Nora’s lips pressed together. “For your dress, would you rather go strapless or strapped?”
My face balled in confusion. “Doesn’t matter to me.” It wasn’t like I was the most girly girl, so dresses weren’t my specialty or preference. I could barely walk in heels without breaking my neck. Getting dressed up for a wedding I was being forced into wasn’t ideal either; so I couldn’t care less what I wore.
Nora blew a frustrated breath out and irritation passed on her face. Apparently this shop was a big deal and it took months to even get an appointment. Once again I was shown being a Tavarez came with certain privileges because I was able to get an appointment right away.
“Stand up,” Nora demanded. We hadn’t spoken much. She was locked into her phone and iPad the entire drive here. When we got to the dress shop, she immediately took over, talking with the lady servicing us.
Sighing, I set my bottle down next to my book bag and did as she said.
The worker circled me. “You have a wonderful neckline and shoulders. While you’re not very tall, you still have a delicate figure. I believe a halter mermaid style would do you justice.” She stopped in front of me and gave me a onceover. Her head tipped to the side slightly as her hand went under her chin and she squinted.
After a few seconds of observing me, I felt myself getting antsy and was about to speak when she snapped and smiled.
“I got it!” She clapped happily while her eyes lit up in excitement. “Just leave it all to me.”
____
It felt like we had been at this shop for hours. I went through six different dresses before finding one even I loved.
“That’s it! This is the one,” Nora gushed with a bright smile on her face.
Shifting my eyes, I gazed at myself in the full body mirror. The white halter sweetheart top dress hugged my frame perfectly. It was overlayed in lace, backless, and mermaid style. With a court train at the bottom. As much as I hated to admit it, it looked like it made for me.
I spun around to face my brother. “What do you think, bud?”
His eyes lifted from his game. A smile split his face. “You look really pretty!”
I ran my hand down the front then looked at the worker. “I’ll go with this one.”
She clapped happily. “Great. The chest area needs to be altered a tad, and the waist, but those are simple modifications. I have your measurements and it’ll be ready in time for your big day.”
I twisted my lips to the side and turned back to the mirror. Typically, I dressed simply and homely. In the short time I’d been around Nazai, I’d been more dressed up than in my whole twenty-three years of life. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel good either. My mom was far from motherly and didn’t really care to show me femininity, so this was new territory for me to explore.
CHAPTER 13
NAZAI
There was a lot of movement going on around me but I couldn’t focus on anything except that in a few short minutes I would be tied to someone for the rest of my life. While to most marriage was a beautiful thing, to me it felt like chains were being wrapped around me, locking me in place. My soon-to-be wife was a mystery to me too. All I knew about her was what my brother was able to dig up. A few red flags rose with some of the information, like her being looked at for her parents’ murder, who her parents were, even how she reacted to certain things, but call me foolish, none of those made me want to call off the wedding.
“You ready to be locked down?” Lucas asked as he approached, patting me on the shoulder.
Adjusting my tie, I made eye contact with him in the mirror. He had a taunting smirk on his face.
“Of course he’s not. He’s about to turn in his player card for a girl he doesn’t even know,” Ezra said, coming up.
Lucas winced. “That’s true. I couldn’t imagine. Is being the head of the family worth it?”
I twisted my head so I was looking him in the face. “You think I’ve been through all I’ve been through to not cross the finish line. Padre’s been preparing me for this my whole life, it’s my birthright.”
“You got that right, hijo!” Dad said out of nowhere. “I might not agree with your choice, but I’m glad you did what needed to be done.”
I turned and eyed my dad and brother. Emmet was sitting on the couch near the wall, messy with his Rubik Cube, looking in deep thought. I wasn’t sure what his fascination with the thing was, but he’s been into them since we were kids.
“It is weird though, right? She doesn’t have anyone here but her brother. Does she have no family at all?” Lucas questioned.
“No she doesn’t. I checked,” Emmet commented.
I hated when he popped in a conversation after looking like he wasn’t paying attention. One thing about my brother was that he was always watching and listening even if he didn’t seem like it.
