ng wasn't

wers. No music. N

a city clerk in a gray office tha

satin, off-the-shoulder, with a slit up the side that made me feel like a s

de like two strange

ght, take Reina Moreno to b

t flinch

e Xander Elias Knight to be

sita

use I wa

e in that pause. My past. My future. My e

" I wh

ss. No I-love-yous. Just sig

ke that, I

eina K

rk said, "Congratulations," and I

d like

t feel

-

o the penthouse

e nothing had happened. Like we'd just wrapped up a b

trying not to think too h

llion

at this w

to breathe and smi

f my heels and walked straight to the fridge f

in, jacket tossed

night," he said, like it was th

like my life depended on it. "D

a stylist coming in the morn

list. There's always a st

y? Just... wait around in luxury

imself a drink. "You can u

hat's my actual jo

lass. "Smile when I need you to. Show up when

rt stu

"Don't worry. That

est of his drink and wa

dding dress, wondering what kind

-

t more like a cloud than a mattress. For a moment, I for

saw the white gold wed

l came ru

one b

ive in 30 minute

cou

ad laid out, and did my best to look like someone who belonged

of designer gowns, boxes of heels, and a makeup t

ere done, I didn't

matic, my lips a bold, confident red. The dress they picked w

living room, Xander l

st

or a s

ed and said,

t'l

ing goddess and all I

. "Gee, thanks,

ffering his a

before slipping my hand i

olute perfection. Being close to him was li

r. I could smell his cologne-clean, sharp, e

olling through something on his phone. "We'll be phot

e're just pretending to

. "I never said any

. So

ll tingled where t

-

a was pure chao

Reporters shouted our names. I froze, but Xander didn't. He wrapped an ar

I d

looked like th

to executives, socialites, and influence

eina Kn

at me like I

t time... I kind

eone asked how we met. Xander

s wedding. Love

ost c

othly, like it wa

ker of something in his eyes. Humor? Mischie

n was d

st to my b

feel

-

d we were back in the penthouse, I peeled off

one b

You did wel

message for a

I t

you. You're ve

ent p

Let's keep

he reminded me aga

s bus

rflies in your stomach or sparks wh

gh