“The photographer is almost ready for first looks. Three minutes. Girls, we’ll move you to the staging area for the ceremony.”
“That’s our cue,” Petra said. “Come on, Lo.”
Sloane downed the champagne, grabbed her bouquet, and followed Petra and Freya. Esme stayed behind for a second.
“You okay?” I asked.
“I’m great.”
We looked at each other and laughed.
She looked beautiful. They all did. My friends went a little overboard with me, and they chose their dresses, different styles but the same rich burgundy. Esme’s dress slipped off the shoulder and swooped gracefully to the floor. But I could still see the pain in her eyes.
I stood, shaking out the skirt of my dress. “Look okay? Any wrinkles?”
“You’re good.”
Snagging her hands, I pulled her in front of me. “Thank you for being here.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
I smiled. “I know. But I’m saying thank you anyway. Because when it happens for you, however it happens for you, I’m going to be there for you too.”
She nodded, and I saw her throat work and tears fill her eyes. “I wish Dad was here to see this.”
My own words were tight in my throat, but I wouldn’t cry. Not yet, at least. My makeup needed to last a bit longer. “Me too.”
Freya knocked again, and Esme pulled me into a hug. “See you out there.” She slipped past Freya when she opened the door, and my planner looked me up and down.
“You look amazing, Eva.”
“Thank you.”
I decided against a veil, instead having my hair up with a few pieces escaping around my face and more sparkly crystals and pearls in my hair. It matched the crystals mixed in with the white and burgundy roses in the bouquet I held.
My bonding dress was white, sparkling, and sumptuous. The entire dress was encrusted with beads and draped strings of pearls that criss-crossed over the bodice and skirt.
It sparkled so much in direct light I was going to look like a diamond on the stage. Which was the goal.
Everything about this bonding ceremony was over the top. I was able to do what I wanted, but following Esme’s advice, I let my mom go a little wild too. Which was why our bonding was now being televised to the world. We’d resisted at first, but Freya pointed out it wasn’t that different from having a videographer, so we agreed.
And none of us could deny the enthusiasm the event had received.
Still, we held firm on the things we cared about. Our first look would be small and private. Backstage in the dimness, but still enough light to be seen and for photos to be taken. It was the most privacy we’d get aside from the moments we were tearing each other’s clothes off.
The photographer followed me as I made my way to where they waited. All four of them were turned away from me, and already my breath was short. They wore suits tailored to perfection, and they didn’t have to be facing me to see it.
The photographer’s assistant stood on the other side of them, taking pictures of me approaching.
“Whenever you’re ready,” the photographer murmured.
I walked closer, pushing down the butterflies in my stomach. “Hi.”
They all turned, and my stomach dropped through the floor. Our scents strengthened as we took each other in. The sharpness of their suits and the burgundy vests they wore to match the colors… they were beautiful.
“Holy fuck.” Tyler pressed his fingers to his eyes, fighting emotion, which made my own emotions rise to meet them.
Liam reached me first. His hands skimmed down my arms like he was afraid to touch me. “You’re incredible.”
