Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Exchange vows?” I repeat his words, suddenly confused by what is going on.
“Well, yeah, this might be my only wedding,” he jokes with me, giving me a sly smile. I shake my head, not sure what to say.
“Okay, then it’s settled,” Clarabella says, clapping her hands happily. “Let’s take her to the bridal suite.”
“You are going to love it,” Addison reassures me, “it’s not as pretty as your place. But it’ll do. I’m going to get some information from Levi and join you guys in there in a little bit.” The girls usher me away from Levi and I look over my shoulder at him, mouthing the words, “Help me.”
He just smiles at me and I look over at Stefano and glare at him. “Don’t hurt my groom before I marry him,” I threaten, right before I’m dragged to the back of the house.
We walk down the back steps. “I can’t believe you are going to be getting married,” Presley says from beside me. “I mean, I would one thousand million percent do the same thing.”
“Without a question, I would marry someone for my niece or nephew,” Shelby agrees.
“It’s not someone,” Presley reminds her, “it’s her best friend.”
“I married my best friend,” Shelby says. “Best decision I ever made.”
“Okay, I think we are all getting ahead of ourselves,” I say. “You married him because you love him. I’m marrying him to get my niece.”
We walk down the path toward the venue, and even when I walk in now seeing that it’s really bare, with no decoration, I just love it. If I ever get married, this is where I’m having the ceremony, I tell myself as we walk to the rear of the venue, heading out to the bridal suite.
The little white cottage is sitting there with a sign that says bridal suite. Presley opens the door and I walk in. I don’t know what I’m expecting but what is there is even better than I had imagined.
Against the side wall are four stations set up with gold vanities and matching gold plush chairs in front of them. Mirrors with big chunky gold frames hang down in front of each chair. White vases of roses fill the room. A rack of dresses is on one side and wedding dresses on the other side of the room. It’s so glamorous and I make notes for back home. “I’m not going to lie,” I say, spinning in the room, “I’m so going to steal this for my place back home.” Thinking maybe we should put in a bridal suite. Where they get ready and head to the ceremony.
“Steal away,” Presley encourages, smiling at me.
I look at them. “But seriously.” I walk over to the rack of wedding dresses and spot a silky sparkly one. “How fast can we get married?”
Chapter Ten
Levi
I watch Eva walk out the door with the four ladies, waiting until the door is closed before I turn and look at Addison and then Stefano. “Okay,” I urge, holding up my hand, “let’s get it out of the way before she comes back.” What I really want to do right now is sit down and just take a second to breathe.
“Let’s get it out of the way,” Stefano repeats my words.
“Stefano,” Addison scolds him softly as she puts her hand on his arm. He turns to look at her. “Would you give him a chance?”
He watches her for a second before he turns to me. “This is…” He looks down at his shoes, shaking his head.
“It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever done,” I admit, “but it’s also the only thing I can do.”
“You are going to get married to her,” Stefano reminds me. “That’s a big deal.”
“It’s not that big of a deal,” Addison states and he side-eyes her, his glare softer than he would give anyone else because he loves her more than life itself. Something I’ve never had; also I don’t think I’ve ever really wanted it. I mean, I love Stefano and I know I love Eva, obviously. I just don’t think I have it in me to love someone like that. Okay, fine, maybe that isn’t true because I would go to the ends of the earth for Eva. “It’s a big deal if you make it a big deal. If you were listening to them instead of being all Hulk, you would have heard them say it’s for Cici. You can’t tell me that you wouldn’t do the same thing for anyone in your family.”
“Yes,” he agrees with her, “but—” I don’t wait for him to add more; instead, I speak out.
“Stefano,” I say his name and he looks back over at me. “It’s Eva, she’s the most loyal person I know. She is the most selfless person I know. She is the most genuine person I know. There is no one else in this world I would do this for besides her.”