I’m expecting Dante home any time now. I’ve cleaned every inch of the apartment. The smell of sex and Luca is gone. Now I’m sitting here eating pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries, blushing to myself, remembering how incredible it felt all over my body.
My phone rings. Shoving another mouthful of pancakes, I dig it out of my purse. I expect it to be Luca since I sent him a picture of the pancakes, telling him it doesn’t taste as good as he did. But it’s not the secret cell he got me that’s ringing, it’s the one Dante contacts me on.
“Hello.” It’s so hard not to sound upset when I talk to him.
“Hey, baby girl, what are you doing?” His voice has a light-hearted tone. Even when he’s being nice, it sets my teeth on edge.
“Just eating pancakes. Where are you?” Please be gone longer.
“I’ll be home tonight. Do you miss me?”
“Yes,” I lie, swallowing the lump in my throat.
“I’ve arranged for your first dress fitting this afternoon.”
Suddenly my appetite dies. “What dress fitting? I haven’t even picked one?”
“I picked for you, remember?”
“But—”
“But, nothing, Rosa. I’ve told you you’re going, so you do as I say. Take your sister. She looks like she’s been bored without you.”
I massage the back of my neck, taking a calming breath in.
“You’ve seen Eva? I thought you were away?”
He chuckles, raising the hairs on my arms.
“I have eyes on her all the time. The second you slip out of line, you know what happens to your innocent little sister.” He emphasizes the last few words, and it makes my stomach tighten.
Panic starts to grip me. If he has eyes on Eva, is he watching me? Has he seen Luca?
I lean back in my seat, rubbing at my temple. No, he can’t. Because he wouldn’t be able to control his anger, he would punish me.
“Ok, fine. I’ll be at the dress fitting. Text me the time and address.”
“God, you’re learning fast. See how much easier it is when you don’t fight me?”
I want to fight; I just need time to work out a plan.
I hear loud voices in the background. “I have to go. I’ll see you later. Say ‘hi’ to Eva for me.”
He cuts the call, and my tears erupt. That little glimmer of happiness that remained from my time with Luca shatters.
Maddie catches my hand before we walk through the doors to the bridal shop. Luca must have given her my new number. She texted me a few days ago, telling me she’s also coming on the Italy trip.
“You don’t have to do all of this, Rosa,” she whispers.
I turn to face her and nearly bump into her expanding stomach. A chill runs down my spine. Have we been too careless? Who else knows?
“What do you mean?” Throwing up my eyebrows, I try to give her the best innocent look I can muster.
“Rosa, I know you’re in love with Luca. There’s still time. Call it off and have your real fairytale. With the man that loves you.” She offers me a sad smile.
I wish I could.
“I do. I will always love him. But, it’s not meant to be. I’m marrying Dante. You know how this life works, Maddie.”
Even saying the words brings bile up to my throat. I swallow it down and straighten my back.
A blonde smiley woman thrusts a champagne flute in my hand. Without a word, I hand it to my sister.
“Welcome, we’re so excited for you to try on your gown. Although, it’s very unusual for the groom to pick the dress without the bride knowing. What a fun change.” She gives me a practiced pat on the arm.
I fake a smile, and Maddie furrows her brow at me.
“Yep, that’s Dante. He’s very particular about this wedding.”
Suddenly, that champagne doesn’t seem like a bad idea, but I can’t. I won’t.
“Well, you are going to look absolutely stunning in this number.” The woman stands back, looking me up and down with her index finger at her lip, assessing my body. “Hmmm. It may need taking up. It’s quite the dress and you are petite.”
If I were to pick my dress, it would be Grecian style. With a plunging neckline, maybe even backless, with diamante chains across.
Something elegant with a pop of sparkle.
She ushers us through to the fitting rooms. A whole room is filled with floor to ceiling mirrors and a stand in the center surrounded by plush blue velvet seats.
I don’t want to do this.
“Come on, it’s okay to be nervous. A wedding can be scary. But just try it on.” With a flourish of her own long pink skirt, she leads me through to the cubicle.
My hands fly to my mouth, and I gasp as she pulls back the curtain to reveal the monstrosity that is my wedding dress.
How could he?
A corset style embedded with thousands of crystals that then puffs out into a massive cinder style skirt.
I would drown in this dress. It’s not elegant or classy.
“Wow. That’s, err, something.” Eva gestures with the wine glass, both arms waving to encompass the billowing size. “What? It’s just not very, I don’t know, you.” She shrugs and takes a sip of the champagne.
Maddie wraps her arm around my shoulder. “Maybe try it on. You’ll look stunning in anything.”
I laugh and shake my head. Yeah right. I let out a sigh in defeat.
“Okay, get me in this thing.”
“If you’d like to get undressed, step into the middle and pull it up. Give me a call when you’re ready, and I’ll fasten the back.” Her giant blonde hair doesn’t move as she turns to leave.
I nod hollowly, not taking my eyes off this sparkly disaster in front of me.
She closes the curtain, and I run my fingers along the rough material. Slipping off my black dress and heels, I slide it off the hanger and it drops to the floor.
How the hell am I meant to even walk in this?!
I step in and pull it up, my heart in my throat as I look at myself in the mirror. I feel like I’m drowning in this material. My heart sinks as I realize I’m never going to have a real wedding. I’m never going to have those butterflies of excitement picking out a wedding dress. I’m never going to have that moment where I look at my groom at the end of the aisle and my world stops for a moment.
Dante’s taken that away from me.
He’s taken everything from me. And I’m not sure how much is left to give.
I might be stronger now, but I’ll never be strong enough to fight him.
He will always hold this power over me. This control. The threats.
“All okay in there?” The saleswoman’s voice calls through the curtain.
“Ready.” As I’ll ever be.
Her face is frozen in an overexaggerated smile. “Wow. Rosa. You look just like a princess fit for her prince.”
“Yep.” Except I’m not marrying my prince. I’m marrying the monster.
As she begins tightening the corset, I stumble as she pulls the ribbons tight. Fuck, I can barely breathe in this. Maybe this is how he wants to finally kill me.
“Perfect, all done. Fits like a glove.” Clapping her hands softly, she steps out of the way so I can leave the changing room.
Grabbing a bunch of the skirt, I hike it up and stomp over to the viewing area and stand up on the display.
Throwing my hands up to Maddie and Eva, I do a little spin. “Well, what do you think?”
They both stay silent.
“Wow, it must be good to keep you two quiet.” I cross my arms and stick out my lower lip in feigned annoyance.
My sister is the first to break out into a fit of laughter.
“I’m sorry!” she wheezes. “You look like you’re drowning in a sea of sparkles.”
She’s carefree and laughing at me. This is all for her, I remind myself.
I turn to the wedding dress lady. “Can I have any taken off the length? I can’t walk in this?”
“Of course!” She rushes over and gets on her knees and starts fussing over the hem of the dress, stabbing little needles in it.
I jump as an alarm pierces through my ears. It’s so loud I have to shut my eyes. I let out a scream as water beats down on me from the ceiling.
“Ok, girls stay calm. There must be a mistake. Follow me.” The woman gets off the floor and leaves.
What the hell is happening?
Maddie and Eva follow her through the door. I carefully get down from the stand and as I reach for the handle, something slams behind me. I turn and a smile creeps up on my face as a dripping wet Luca stalks towards me with his index finger at his lips and a devilish smirk.
