Page 98 of In Love with the Devil

“What? What do you mean?”

He kisses me, smiles, pats my thigh and says, “I mean, relax and let me surprise you.”

I look at the clouds and sigh. I abhor surprises. Julian always surprised me with his ‘gifts’.

We end up at his parents, so I’m very perplexed, wondering where the surprise is. His mother meets us at the door. “Hola mi amor,” she greets me and then kisses her son. “No puedo creer que tu estas haciendo esto.” (I can’t believe you are doing this.)

“Que esta asiendo?” (What is he doing?)

“Ah no. Yo no me meto en eso.” (I won’t get in the middle of it.)

“Stop trying to find out and relax.” The more he says that, the more I feel like a cat in a cold shower.

“Ven conmigo.” (Come with me.) His mom takes my hand and we walk to the bedroom I usually sleep in. On the bed, there’s a white silk dress with a train. It’s a wedding dress. I swallow deep. “Um. I can’t do this,” I say to her. “I need to talk to Sebastian.” I run through bathroom to his room only to find it empty.

“Where is he?”

“Why don’t you put on the dress and we will find him. Maybe he will change your mind and you don’t want to end up ruining something this big.” I stare at her for some time.

His mother helps me put it on and then brings a crown made of pearls. Can I do this? I can’t do this. Julian said he’d always findme. But it has been four months since I’ve been with Sebastian. With Romeo, he didn’t even let me date him.

It’s over. He’s gone, Tory.

His mom comes back in and takes my cold, clammy, shaking hand in hers. “You know. He’s never brought any other girl home, right? Sebastian told me you had a terrible relationship before.” She sighs and shakes her head. “Men can be such monsters. I’m so sorry about that, mija. I always wanted a daughter, but things don’t always go according to plan. But with you… it’s like another opportunity. He’s a good man, I promise. I taught him well. He will never hurt you.”

Isn’t that what every mother would say? I realize I’m being ridiculous and completely unfair to the man who has been nothing but perfect, and to his family as well. It’s the first time I let out a breath of relief. We walk to the front of the house where his father meets me. “Would you like me to walk with you down the aisle?”

I smile, my eyes brimming with tears. “Yes.” I hook my arm onto his and we walk to the patio where his family is. My eyes scan the place and find Cristian closer to the altar. I am so relieved and chuckle at him. Then my eyes meet Sebastian's and a tear drops from my eye. His grandma hands me the bouquet and we walk.

When I reach the altar and take his hand, I ask him, “What have you done?”

“I told you that you would be my wife. You can stay here while I go for Thailand but I can’t leave knowing you are still not my wife. Marry me, ice queen.”

This is what it’s supposed to be like, not perfect but feeling safe, with family, being loved. Everything feels like a dream after that. I try to take in every detail. It feels like another life, although I wish Mindy could be here. We take traditional vows. Sebastian puts the engagement and wedding ring on my finger and we kiss. The cheers end our kissing because we both laugh.

I’m in fucking heaven. I mean, I’ve never felt so pretty; everything around me is gorgeous, the flowers, the cake, the altar, the ocean view, the sunset–everything. I must have died in Julian’s basement, and this is all an eternal dream. Things are too perfect.

Sebastian hugs me from behind. “Thanks for helping me on such short notice,” he says to everyone. Things move so fast I can hardly keep up. We have to do pictures, and dancing, then the cake, and before I know it we’re in a limousine at midnight, and I’m exhausted out of my mind.

Even though I only had two glasses of champagne, I’m drunk. The world is swerving and swirling and it’s not the car. Crap, I’m feeling so sick. My eyes widen; I’m way too drunk. My breathing goes off kilter, and I swallow hard.

“Sebastian… I think I’m going to be sick.” I’m hyperventilating.

“Is my ice nervous?”

“No. I only had two drinks. What’s going on? Something’s wrong.”

“It’s okay. Relax. You’ll be in bed–”

I don’t hear the rest of it. I’m gone.

Chapter forty-four

Oh... Little Bird

Astoria

“Oh, little bird... you really fucked up this time, huh?” A deep voice drawls.

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