My brows furrow in confusion and I read her message a couple times, expecting it to change, but when it doesn't, I glance up from my phone, looking both ways down the corridor I'm currently in. Without a second thought, I slip off my heels and start running, heading towards the entrance of the venue, hope sparking in my chest.
As soon as I step outside onto the pebbled ground, I spot my sister standing beside a blacked-out SUV with a wide, mischievous smile on her face.
"What the hell?" I screech, barrelling towards her until my arms are wrapped around her small frame, squeezing her against my body as tears blur my vision.
She laughs as her arms enclose around me.
"You text me at the perfect time," she says, pressing a kiss to my cheek before drawing back and glancing down my body. "You look stunning, Lissa."
"What are you doing here?"
Her teeth clamp down on her bottom lip as she tries to contain the smile that wants to break free.
"Well, I didn't come to the wedding for a reason…" she says, making my suspicion spike.
I narrow my eyes at her as she takes a step back, placing her hand on the door of the car beside her.
"I didn't want you to be alone while you're living here, and as much as I'd have loved to be here with you, we both know that's impossible, so I thought of the next best thing. I roped Miguel into helping me. I didn't come to the wedding because I had to plan this little surprise and meet him at the air strip."
Confusion swarms me, but when she pulls the handle, opening the back door of the car, and a soft yapping greets my ears, the tears swimming in my eyes drip down my cheeks.
A tan fluff ball jumps out of the car, and I fall to my knees as Jellybean bounds towards me, the pink bow on her head slightly slanted from where my sister obviously struggled to put it on.
I chuckle as Jellybean climbs up my chest, licking the tears that stream down my face as I squeeze her to my chest, running my fingers through her fur as a giddy feeling spurs to life inside of me.
"Hey, baby girl," I coo, welcoming the kisses she's giving me as I bury my face into her little body, basking in the comfort she supplies me.
"I think it's fair to say I'm the best sister ever, right?"
I look up at Eliana and nod, shakily laughing as I loosen my hold on my furry best friend.
Jellybean jumps off my lap, running in circles around my legs, and I walk over to my sister, pulling her into another hug.
"Te quiero mucho," I whisper.
She repeats the same back to me and then pats me on the back before releasing me.
"Now, how about we get you out of this dress and then get you to your new home, so you can have some quality time with your girl here before your hunky husband gets home."
At the reminder of the man I married, I make a sound of disgust.
"Hopefully, I can avoid him for the rest of eternity."
She laughs at me as she nudges me towards the car.
I pick Jellybean up, placing her in the back seat as I stand behind the door, my back towards my sister as she starts tugging at the ribbon that holds the dress together.
"You did bring me something to change into, right?"
"Yes, obviously," she scoffs, yanking so hard on the ribbon that I stumble back. "All your stuff is in the car, along with everything for the little princess in there… Christ, why is this so hard to get off?"
"Just rip it," I tell her, wanting to get out of the dress as soon as I can.
"I am not destroying this dress, Lissa."
"Fine. I will," I huff, grabbing both sides of the skirt where it opens up. I swing my arms back and rip the material, exposing my bare legs.
My sister gasps behind me as I chuck the skirt of the dress to the floor before digging my hands into the corset, attempting to escape from that, too, but I understand her struggle when it seems almost impossible to get off.
