Page 66 of Shattered Oath
I just wasn't ready to admit it yet.
13ISABELLE
The foundation'sconference room had been taken over by wedding chaos.
Fabric swatches covered half the table. Invitation samples covered the other half. Aria sat at the head, surrounded by notebooks and color-coded folders, looking like a general planning a particularly glamorous battle.
"The hotel is getting prepped," she said, checking something off her list with satisfaction. "Flowers are ordered. Caterer is booked. Music is sorted." She looked up at the rest of us. "What am I forgetting? There’s always something."
"Sleep," Kim said dryly. "You're forgetting sleep."
"Sleep is for people who aren't getting married in six weeks to a man who has opinions about napkin colors."
Priya leaned forward, tablet in hand, all business. "The shower timeline is finalized. Saturday the fourteenth, two o'clock, at the rooftop venue we discussed. I've confirmed everything with their events coordinator."
"Guest list finalized?" Aria asked.
"Sent to you this morning. Forty-seven confirmed, three pending."
Nalani was typing rapidly on her laptop. "I've drafted the social media plan for the foundation's coverage. Tasteful, elegant, nothing too intrusive. We'll post a few curated shots after the event, nothing during."
"Perfect." Aria exhaled. "What would I do without you two?"
"Drown in fabric swatches, probably," Priya said, gesturing at the table. "Or succumb to invitation-related anxiety."
I sat beside Kim, reviewing the shower details on my own phone. The venue was gorgeous—a rooftop garden with panoramic views of the city, string lights, and enough space for the intimate gathering Aria wanted. Elegant without being excessive.
"I should mention," I said carefully, "I'm leaving right after the shower. I was supposed to be back in Milan last week, but I extended my stay. The boutique needs me."
Aria looked up sharply. "You're not staying for the final dress fitting?"
"I'll be back for that, I promise. But I need to check on Milan first. Make sure everything's running smoothly before I disappear completely for the wedding madness."
"The wedding is in Hawaii. You're not disappearing, you're relocating to paradise for a week."
"Paradise with a hundred guests and a bride who will murder me if a single seam is out of place."
"That's fair." Aria smiled. "I would absolutely murder you."
Kim laughed and reached for her coffee. "Speaking of the wedding—what exactly is Sebastian doing for his bachelor party? I need to know if I should be worried."
Aria's expression shifted to something between amusement and exasperation. "I have no idea. They’re all being very hush-hush about the whole thing. Every time I ask, he just grins and changes the subject."
"That's not ominous at all," I said.
"Right?" Aria turned to Kim with pleading eyes. "Talk to your fiancé. Tell him nothing too raunchy. I don't need Sebastian showing up to our wedding with a brutal hangover and questionable memories."
Kim was already laughing. "I have it under control. Xavier knows better than to push his luck with me."
"Does he though?"
"He's learning." Kim's smile was serene, confident. "Quickly."
Femi called while I was in the cab going home, the city sliding past my window in a blur of glass and steel.
"Hey." His voice was warm through the phone. "What are you up to?"
"Just finished bridal shower planning. I’m heading home now."
