Page 2 of Papers Don't Lie

“She’s losing her last daughter. Maybe she’s sad.” Ilory tries to defend Mom’s attitude, her innocence showing despite us being the same age.

Taylor laughs.“We were born to be married, Ilory.”

Sad but true. On the day we turn eighteen, to be exact, not sooner and definitely not later.

“And she has one more daughter,” I whisper, but the girls ignore my comment. They don’t consider Cielle our sister, and as much as I’d love to think the same, I can’t. I was there when she was born, and they’ve never known her.

I turn to the mirror, inspecting my outfit once again. I’m not worried about my appearance because of my future husband, but because I look like a stranger, and that’s not how I want my life to be. Marrying someone shouldn’t erase my entire identity.

Raven, the sister I’m closest to, steps forward and hands me a box. I glance at her, searching through her brown eyes for clarification.

“Thought you needed to recover a piece of you.” She smiles.“Open it.”

“You’ll love it so much, I just know it!” the hyperactive sister, Victory, shouts.

I open it with trembling hands, the now ripped packaging revealing a gorgeous gold bow. My fingers trace its shape, my body instantly relaxing at the sight of one of my favorite things in the world. The man waiting for me at the altar forbade me from wearing any bows because I’m now a woman, but I couldn’t care less in this moment.

“It’s gorgeous, you guys,” I mumble while I try to hold back tears.“I’ll miss these.”

Out of all the things our parents did to us—good or bad—the greatest was to bring us to each other. Without them, I would’ve never really lived. My sisters are everything to me.

“What do you mean? Put it on,” V insists.

A laugh bubbles out of my mouth.“Carter hates them.” I bite the inside of my cheek, hating how sour his name sounds on my lips.

“It’s your night too, Esmeray. You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t wear it.” Naveah smiles at me in the reflection.

I twist on my toes to look at my sisters—my biggest supporters, confiders, friends, and my rocks through all this madness—and I nod my head before handing the bow to Raven.

“For the old times’sake?” I ask, smiling for the first time in weeks.

“I’ll deliver one to your door every week. Don’t worry,” she whispers in my ear as she tries to fasten the bow into my curly hair.

After twenty minutes of final touch-ups, we exit the room, the low music flowing from the speakers. I shiver at the thought of the upcoming events, and my sisters notice the shift immediately. One second later, Victory has her arms wrapped around me.

“It could always have a good ending, Esme. Just like it turned out for me and Oliver,” she reassures me, placing a kiss on my cheek. I absently nod my head. What they have is special. What I have with Carter is… complicated.“Just give this marriage a chance. It might surprise you in the end.”

She’s right.

This marriage is happening whether I want to or not, so the least I can do is to give him a chance.

Carter tried multiple times to take me on dates so I could get to know him better before we married each other, but I always made up excuses I now find stupid. One time, I told him I couldn’t go shopping with him for his next event because I had to iron my bows. He partially believed it, which may be the reason why he hates my favorite accessories so badly.

Two enormous wooden doors open in front of me, and I gulp as I take in the first sight of the red carpet under my shoes, stretching directly to Carter at the altar. I slowly raise my eyes, and when I meet his, I freeze.

“What’s wrong?” Naveah asks.

I look at her, not knowing what to say.“I need to poop,” I whisper-shout.

“Right now?!”

“Yes!” I hiss.

“Aw, the emotions are getting to her.” Ilory smiles, lacing her fingers together and bringing her palms under her chin.

“The last thing I want is to shit my pants on my wedding day.” I breathe out, looking at the people waiting for us. They all look at me expectantly, and I manage to force out a smile along with an awkward wave of my hand.

Naveah sighs, but before she can say anything else, Raven gets involved.“Be as fast as you can. Go.”

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