Page 10 of Rose Red (Once Upon a Happy Ever After 4)

“Of course I’ll be there, Abby. Seems like everyone’s getting their happy ever afters,” she said.

“It does, doesn’t it?”

“I can take care of the flowers if you like.”

“Oh, Ella, that’d be wonderful! Thank you. And feel free to bring Kase, too. Just make sure he brings a camera.”

It only took three people, their friends, contacts and a small fortune a few hours to plan a destination wedding. By seven that evening we were all taxing on the tarmac, about to take off.

The men gathered in the back of the jet, drinking whiskey, trading business stories and bonding while the girls and I caught up.

“So wait, you were in Delaware?”

Ella nodded.

“And you’re opening a sex club?”

Belle grinned, “Kind of.”

“And you bagged Liam Waldorf? Daddy’s head of Internal Affairs? How’d he take that?!”

Alica jabbed me in ribs. “A lot better than he took you marrying two guys,” she said with a smile and a hug. “You know everyone’s talking about what you did last night.”

Last year those words would have turned my stomach into a pit of knots. But now, not only did they not have an effect on me, I truly didn’t care.

“Don’t say it like that, Alicia,” Ella said sweetly. “Everyone is talking about it in a good way. People are really happy you put an end to that Page Six leak. A lot of them really admire the courage it took. At least, that’s what I’ve been hearing.”

I couldn’t help but smile. I guess I cared a little.

“Look at you, Ella. Not even back here a whole day and you already have a line on the latest gossip,” Belle teased.

Ella shrugged and smiled. “People just tell me things.”

Belle shuffled around in her suitcase for a moment and pulled out a gift box. “I know it’s last minute but I really wanted you to have some semblance of a shower.” She handed me the small box wrapped in black foiled paper and smiled. “Open it,” she said when I hesitated.

“Ooooh,” I said, pulling out two silver bangle bracelets connected by a thin chain. “It’s lovely, thank you, Belle.”

Belle smirked. “It’s not just pretty. It’s functional, too.” She slid one bangle on each wrist, effectively handcuffing me. “In case you want to get spicy,” she said.

I giggled a thank you and slid the kinky bracelets back into the box. Alicia handed me a bigger box. Beyond far to many layers of tissue paper was the most beautiful white lingerie I’d ever seen.

“Should be just your size,” she said as I hugged her.

“Thank you, Alicia.”

Ella gave me her present. “Belle said she was taking care of the dress so I thought I’d take care of this.”

“Oh but you’re already doing the flowers, Ella, you didn’t have to— oh my god! Ella these are just gorgeous!” I held up the crystal encrusted, glittering shoes and everyone sucked in their breath.

“They were my mother’s,” Ella said. “So they’re only on loan. But they’re real Swarovski crystal slippers.”

“Ella! Thank you! They are stunning!”

It was only a few hours before we landed in Spain and were piling into two limos to our hotel. Luca’s assistant needed a raise. The accommodations were perfect. Every couple had a whole suite to themselves and a concierge greeted us to go over the ceremony details. “The officiant will be here within the hour,” the portly gentleman said with a thick accent. “Please get yourselves ready quickly and meet outside on the hotel’s private beach.” He handed room keys to everyone and the girls and I ran to one the room that would become my honeymoon suite.

All three went to work on me. Ella twisted my hair into a beautiful updo, leaving a few stray pieces around my face. “It looks more romantic that way,” she said.

Belle set out a department store full of makeup on the vanity.

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