Page 38 of Devious Vows

At my nod, he hands me a package, turning to leave without a word. “Um, thank you.” I stare at his retreating back for a moment before shutting the door. Grabbing a knife from the kitchen, I carefully cut the tape and open up the top. My body thrums as my fingers brush along the edges of the black swan feather tucked between the soft tissue paper, my heart beating roughly against my ribs as I fight to breathe. I already know who it’s from without reading the folded paper tucked inside, but I open it anyway, tears blotting the ink and my heart cracking just a little bit more.

Happy birthday, cuore mio.

Chapter Sixteen

“Please don’t make me go.”

My mother shakes her head at me, her fork picking over her salad. “Beverly, I won’t talk about this again. You know it’s important that you be involved in the wedding and you know why.” She takes a bite, talking around a tomato, “You didn’t even want to marry Remy last I heard, so if anything, you should be pleased.”

“Well, if you ask me,” Julian pipes up, pointing a fry between the two of us, “it should be me in that wedding party and not Bev.” He stuffs the fry in his mouth, smiling when he catches my eye. “Everyone knows I look much better in pink.”

He manages to pull a small laugh out of me, despite feeling as if I’m going to hurl all over the table.

My mother shakes her head, lightly pushing her plate to the side “Well, we need to get going now if we want to make it on time.”

“I don’t want to,” I mumble under my breath, taking a sip of my water before scooting back in my chair. Thankfully only Julian heard me.

Pushing up from my chair, I watch my mother set cash onto our table and adjust her mid-length sapphire dress around her knees as she stands. “It’ll be a good chance to meet Viva and the rest of her party. You have the engagement to attend in a few days and this will be a good ice breaker.”

Today I’m getting fitted for my bridesmaid gown, and getting the privilege of meeting the one and only Viva Delfino herself.

I feel the grimace splicing across my face and don’t even try to stop it. I don’t want to meet Viva. I don’t want to make small talk or pretend I’m happy for her. I don’t want to fuss over her dress or compliment her hair. I don’t even truly know her now and I want her gone, preferably anchored to the bottom of the bay with a sack of bricks.

“Do you want me to come?” It’s Julian who asks, his hand rubbing over the top of his short hair as he eyes Mom. I’m sure he knows how much I don’t want to be doing this. I haven’t told him, but I never have to.

“No. Mom probably wouldn’t let you anyway.” He nods, reaching out to obnoxiously ruffle my hair and smirking when I slap his hand away.

“I’m leaving, Mom.”

She slings her bag over her shoulder, opening her arms out to Julian, who’s already bending down to give her a hug. I frown at them; she never hugs me like that. Then again, I’m usually running off without saying goodbye.

Julian points at me as he walks toward the sidewalk, moving through the other outdoor tables. “I’ll come over tonight and you’ll make me kettle corn.”

Mom and I follow after him, farther back so we’re yelling over the other people around us. “Don’t tell me what to do. Make your own kettle corn.” She smacks my arm, a slight hiss leaving my lips as I frown over at Mom. “Why are you hitting me?”

“Because you’re yelling. People are trying to enjoy their meals.” She tuts, smiling apologetically to people as we pass them.

Rolling my eyes, I drop my hand from my arm once we reach the sidewalk. Julian is already gone, I notice. “Are we going to the same boutique that we did for mine?” My stomach hurts with the question, but I do my best to ignore it.

“Yes. We’ll walk, it’s just a few blocks down.”

“Is she really choosing pink?” I ask, remembering Julian’s earlier remark.

Mom eyes me, the look on her face saying she really doesn’t want to say. “She is. Blush, actually, not pink.” She pauses at a crosswalk as we wait for traffic to stop. “She’s using nearly everything we picked out for your wedding in hers, actually.”

“Are you joking?” A laugh bubbles out of me, but it holds no humor, bile rising in my throat.

Mom shakes her head, offering a look of sympathy. “I’m not. Apparently, we planned her dream wedding.”

My heart thumps, a quick burst that steals my breath. Even Mom said it like she thought it was a crock of shit. I scoff, “Is she going to wear my dress too?”

“No. But I couldn’t tell you if it’s because that’s where Francesca drew the line or if she just wanted something else.” Mom tries to hide it, but I know she’s as frustrated as I am. She helped plan my wedding, I’m sure she’s just as annoyed to see all her hard work gone to waste on someone else.

Far too soon, I’m glaring up at the outside of a prestigious and chic-looking brick building, windows lined with bridal gowns displayed on mannequins and full-window photographs of famous people in their gowns. Mom opens the door and I follow her in, gut squelching as we walk up to the front desk. “We’re here with the Luciano-Delfino party.”

My heart is starting to thump behind my ribs as low panic bubbles in my chest.I really don’t want to me here.Wordlessly, we follow the hostess into a giant room where everyone is waiting. I smile to the few people I accidentally make eye contact with before spotting Delaney on the couch.Thank fuck I won’t be here alone.I move to sit by her, doing my best to avoid everyone else as I make my way through the room.

“I’m so happy you’re here,” I whisper to her as I sit between her and a particularly grumpy-looking older woman who is scowling around the room.

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