Page 21 of The Devil's Demise

I stare downat the large, sparkling engagement ring he gave me five months ago, remembering that very day he proposed. My finger brushes over the firm edges of the round diamond and I breathe in a soft inhale, my eyes closed, the smell of freshly cut grass filling my senses like I’m back there again.

After he slipped the ring on my finger, he told me he wanted us to have an actual wedding with all our friends and family. He wanted us to have something we could look back on, something to show our children. And to be honest, I wanted that too. So, we decided on having a small wedding in our home.

Here we are on our wedding day, five months later. A shiver runs up my spine, knowing in a short while, I’ll be walking down the aisle to him.

My husband.

The word still gives me butterflies.

“Damn, cuz,” Chiara says from behind. “Your train is massive. You could hide a dead body under here.”

She’s not exactly kidding. It is pretty long. It was the first dress I tried on, and I knew, no matter how many I slipped into, it’d be the one. And in the end, it was.

It’s a good thing I didn’t leave that decision to Chiara because the one she liked for me ... well, let’s just say I wouldn’t be caught dead in it.

* * *

“Come on, try it on.” Chiara holds a slinky white gown that cuts so low in the front, it would show my belly button.

I pull back my lips in a grimace. “I’d never wear that,” I whisper, looking around to make sure the saleswoman isn’t around. Dante closed the store for me, and the ladies and I get to sip on champagne while I decide what dress to buy. There are a crap ton here—short, long. I mean, they have everything, and it’s all crazy expensive. He told me not to concern myself with that and has instructed the saleswoman to put whatever I choose on his card. But I still don’t want to take advantage just for one day.

“No one said you had to marry the dress.” She rolls her eyes teasingly. “But try it on anyway. Never know.”

“Oh . . .” I scoff, popping a brow. “Believe me, I know. But sure, let’s add it to the pile. What’s one more?”

“That’s my girl.” She eagerly hangs the dress beside the others I have chosen, or more liketheyhave chosen. There are a good ten dresses waiting for me and I only picked two. I’ll be honest, I’m not much of a try-on-hundreds-of-outfits kind of girl. But it’s for my wedding, so I want to be sure I get the right one.

“Oh my God,” Aida gushes, running her hand past a sweetheart lace dress. “Look at this one.”

“Okay. Fiiine.” I huff out with a small laugh. “I’ll try that one on too.”

Jade strides past us, holding an ivory gown with sparkly straps falling off the shoulders.

“Not you too!” I slap a hand over my face.

“Sorry?” She grimaces as she tiptoes to hang the dress next to the rest.

“Okay, group meeting,” I tell them, raising my palms in the air. “I officially have thirteen dresses there and I’m calling a stop. So get your butts on that sofa, ladies, because I’m heading straight to the dressing room.”

“All right.” Chiara runs her fingers past another white gown. “But you may wanna see this one. It’s got a rhinestone belt.”

“Nope.” I lift a finger in the air. “No. Not doing it.” I rush to grab a few dresses I’ve gathered, and Brianne, the saleswoman, hurries over to me from around the counter and assists me with the rest.

“You should at least try it on,” Chiara calls even as I dash to the back of the store, toward the dressing rooms.

“Not happening!” I burst out over my shoulder, my voice traveling to them.

As we enter the suite, Brianne hangs all the dresses in the large space. “I’ll be right outside to help you, just let me know when you’re ready.”

“Thank you,” I tell her as she exits, closing the door behind her.

I take my time, looking at all the dresses, lining them up from most to least favorite, and the one Chiara picked out, well, that’s going all the way to the back.

The one I decide to try on first is the one that made my heart skip a beat as soon as I saw it. Strapless and fitted with a dropped waist, the intricately woven floral lace reaches all the way down the swooping train.

Removing my clothes, I place them over the loveseat in the corner, and as soon as I take off that dress from the hanger, I grin.

I step into it as soon as I place it on the floor, dragging it up and holding it against my chest, my smile widening.

---