At that moment, I could hear Sarah in my head. “Relax your jaw, take a breath, focus on your triggers.” She might’ve even expected me to CBT out by finding three things I could see, hear, and feel in the bridal shop.
Just like she’d told me when we first began our treatments, there truly hadn’t been been a cure for my stuttering. Although it had vastly improved, it always flared its head in scenarios where I found myself stressed.
Although I’d resigned myself to living with my stutter, Sarah remained stubbornly focused on finding the right treatment to almost eliminate it completely. She’d been attending conferences and devouring research journals on the new wearable devices to improve speech. We had an appointment to try one out next week.
While she was hopeful that the hearing-aid type device would finally eliminate my stuttering, I wasn’t getting my hopes up. In the end, I really didn’t give a shit. Shockingly enough, I’d come to embrace my alleged defect. My men truly didn’t give a fuck that I might stumble with my g, t, or b letters. They only cared that I paid them well, wasn’t a complete dick, and continued to elevate the Korolov name not only in Philly but along the East Coast.
The woman smiled at me. “I’m sure you’re not. It’s just a lot of feminine energy.”
Maybe she was right. I spent my days surrounded by big dick energy. No wonder I felt off.
“That’s probably it.”
“You must be Mr. Korolov.”
“I am,” I replied suspiciously.
“Your girlfriend is waiting for you in the back.” After my gaze bounced warily around the shop, she chuckled. “Here I’ll take you to her.”
“Thanks.”
After weaving through racks of dresses, I finally spotted Sarah. For a moment, I could only stare at her. Even after all this time, she still took my breath away.
When she caught my gaze in the trifold mirror, she smiled shyly. “How does it look?”
“You look absolutely stunning.”
She laughed. “I’m talking about the dress.”
“It looks fine.”
Cocking her brows at me, Sarah countered, “Just fine?”
“It’s g-gorgeous with you in it.”
“I’ll be sure to tell Mila that,” she mused.
After stepping onto the platform where she stood, I drew her against me. “What’s up with t-the self-doubt?”
She shrugged. “I just want to make sure I look perfect for Mila.”
“And you will.” I cupped her cheek in my hand.”You’d look perfect in a burlap sack.”
“Next time you ask me to put on lingerie, I’ll do that instead.”
Reaching around her, I smacked her ass. “Come on. Let’s get going.”
“All right.”
As she gave her reflection another look, I whispered in her ear. “You take my breath away just looking at you. The fact I get to love you and call you mine is the g-great gift of my life.”
Tears pooled her eyes. “Thank you, Maksim.”
“I love you.”
“And I love you.”
***
