One of the girls nudges the other and narrows her eyes at her.
“I mean…that’s what I’ve heard,” she stutters out.
I want to ask what she means by that, but I’m cut off again as they banter back and forth. One of them grabs a dress from the rack and holds it up against me with an appraising eye. I look down and visibly cringe at the ruffles and she must notice the look on my face.
“Hmm…too much poof for you,” she decides before tossing it aside and reaching for another option.
Another woman spins a chair around and pats the seat invitingly.
“Sit! Let’s see what we’re working with here.”
It’s chaos, absolute chaos, but there’s something exciting too. Their laughter is loud and relentless as it draws me in. Before I know it, I find myself laughing along with them, even as one of them tugs at my hair to test out different styles while another debates whether satin or silk would suit me better.
“You’re so lucky,” one of them says, her tone playful but edged with envy. “Rio’s like…the whole package.”
“Sexy, loaded and experienced,” another chimes in with a dramatic sigh that sets off another round of giggles between them.
I’m not sure what she means by that last part but I can only imagine. I roll my eyes at their theatrics. Of course I would get stuck marrying a pompous asshole.
“Yeah, I couldn’t care less about the money.”
The words come out harsher than I intend.
“I’ve never even met him. I don’t know about you guys, but old cowboys don’t do it for me.”
That does it. Whatever I said sends them over the edge and they absolutely lose it. One of them doubles over laughing while another clutches her chest like she might faint from lack of oxygen. I look at them, clueless what they think is so funny.
“Oh sweetie,” one finally manages between gasps for breath. “Trust me, he’s not an old cowboy or anything even close to that. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in a hat and boots though.”
“Right,” another sighs dramatically again for effect before adding with mock seriousness, “And his brothers? Hot as sin too. All total playboys, but in the best way possible.”
I don’t miss the word “playboy” and that makes something twist uncomfortably in my chest. Before I can dwell on it too long, they’re back to work, as they pull more dresses off racks and hold them up against me until one finally catches my eye. Sleek off-white satin with a sweetheart neckline that would hug every curve before spilling into an elegant train behind me. It’s beautiful and it’s everything I wouldn’t have been allowed to wear back home.
When I step into the dress and catch sight of myself in the mirror for the first time, the room falls quiet.
“Wow,” one whispers softly.
One of the women pulls the veil up out of my eyes to give me a clearer view of my makeup and for a long moment, there’s just me and the mirror. My eyes are sharper and darker than usual under bold liner and eye shadow. It makes me look older, more mature…sexy even. My hair falls heavy in glossy curls, the strands pinned up just enough to hold the veil in place without ruining the softness.
I stare, and for once, I actually like the person looking back at me. It’s not a familiar feeling, but right now, I don’t hate what I see. It makes me smile as I run my hands down thefabric. Unfortunately, the guilt seeps through as I stare down at the dress that fits my body perfectly. How can I let myself feel any kind of excitement right now? I gave myself to someone else, someone I have fallen for, but what if…what if the man I’m supposed to marry isn’t as bad as I thought he was? My stomach twists at the guilt that floods though me. Because no matter how good my future husband may turn out to be, I just know Frankie will still linger in every corner of my heart.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Liana
Istare at my reflection in the mirror, a stranger looking back at me. Emerald silk clings to my body like a second skin, making me look older and more sophisticated than I feel inside. My dark hair falls in loose waves around my shoulders, styled by a team of miracle workers who spent hours transforming me from the nervous, confused girl I really am into this vision of elegant poise. It’s not me, not really…but I don’t hate it either.
"You look perfect," Pita whispers, adjusting one final curl. "Like a true Sanchez."
I swallow around the lump in my throat. In less than twenty-four hours, I'll be married to a man I've never met. A man who might not be what I had envisioned in my head, after all. The thought makes my stomach twist into knots so tight I can barely breathe.
"Where's Frankie?" I ask, my voice smaller than I'd like. "Why hasn’t he been around? Is he okay?"
Pita's eyes flick away from mine in themirror.
"He had…duties to attend to. Don't worry about him now, mija. Trust me, he is perfectly fine."
I want to scream that of course I'm worried about him. How can I not be? The one person who's made this entire nightmare bearable has vanished without a word, right when I need him most. I want to see him. I want to ask him what he is thinking and if whatever started between us is really over? But I swallow the words, forcing them down along with the tears threatening to spill over my carefully applied makeup.
