in

ur sleepy-ass out of bed, I

napped op

ai

en light out

l, it's nine-fifteen. Your fitting is at ten and you've got bedhead and drag

married at all," I mu

ntial dread. Shower

owel at me li

rror, blow-dryer in one hand, mascara wand in the other. Yasmin sat cross

me do your hair," s

y burned my e

and you moved. Trau

didn't argue. "Do I

like a girl getting handed over to the

Comfor

need to fake a stomach bug to sta

er. We both k

ney and florals. Inside, it was too white. Too shiny. Gowns lined the walls l

en expecting you.

suite while Yasmin trailed behind, alr

ss was

like smoke. A gown made for a girl who wanted t

into it, the ro

I take it back. Maybe marry him

lf in the mirror

m wearing someo

id, mouth full of pastry. "Wh

ed fussing with the back. "Let

feels tight,

to the couch. "So

r w

ies with cold-eyed people who ask you how ma

onestly. "Giovanni barel

myster

ionally co

hat's a

ked a

rd. "Real talk, do

even kn

you saying yes

in. "Because no one ever told

her up for

throat. "We're going to bri

Oh good. More symbolism

nd pearl earrings. My mother called the look tasteful. Yas

ll if that wa

knotted the closer we got. The house stood like a fort

smin said beside m

't wan

got it,

way into the formal dining room. Giovanni stood near t

said. "Aminae.

you," I

th cheeks. Yasmin nodded politely, then whisp

se be

ev

first. Classical music played low. A chef came out, introducing each di

poke halfway throu

s fitting

," I

you've begun lookin

ked. "

he wed

ught perhaps the coast-there

been co

are of logistics, of course. You'll need t

d. Said

e me, do you all hear something buzzing? Like t

raised a brow. "

n," I said, wit

ootsteps approached the

and suddenly th

't intr

pologize fo

in-like he belo

beneath the cuff. Eyes like sharpened metal. The

ually froz

, took a seat, and poured hi

s throat. "This is

an Ro

ooke

t at

ooth, rich, and dangerous in a w

d. "Lik

ze. Longer th

her seat. Long enough to make Yasmin wh

e to realize some

eathe the e

n front of Cassi

since he sat dow

guest lists. My mother and Giovanni's aunt were already debating colors for

Cass

dn't

idn'

t... w

Sometimes the flickering candle.

dy solved. Like he was counting the seco

mething about one of the servers

th the table-picked up Giovanni's untouched linen napkin, folded it i

back down. I

fr

didn't

one

en touched me. But that one, cold g

eryone kept eating. But s

e it had just been marked

oked

an's eyes met mine-f

wi

cr

nough

saw

wanted