Page 116 of Betrothed
“I envy you being able to do that. I can’t. I’m not strong enough.”
“Bullshit. You are one of the strongest women I know. You need to make yourself happy, whatever that means.” I walked toward her, realizing the joy I’d seen in her eyes had all but disappeared.
“I wish you were right.”
“Are you happy?” I asked her at the same time our cousin walked into the room bearing champagne and three glasses.
“How could she not be?” Kathleen asked. “Did she tell you that man has purchased every piece of jewelry in Italy? We should all be so lucky. Granted, you found a hottie, cuz. If you get bored…”
“Very funny,” I said in passing, keeping my gaze locked on my sister who was struggling to find a way to share something with me.
Nikki didn’t move or smile, her eyes flitting toward Kathleen and back to me.
“How did you trap him again?” My cousin seemed unaware of my sister’s unhappiness. Like father, like daughter.
I’d never truly hated being born into my family until now. “We hit it off. We were honest with each other.”
“Honesty is the best policy, right?” Nikki asked.
“The two of you are morbid,” Kathleen continued. “This is supposed to be a celebration.” When the champagne cork popped, she laughed.
I’d yet to ask her how her love life was going. Right now, I needed to follow through with a discussion with Nikki. After this was finished, I didn’t want her hating me.
“Kathleen, will you check and see if everything is in order?” I asked her. “I’m getting a little nervous. We should be about ready to start.”
She eyed me curiously but nodded. “You’re a worry wart, but sure. Don’t start on the champagne without me.”
“We wouldn’t dream of it,” Nikki told her.
I gripped my sister’s arms, waiting until Kathleen closed the door. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong.”
“You’re a terrible liar. Talk to me. I’m your big sister.”
She bit her lower lip. “I don’t know. Enzo is different. Yes, he plies me with gifts, but he acts as if I’m a burden. I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Maybe business just as he told you.”
“I guess.” She pulled away and I could tell she was weighed down by something. “Certainly not the fairytale I’d hoped for.”
“Sometimes things aren’t as they seem.”
“I know. But it seems like you really love Kirill and I can tell how much he loves you by the way he looks at you. Enzo doesn’t do that any longer.”
I wanted to beat the hell out of the Italian myself. “Try and remember things happen for a reason. Maybe fate will step in again.”
“That’s cryptic as hell. So much so I need champagne.”
I didn’t try to stop my sister, instead twisting the special watch on my wrist as I glanced at the time. On cue, there was a knock on the door.
“Uh-oh,” Nikki said, teasing. “Another boyfriend?”
“Very funny. Kirill would kill them.” When I opened the door, I was quickly pulled into an emotional moment. This wedding was real. I was getting married.
And to the most handsome man on earth.
Who stood in the doorway, taking a few seconds away from the reason he’d interrupted to swallow the lump in his throat.
