Page 234 of Dangerous Encore
Somehow, Violet manages to own her bright turquoise dress and her natural makeup. She looks beautiful—she always does—but this is the opposite of her usualstyle.
Then it'smyturn.
It takes forever. Or maybe, right now, every second feels like aneternity.
I want our ceremony to happen sobadly.
But I'm also drowning in nervousenergy.
I try to focus on my surroundings. Beautiful hotel room, breezy air conditioning, silly TV show playing in thebackground.
It helps.Sorta.
It takes three hours to finish my hair andmakeup.
But it'sworthit.
It'sperfect.
My long blond hair is pinned in an elegant updo. It's adorned with flowers, white ones that perfectly match mydress.
I step into saiddress.
And I lose every thought inmyhead.
I'm really abride.
This is actuallyhappening.
A knock on the door pulls me out of mythoughts.
"It's not too late to call this off." Ethan's bouncy voice flows through the door. "You know, if you want to commit to nevergrowingup."
"I'm afraid not." My voice isshaky.
Shit. I can't banter with mybrother.
I'm in over myheadhere.
"Sometimes, I worry about you." Violet pulls thedooropen.
Ethan raises a brow. "Youworryaboutme?"
She nods. "God, you look so good in that suit." She presses her palm against Ethan's chest. "Were we talking aboutsomething?"
"My inability to accept Piper as an adultwoman."
She looks back to me with a smile. "She knows you're kidding." She mouths,right?
I nod. Once upon a time, Ethan couldn't deal with the idea that I wasn't an innocent, naïvevirgin.
But he's over that. Or usedtoit.
Or smart enough not to bringitup.
Ethan leans into murmur in her ear. "Fuck, Vi, you look good enoughtoeat."
She clears her throat. "Later."
