It feels good, but nothing like when I’m touched by Rex, Gunner, or Zeke. The simple thought is enough to make me choke back a sob.
I’m captive here. I’m just waiting for my transfer from one luxurious prison to another. I will always be trapped in this gilded cage.
Unless…
But I try not to daydream about the guys saving me. Why would they? I’m sure that they’ve heard the news of my impending nuptials. That sort of thing spreads like wildfire in the cities of the South, even without being broadcast on the local news stations.
I pull myself together enough to finish my shower and dress for the day. I’ve only done the bare minimum, but Loretta purses her lips when I descend from the staircase. She nods curtly, and it seems I’ve passed her inspection.
“Go on into the kitchen. Jessie is set up in there,” Loretta says with a wave. Jessie is her long time nail stylist and I’ve been forced to submit to her services for special occasions.
“What?” I stop on the last stair. “Shecamehere?”
Loretta smirks as she raises your chin. “Of course.Anythingfor the bride,” She says, rolling her eyes.
I feel positively deflated. I thought we’d be going to Jessie’s nail boutique. Realistically, I recognize I can’t get very far without resources. I don’t even have a bank account and the twenty in my wallet is not going to go very far.
What was I going to do? Make a mad dash from the car? Be chased by one of my father’s goons that would be sure to accompany us? I doubt I would have been able to succeed in such a daring escape.
Crestfallen, I trudge down the last stair step and follow Loretta down the hallway.
“You could do a pale pink or a French tip,” Loretta says graciously. As if she’s doing me a favor, being a dictator about my own nails.
I trail behind Loretta silently, and when we walk into the kitchen, Loretta steps aside and lifts her arms into the air.
“Surprise!” She squeals, but I’m frozen in horror.
Bianca smiles shyly, seated at our kitchen table, the surface of which has been transformed into a mobile nail salon. I see an array of nail polish colors, files, and clippers.
“Your maid of honor is here!” Loretta drapes her arm around Bianca’s shoulders and both of their faces are smug.
The blood in my veins runs cold.
Maid of honor?
Loretta pulls out a chair for me, right next to Bianca, and I sit down stiffly.
“Mary,” Bianca says, tilting her head. She bats her thick eyelashes, but it doesn’t soften the condescension in her voice.
“I can tell you’re still mad, but nothing is going to stop me from being there for you on your big day!” Bianca’s lips spread into a saccharine smile.
My only response is a sideways glance. Loretta smiles at both of us, as if her surprise was some miraculous feat, and sweeps out of the room.
