Page 77 of Dex

“I got you something,” I say, taking out a gift bag.

“Oh, you didn’t have to,” Cari says, taking the bag for Brooke.

“You … you didn’t have to,” Jett says.

“It’s only a little something.”

Cari opens the bag and lifts out a little family of wooden elephants.A mommy, a daddy and a baby elephant.

The little girl immediately fully comes to life, a big grin lighting up her face as she tries to hold the elephants, but Cari insists they leave them in the bag.“Thank you,” she says to me.

“You’re welcome.”

We all say goodnight.Then Dexter, putting on another show, maybe because we both feel like we’re being watched, hugs me tight.“That was so sweet of you, to give Brooke those gifts.”

He looks genuinely surprised.I smile at him.

Chapter 19

DANI

My family home has been transformed into a breathtaking wedding venue.I feel a little sadness as I stare at the gardens where I played as a young girl.

Not once did I ever envisage in my future, being married to a stranger, a man I barely know.

But Dexter isn’t so bad.I feel something for him, but I’m not sure what.I try not to dwell on our moments together.Try hard not to think too much about that evening at the Bluebell Manhattan, or how we laughed and kissed in front of Raquel.

A few of my friends and cousins are here, fussing over me, smoothing down my dress, giggling and fawning over me.Telling me yet again how quick this is, how I’ve taken them all by surprise.

I hate the lying.Keeping up this charade is going to sap all of my energy, and the day hasn’t even begun.I wonder if I’ll survive this one year of married life.The thought of being Dexter Knight’s wife sends shockwaves through me, even though I should be used to that idea by now.

Feeling a flurry of movement, I turn to find Raquel marching towards me.My heart blooms at the sight of her.She’s been by my side ever since she flew in late last night, after the Knights left.

She helped me get dressed, and now she’s standing before me, her mouth wide open.“Oh my!What a vision.I’ll never forget you like this, Dani.”

She smooths down my veil.“I don’t want to mess up anything.You look so beautiful!”Tears well up in her eyes as she clasps a hand to her chest, just like Papai and Mãe did when they first saw me.They were both on the verge of tears, and it splintered my heart to see them like that, knowing this is fake, and empty and hollow.

We hug again, more like I put my arms around her and cling to her tightly.

“Hey,” she whispers when we pull apart.She’s still holding my arms.“What is it?”

“Nerves,” I whisper, remembering that the façade must be the strongest around my friend.Raquel is such a champion of justice and truth.She’s a good person, fighting all the bad things in the world.Corruption and greed.She and Paul Knight would hate each other.

I wonder how she and Rio will react when they meet today.

“Just nerves?”she asks, the bloodhound in her coming out.

“I’m happy,” I insist, more to convince her than anything else.“Dexter is such a wonderful man.He will take good care of me.”

Raquel looks at me like I’m an alien.Those words sounded alien to me.I’m rambling in my nervousness.

“You don’t need him to take good care of you, Dani, you can do that yourself.”She assesses me like she’s trying to figure out what the hell is really going on.

If I’m not careful, my emotions will get the better of me.As it is, my stomach feels weird.A dizzying sensation has been floating inside me all morning.I can’t back out now.Papai needs me to go through with this.

I keep reminding myself that Dexter isn’tthatbad.He’s not Oscar Ramos.If I hold that thought when I start to falter, it will always tether me back to the reason I’m doing this.Marrying a man who is nothing like Ramos.

“He’s a good man.”

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