Page 43 of What She Wants

“When you said you’d wear silver, I thought you meant the color,” Karessa said as she spun her finger in a circle asking me to spin. “This jeweled sequin minidress is next level. You look ballroom dancer sexy with the high split.” She chuckles to herself. “His mom is going to pass out.”

My dress is a one shoulder silver rhinestone dress. The covered arm has a sheer sleeve that looks like my skin down with rhinestones covering it. The rest of the dress is heavily jeweled over the sheer so it doesn’t give an illusion that I’m naked. It does, however, stop midthigh and has a split up to my hip.

“Agreed,” Imala said. She stands and does a slow turn. “I’m also amused how you put the white on us. We look good in our mini dresses. I love this ruffle piece that flows past our hem.”

They both look really pretty even though I help plan this under duress. “I’m glad you two like your dresses. I would like mine too if I weren’t being kidnapped by a crazy Costa Rican.”

They both giggle because they’ve made peace with this way before I did and probably know that I’m somewhat full of shit. I thought I was okay but now all the doubts are coming back. I wonder if being your sister-in-law’s gynecologist is some kind of conflict of interest. Damn, I should have used that. It’s moot at this point because if I tried to be a runaway bride my parents would try to fight me.

Karessa, still deep in planning mode, looks at her watch. “Okay, let’s get the tiara you felt you needed in place to keep us on schedule.”

I let out another annoyed huff and plop down in my chair. I loved my sisters’ wedding even though Karessa got married at gunpoint. I just didn’t expect to be at my own. I truly thought I’d be the one who gets married much later or not at all. Am I ready for such responsibility?

“Cheer up, sis. We’ve been here and we’re both fine. Marín is a good man and a great doctor. And, according to you, he’s an amazing lover. Plus that beautiful serenade… You could do a lot worse. Besides, yours is kind of a mix of ours. You picked him even if it was fake and was forced to follow through with it for real.”

I look heavenward at Imala’s rationale. It makes sense but I’m not feeling sensible.

“We never even had one date,” I complain since it’s one thing that somehow bothers me the most.

“Oran didn’t do any of that shit before we were married. I was surprised that he gave me a gift the morning of the wedding. I’m sure Dr. Delgado will take you out,” Karessa coos as she affixes the tiara. “There now your look is perfect. Let’s go piss off the León family.”

They both drop kisses on my cheeks and grab their bouquets. I hear them outside my door laughing with Marín’s groomsmen until their voices fade. My dad knocks on the door, ready to do this for the third time. I do my best to give him a glare when I open the door but his amusement somehow disarms me.

I hook my hand in his elbow as I give me the only threat that I can muster. “Just so you know, I’m calling you every single time he gets on my nerves since you’re making me go through with this.”

His chuckle is somehow calming. “I had nothing to do with this. Besides, marriage isn’t a death sentence, sweetie.”

I showed my dad my dress prior to the wedding so he wouldn’t be surprised. I was surprised when he didn’t seem to mind. Apparently, he’s even less of a fan of the León family than I am.

The door comes into view and I know it’s all downhill from there. He stops before we’re visible and turns to me.

“You look beautiful, sweetie. I know he’ll make you happy.” His warm brown eyes shine before he speaks. “Remember, I’ve only tried to play cupid once and although it was a shit show for a bit, I’m happy to point out that I have a one-hundred percent success rate.”

His joke makes me laugh enough to relax my nerves a little. I remember when I tried to ask him to get rid of Marín.

“I have a good feeling about him, Esme.”

“In other words, you did an extreme deep dive into his business and he came back clean?”

“Exactly,” he admitted with a wink.

The music for my entrance starts, solidifying that I’m really about to walk down the aisle for myself.This is crazy.

* * *

Marín

She looks beautiful. No, beyond that. She’s gorgeous. I didn’t think that anyone wearing this little get up and pissing off my catholic family would be sexy but Esme knows exactly how to make that happen.

I wonder what’s going through her mind as she walks down this aisle to meet me, I smile knowing that even though she felt like I bullied her to get here, I know that she wanted this just as much as I did.

I sneak a glance at my mother and I almost laugh at how in shock she is with Esme’s dress. It isn’t very catholic but whatever, my mother shouldn’t have been talking about her as much as she was in the tabloids.

I’ve repeatedly said I wanted a wife that was opposite of my mother and that is Esme. There is nothing in her that screams my mother’s attitude and I love that about her.

Hmm…Love.

Am I really using that word right now? Is this what it's come to?

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