Page 37 of Snow Good to Lose
Fuck her. Caden loved my body.
I checked her out. She had acquired bigger tits since the last time I saw her. Her skin was pale and her eyes sunken and grey. She covered it up with makeup, which resulted in her wearing too much at 10 o’clock in the morning.
“I’m not sure if your father told you, but I volunteered to stand in as your maid of honor.” She shrugged as if all of this was normal.
She had planned a wedding for a reluctant . . . No, reluctant wasn’t the right word. A nonconsenting bride was a more accurate description.
It didn’t matter anymore, Caden was gone, and I was alone. I slid down the wall and landed hard on my ass. I downed the rest of my glass and tossed it across the room. It shattered.
I covered my face in my hands and sobbed.
Anna gasped.
She put her pad and pen back in her bag and stood up. Her heels tapped against the hardwood floor.
She squatted in front of me.
“Amari McCoy.” She patted my knee.
I flinched but didn’t look at her.
“Amari, honey. I need you to listen to me.” Her tone was desperate.
“I don’t have to listen to anything.” I sunk further.
“Listen to me.” Her tone laced with fear. I lifted my head. Tears pooled in her eyes.
“If you don’t go through with this, they will kill us or worse.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “We’re all trapped here. I know you don’t care about me, but your father. Think about him.”
“I don’t care, don’t you understand that?” I pushed up from the wall and walked back over to the bed. I crawled in and pulled the covers over my head.
Anna sighed. The bed dipped. “Amari. The Sinezilios are a powerful family. They take what they want. You don’t have a choice here. Let’s just get through today. One day at a time.”
I buried myself further under the covers.
“I’ll start your bath for you.” She patted my hip.
She returned a few minutes later and pulled the cover off the bed. She grabbed my hand and, with another hand under my elbows, stood me up. My mind reeled, but my body complied. I had no more fight in me.
She guided me around the bed and into the bathroom. The next few hours went by in a haze. I existed in a fog. After my bath, Anna rinsed me off like a child.
The hairstylist and makeup artist occupied the adjoining room. They asked questions. I answered with a nod. Anna elaborated on my behalf.
Hair and makeup were followed by Anna stuffing my fat ass into a white lace bra, panties, and garters. It all happened too fast to be embarrassing. I had grown numb.
The zipper on the garment bag lowered slowly. I snapped me back to reality.
“I’m going to get some of the wrinkles out of it.” Anna pulled the ivory dress out of the bag and hung it in the shower.
One look at the material made me sweat.
I gasped for breath. I ran out of the bathroom. Anna called after me. She sounded far away. I rushed back to the window and clung to the edge.
Scenes of the day I hadn’t played out yet, all flashed across my mind. I feared falling deeper and deeper into some dark hole I’d never get out of.
A clearer image of Caden popped in my head. His dark hair was messy as if he’d just gotten out of bed. He was shirtless with his arms crossed over his chest. His forearms glistened with sweat and a scowl on his face staring down at me.
I told you to fight.
I gasped again and stepped away from the window. The image disappeared as quickly as it appeared. I blinked and looked around me. I looked down at the carpet. Someone had cleaned up the glass and removed the food from earlier. Another cover tray sat in its place. I stumbled over to it and fell on the couch. I lifted the tray and found a sandwich and some fruit. I ate them both. Chewing carefully. I tasted nothing, but it fueled my adrenaline.
“That’s my good girl.” My father stuck his head in the room. “I’m happy to see you’re eating.” Anna came out of the bathroom and smiled at him. Anna was always in love with my father. They must have grown close, if the ring on her finger was any indication.
Maybe I could talk them into taking this wedding ceremony, and I’d get the next one.
I finished the sandwich and felt more like myself. I wasn’t giving in or giving up. But letting myself fall into the abyss would’ve been disrespectful to Caden and everything he taught me. I was a fighter. I could take care of myself.
Somehow, some way, that’s what I was going to do.
