“No.”
“Then.”
“Fuck, Lilly, can’t you just drop it?”
It’s like all the women in my life are on a mission to piss me off today.
“No. Why was that woman mad at you?”
“Oh, Fu...she saw me with you and thought I was on a date, ok?”
She pauses to take in the situation. Today was not the day I was planning to brief Lilly about London, if ever.
“And you didn’t tell her I’m your sister?” Maybe I should have.
“It was none of her fucking business.”
My sister takes the tips of her fingers to her forehead and squeezes her pretty eyes.
Yes, it’s me, your brother, the douche.
“Zachary you are such a stupid man. You really need to move past this lone cowboy faze, little bro. Not every woman is Isabella, and not every breakup is that bad. You need to start taking risks again, or you’ll wake up in ten years hating your pathetic life.”
If I could shoot lasers through my eyes, she’d be fried right now.
“Gee, thanks for the heads up, sis. Eat your damn steak and shut up.”
It hurts. It shouldn’t, but it does.
She was beautiful. A tall, gorgeous woman with wavy, chestnut hair, gold watch on her wrist and red lipstick. They looked like a power couple.
I can’t help but think about the two of them together while I finish my makeup. Paris already left and this quiet in the house gives me a lot of free time to spiral over what happened.
I bet she’s amazing in bed. I am not, he knows I’m not. My sex life before Zach was short-lived and plain boring. He broke all my barriers and gave me pleasure I didn’t know was achievable, but the exchange was not mutual. I wish I was the one to give him more. With a deep breath, I get up from Paris’s enormous vanity and take a final look at myself. The dress is still as gorgeous as the day Zach bought it for me, but it hurts to wear it. Ugh, I can’t believe I’m stupid enough to let this shake me. The man didn’t promise anything, he specifically told he’s not willing to give an inch. Zachary Ford is not mine, but why does it feel like I’ve lost something?
The Uber ride to the venue is short and when I arrive , I lose my breath. Paris chose the perfect place, a garden on a rooftop, decorated in lavender and white, and bathed in the Chicago sun. The city is laid out in front of us and the calming sound of the lake hitting the shore accompanies the string quartet. Everything is beautiful, perfect. My cousin did an incredible job and I know her parents deserve it. There are pictures of them everywhere, thirty years of love and loyalty spread out on the tables. It’s something that some of us will never know.
Tears start stinging my eyes when I see the radiant smile on my aunt’s face, and I run straight into her arms. When I reach her it feels like home, it feels like a mother’s touch.
“My beautiful baby, You’re here!”
“Auntie...”
“Don’t cry, love!” But I can seem to stop. I haven’t seen my aunt and uncle in a year and three months, since papa’s funeral. This is what I need right now. ”You and Paris gave me the most beautiful present!”
“Oh, my God, I missed you so much! Where is Uncle Pedro?”
“Oh, he is attacking the seafood bar with our always-starving daughter. How are you, my child? Oh, how beautiful you are!”
“Good! I’m good, Chicago fits me so well and having Paris close is like a dream come true. Thank you for asking me to come, and for letting me stay in your home.”
She laughs and it’s like a ray of sunshine radiates from her skin. Aunt Jacqueline is a beautiful woman. Beautiful chocolate-colored hair frames her marble skin, she has blue eyes, and rosy lips, and the emerald green dress she wears make her look like a queen. She is my uncle’s queen, that’s for sure. They were always the most in-love people in the room and the cutest couple. She always looks ready for the red carpet - and I’m telling you right now my aunt would put Meryl Streep to shame - and he’s always dressed like he is today: Hawaiian shirt, black jeans, goatee, and dashingly handsome.
“We didn’t let you do anything. You’ll always have a place to call home with us. Oh, give me another hug.” I squeeze her as hard as I can, then Uncle Pedro strolls
to us and from there it’s a string of hugs, tears, and memories. We dance and go through champagne bottles until the sun starts to go down over the city it’s finally time for their ceremony.
Paris comes to me smiling like an idiot and holding on to a pink bouquet of flowers that match her dress. Needless to say, she’s stunningly beautiful.
“Hey, it’s about to start. Are you sure you don’t wanna be a maid of honor with me?”
“Yeah, I want to watch from the front row. You go and be pretty up there.”
“Sure thing. Can you check on the balloon guy? He is supposed to release them after they say I do.”
“I’m going to talk to him right now. Paris, relax, everything is beautiful. You did wonderfully.”
“Yeah, well don’t count on me planning your wedding. This shit is exhausting.” We part ways laughing. She doesn’t need to worry about that anytime soon.
I find the balloon guy behind the glass door that goes to the elevator, he’s trying to untangle some strings.
“Hey, we’re gonna need you in about forty minutes.”
“Sure thing, I’ll have everything ready to go. I’ll be releasing them from the back of the garden, so the wind spreads them out evenly.”
“Great, that’s g...”
The bing of the elevator cut my words short and when the doors slide open my stomach clenches. I can’t do much except gaping with my mouth open at an incredibly elegant Dr. Zachary Ford.
He steps out but doesn’t say anything for a few moments, taking his time to look at me from head to toe.
“Nice dress, you look ravishing, London.”
I… Thanks?
“Nice suit.” And it is. It seems like it’s been tailored on him. The way his navy-blue pants and blazer covers his body is sinful.
“Thank you, it’s a Giorgio Armani.”
“What are you doing here, Zach?”
“You invited me. I’m your date, remember?”
“That was before you lied to me!” My voice goes up and behind me, I hear the balloon guy gathering his things quickly and getting out to give us the privacy needed for this argument.
“London, that was something else. Can we move on please?”
“I’m trying, but here you are! Zach, I don’t have time for this, my aunt’s ceremony is about to start.”
“I know I’m a little late, I had something to take care of before coming here.”
My jaw hits the floor immediately. I have never been a violent person and probably will never be. Not after today.
“You horrible, dreadful man!” Out of impulse, I launch myself at him with my fist clenched. I know that my hits are won’t hurt his rock-hard chest, but I like to imagine they will. “Why do you do this to me? Why do you like trashing me like this?”
I hit him a couple more times until I’m captured in a strong embrace. His arms chain me and press me to the strong chest that has served me as a pillow many times, and I hate the wave of pleasure that breaks and travels down my body. I hate it. I wanna hate him because God knows he deserves it.