“God, I’m kind of embarrassed to say.”
The car comes to a stop at a red light, and I notice that we’re getting close to Bergdorf’s. Turning back to Raina, I decide to just rip the Band-Aid. “When you were in Paris, we had family brunch and August showed up. He and Joseph both said some things, and I had a panic attack. Next thing I know, I’m outside of his apartment, not really having any recollection of how I got there.”
After filling her in on the rest, on what feels like one long-winded run-on sentence—omitting the details of our time together a few days ago—she stares at me wide-eyed.
Rendering Raina speechless is something that doesn’t happen often.
I rushed out everything I had to say while my driver found a loading zone to pull into. Now, Ross is standingoutside of the car door after shutting it a few minutes ago when I told him we weren’t ready.
He’ll wait as long as necessary, but every passing moment spikes my anxiety.
“Say something,” I beg, picking an invisible piece of lint from my jeans.
Surprising me, she punches me lightly on the arm. “You little harlot, you. You realize you two are a modern day Romeo and Juliet, right? Families who hate each other. Sneaking around. Forbidden love. Ugh, I love this. Someone should write another book about it.”
“They ended in tragedy.”
She quirks a brow, her demeanor quickly changing. “Do you expect this to end with your families forgetting the past and holding each other's hands while you walk down the aisle? Seriously, Vinnie. I’ve been around your family for nearly two decades, and not once has anything kind ever been said about the Lucchettis. You’re playing with fire.”
Tears pool in my eyes, her words a harsh reality that embody every fear I’ve been thinking. I didn’t need the reminder, and it hurts to hear it aloud.
A bead of wetness rolls down my cheek, and I wipe it away quickly. “I know.”
“I know you know. You’re the smartest person I’ve ever met, but this is a terrible idea.” Reaching out, she grabs my hand. I look down at them, blinking back the waterfall of tears that threaten to fall. “But regardless if it’s a good idea or a bad one, I still support your decision. If Sly makes you happy—hell, if you don’teven know yet and you just think hemightmake you happy—then I’ll do whatever I can to help you explore this.”
Swallowing back the emotion that’s clogging my throat, I smile at my best friend. “Thank you,” I tell her. “I really just think I owe it to myself to see if this is real. The way he makes me feel is unlike anything I’ve felt before. And it very well could just be unexplored lust, but Raina, I don’t think it is. I think it'smore, and that scares me. I don’t want to ever have to choose between love and my family.”
Placing her hand on the door handle, she says, “Well, for right now, you don’t have to. Come on, let’s go shop and you can tell me all about this unexplored lust you’re feeling.”
Then she pops open the door and steps out, pulling me out onto the busy 5th Avenue sidewalk along with her.
The soft leather of the couch beneath me feels like butter against my skin as I sit and sip champagne while Raina’s in a fitting room.
I picked out my dress almost an hour ago—a floor-length beaded rose gold gown that sits off the shoulders and has a sweeping back that dips just above my panty line. It’s stunning, and everything I’d been envisioning for the gala this weekend.
Raina hasn’t been as lucky, tossing everything shetries on aside for various reasons. Too tight, too loose, too short, too much train.
“Any luck?” I ask before taking another drink.
I hear her huff with annoyance. The stylist hears it too and shuffles over to the fitting room door.
“Miss Lancaster, I’d be happy to bring you another?—”
The door swings open and slams against the wall as she emerges in a gorgeous floor-length lilac silk gown that hugs every curve of her body perfectly. It’s simple with spaghetti straps and a dramatic draping neckline, and the dress trails out behind her as she moves toward me with a scowl on her face.
“I love it, but there’s not a hint of sparkle on it,of course,” she says, rolling her eyes.
“Then get the one you tried on before this.” It was a gorgeous off the shoulder silk gown in the same color, that had a peek-a-boo layer of sparkles along the breasts. Very Julia Roberts à laMy Best Friend’s Wedding.
“It looks too similar to the one you’re buying.”
Literally, the only similarities are that they’re both floor length, tight, and off the shoulder.
“Then dress this one up. We’ll go to Cartier after we leave. All that glitters applies to beautiful jewelry, too.”
“So diamonds reallyarea girl's best friend, then?”
The slimy gravel tone from behind me makes my spine stiffen.
