Eve hugged me next and said, “We are so lucky to have you join our family.”She let go of me.“Let's go.Your groom's waiting.”One last smile—and she swiveled around and followed after her friend.When she arrived at the last step, she looked up at me and mouthed, “Now.”
Up until then—I hadn't been nervous.Not at all.
I mean, it wasn't like this was a real wedding or anything.Because it absolutely wasn't.
Stefan was marrying me so Raul wouldn't hunt me down and—
Well, do whatever Raul wanted to do.
So, in reality, there was no reason to be nervous.
Which was why when a few hundred butterflies decided to take up residence in my belly—it caught me by surprise.
Big time.
This was stupid.
I knew it wasn't real.This wedding was fake.And why Giselle and Eve decided to go all out for a fake wedding—I'd never understand.
All I needed was a change of clothes.Maybe a T-shirt and a pair of jeans or something.Giselle didn't have to let me borrow her dress.A dress she hadn't even worn yet.Good grief.That was beyond being hospitable.And the thong was really too much, too.
It was all too much.
Especially Giselle making sure I had something old, something new, something borrowed and something—well, I didn’t have anything blue.She’d said that would come later.Whatever that meant.
I shut my eyes and silently told myself to get a grip on reality.I didn't need something old.I also didn't need something new.Or something borrowed.Or something blue.
All of these things symbolized good luck on a bride’s wedding day.But this wasn't an actual wedding day.
Yeah.
I was being stupid.
Other than meeting Stefan—I’d never had one stitch of good luck in my life.Why would I start now?
I moved one foot.And then the other.When I got to the top of the stairs—I heard the wedding march begin.
What the heck?
I walked down the stairs, careful not to slip on the huge pile of rose petals on the third step.I'd have to remember to clean that up after this was all done.I walked slowly, one foot at a time—Giselle's dress flowing behind me beautifully.Part of me wished someone was here to take a picture of this.I'd love to see a photo or two of me in this dress as I walked down the stairs.
I finally got to the bottom and took a deep breath.Just a little more until the living room, where they'd all be waiting.One more breath for courage—and I walked into the living room.
11
Francesca
To—nothing.
The patio doors were open, though.And strings of twinkling lights awaited me.
Step by step.
I ended up at the door.Stefan's eyes landed on mine.
And he smiled.
And then he looked me up and down.
