Page 57 of That Time in Venice
Chapter21
Anika lovedweddings.
The cake, the dress, and everything about the ritual of watching two people come together as one never got old. Standing beside her cousin as maid of honor only sweetened this particular ceremony. Ronnie had selected a plum-colored off-the-rack dress—an outfit Anika could see herself wearing again—for both of her bridesmaids. Flowers tucked above their right ear completed theensemble.
Anika’s favorite part of any wedding day, however, was the reception, when family and friends joined the bride and groom in the ultimate celebration before they left for their new life together. They were at that point now. The speeches were over, Ronnie had danced with her father and her husband and, in Anika’s humble opinion, done an excellent job with thesalsa.
“Hey.” Ronnie hugged Anika around the waist from behind and rested her chin on her shoulder. “What are you doing over here in thecorner?”
“Hiding,” she answeredhonestly.
“Why?” Ronnie let go and stood nexttoher.
Anika had never seen her cousin look more lovely. Her dark umber skin simply glowed, the perfect contrast to the white dress, whose off-the-shoulder sheer sleeves sparkled like the rest ofthegown.
She regretted her answer when she saw the worry etched in her cousin’s features. “Today is your wedding day and I don’t want tospoilit.”
“I’m way too high for you or anyone else to spoil my day. Tell me why you’re hiding.” When Anika didn’t answer, she asked, “IsitReed?”
“No, it’s me.” She chewed her upper lip, watching him over near the French doors, engrossed in conversation with her brother, Ian, who was in town for thewedding.
“What do you mean?” Ronnieasked.
“I think it’s time for us to end our relationship. It’s run its course.” At least, that’s what she’d toldherself.
“You didn’t tell him, did you?” Ronnie askedgently.
Anika swallowed. “No,” she said quietly. She didn’t know how. Date and run had been her modus operandi for years with men her age. It kept her heart safe and meant she could avoid a tough conversation. With other men it had been easy. With Reed, impossible. She loved him, and she couldn’t come up with an easywayout.
“Forget about your fears and be honest. You’ll never know his thoughts about your situation until youtellhim.”
Anika shook her head vehemently. “I can’t. Then he won’t want me anymore.” Her voice shook. Voicing her fears made themmorereal.
“You don’tknowthat.”
She laughed humorlessly, her eyes scanning the gathered crowd. Everyone talking, eating, and drinking. Drunk on happiness andchampagne.
“Did it ever occur to you that you’re being unfairtohim?”
Her mouth fell open. She’d never considered how he felt, too busy worried about her own insecurities and her ownheart. “How?”
“He’s investing time into this relationship. He deserves to know up front so he can decide if he can handle this situation. I thinkhecan.”
“I thought Emerson could, too.” But Emerson had even said no to the idea ofadoption.
Ronnie followed her gaze. “Reed’s not Emerson, and Reed seems like agoodguy.”
“He is, but part of me wishes I hadn’t gone down this road in the first place. Just continued as I was going, dating the men I wasdating.”
“So you want to keep offering yourself as a sacrifice to men twiceyourage?”
Anika bumped her cousin’s arm with her elbow. “They’re not that bad. I’ve met somegoodones.”
“More bad than good if Iremember.”
“Hola, my wife.” Diego sauntered up, his green eyes filledwithlove.
Ronnie’s face brightened, understandably so. Despite the dress shirt and slacks, Diego had a rugged sexiness about him, and that Cuban accent only added to his appeal. Right now he appeared ready to toss his bride over his shoulder and carry her away to beravished.
