Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
I don’t know if I believe that, but I go with it.
Drew grumbles from the front seat but keeps his eyes on the road while he drives us off the estate. This must be a sanctioned outing since Sebastian isn't currently blowing up my phone or chasing me down the driveway. It doesn’t take us long to arrive wherever it is we’re going, maybe ten minutes. Drew pulls the sedan to the curb outside an upscale boutique.
“If you guys need anything I’ll be right here, chilling in the car.”
“That’s fine, because we won’t be needing anything.” Bel snickers and I look at the front door of the shop skeptically.
Bel must sense my hesitation because she latches onto my arm and damn near drags me out of the car. "I know this doesn't seem like my style, but it's a good place to get dresses and the added touch is the staff don't make me want to punch them in the face."
I’m not sure what to say, so I say nothing at all. Bel drags us both through the door, and the little ding of the bell announces our presence. It’s a beautiful shop, all white and black on accenting marble. The mannequins are stick figures barely holding clothing arranged artfully around the room. This is not a place I’d ever come to shop. I risk a look at Bel, but she seems determined.
A small woman in black slacks and a black blouse comes around from the back of the shop. "Ah, Ms. Arturo, you've returned. How can we help you today?”
“Yes, my friend would like to try on some dresses if you have time?” Bel answers for both of us.
“Of course we have time, anything for you.” The woman smiles and gestures for us to follow her.
Bel leads me to the back room, following behind the woman. We pass down a hall, and then a curtain is pulled to the side, and we step into a beautiful, relaxing space. In front of us is a low white couch. Bel guides me over to it, and I sink down into its soft, comfy cushions.
"Cecile, we need a dress for my friend Ely here. A special dress. Can you help us?"
She gives a little bow as a second staff member appears with a tray of cookies and tea. Ohhh, this is fancy. Cecile stares at me for a long moment and then waves her hand to request I stand. I scurry to my feet and let her turn me ever so slightly. "Do you prefer long or short dresses?" She asks.
I let my mouth flop open a second as I spot a line of wedding dresses on a rack by the wall. I don’t know. Thankfully, Bel swoops in to save the day. "This is all new to her. We are shopping for an intimate wedding ceremony so pick something to make her husband drool."
The sound of her husband in regards to me makes my insides churn, and I sink back onto the couch slowly. Wait, did she say wedding? Bel notices the change and hands me a cookie. "Relax. I know it's all new to you. I understand. I also understand this might not be the way you wanted things to go, but I’m a glass half-full kind of girl. Have you thought of the good parts this arrangement brings?”
Cecile leaves us then, and I take a long deep breath to try and gain control of my fractured composure. "Good things? Like what?"
Bel tilts her head, her mouth turned down as she studies me. "I get you didn't envision the marriage part going like this, but It's not like you and Sebastian didn't have serious chemistry before all of this, right? You've been making mooney eyes at him since I met you. And soon we can have a real party, a real wedding to enjoy."
The thought of how ridiculous I acted makes my neck burn with shame.
"So," she continues. "You have Sebastian. And he is devoted to you. Completely. There will never be someone more in your corner or protective."
I sigh. She doesn’t know everything, though. She doesn’t know who her brother really is, or what he’s done. "Okay, but what if you knew Drew did something terrible? Like really, really terrible and he kept it from you even though you were part of it, and he should’ve told you. How would you feel?"
Something shifts in her eyes and she turns to busy herself making a cup of tea even though she's got a half-filled iced coffee on the table as well. "I would be upset and angry, but I would also have to learn to accept maybe he did a terrible thing to protect me? Not everything is cookie cutter style, Elyse. Sometimes the person you love does stupid things in an effort to lessen your own pain. It’s your job to decide if you can forgive him or not.”