Page 54 of Crave

I’d agreed, of course. I wanted the wolf.

But I could use a fucking release from all the stress.

The rehearsal dinner was beautiful. Near the end of the night, though, it began to unravel.

“Christina, you have to change the seating,”my mom hissed, eyeing Patrick’s family across the room. Lee Anna and Patrick’s dad, Dennis, had started the evening getting along, but were obviously no longer on speaking terms. Meanwhile, his brother Nick was busy getting drunk and loud while my college-aged cousins enthusiastically joined him. His youngest brother, Eddie, looked completely overwhelmed by all the noise and people.

I tried to hold it together. “Mom, since when are you so afraid of a little family drama? It wouldn’t be a Ramirez gathering without it. Don’t be scared just ‘cause it’s coming from my in-laws this time.”

“Scared? Who’s scared? Areyouscared? Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts, Christina. Patrick’s a real catch. You won’t do any better than him.”

I didn’t tell her she’d said the same thing about Dexter. Instead, I grabbed an empty glass and filled it. “Mom, have some wine.”

The next afternoon, kneeling beside Patrick in front of the priest, the snowy folds of my gown spread out around me, I tried to focus on what mattered.

My love. Our life together. What we shared.

I peeked over at him from under my veil. Patrick looked serene. Peaceful. Huge in his tux. He would’ve been satisfied having three people at our wedding: him, me, and a justice of the peace. But he knew I wanted a big church wedding, a party afterward.

He wanted me to be happy.

When he caught me looking, a smile tugged at his mouth.

My mind jumped ahead to later. To tonight. I took a deep breath and focused on the ceremony so I wouldn’t notice all the suddenly phallic-looking candles, or the fact that I was kneeling beside my love.

Afternoon merged into evening just as we made our grand entrance at the reception hall overlooking a lake. We danced, we ate. Candles glittered everywhere, and the huge windows showed a magnificent sunset on the lake.

Patrick didn’t let go of my hand, and I didn’t want him to. Everything was going without a hitch.

At least it seemed that way. Until I noticed at dinner that Patrick’s family — who did end up sitting together — was arguing, and my aunts weren’t speaking to my sister Alexis, and half my friends from college were nowhere to be seen.

“You okay, babe?” Patrick ran his thumb over my lips.

I fought the urge to tell him not to ruin my makeup. What was wrong with me? I wanted his touch. I was dying for him to fuck me.

“I’m fine!” I chirped.

“Liar,” he said calmly, but his blue eyes were worried.

“Really. Whatever issues people have, they’re not my problem right now. We’re married and I’m going to enjoy it.”

“Damn right.” He grinned and kissed me.

Outside the ladies room, I was waylaid by my mom.

“Christina, you’re going to fix your lipstick? Good. What is going on with your friends from college? That Marcus, I swear he’s high. His eyes were bloodshot when I talked to him. And his girlfriend, Amelia? Why does she have to have that expression all the time?”

“Mom, that’s what she looks like.”

Out of the corner of my eye, my sister Alexis was heading straight for me in her champagne-colored matron of honor dress.

I grabbed her hand before Mom could snatch her away. “I need some air. “

Outside behind the wedding hall, as the velvet sky twinkled with stars, an unmistakable scent wafted toward us. Under a tree, we found Marcus and Amelia passing around a fucking joint with Patrick’s brother Nick, my cousin Gabrio, and…Patrick’s mom.

I marched up in my wedding gown, snatched the joint from Marcus, and took a drag. Everyone cheered.

“Christina!” Alexis groaned. “It’s going to smell up your dress.”

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