The good guy rarely even got a fighting chance.
The good guy got his heart slaughtered.
The good guy… sacrificed everything for family and still got shit on.
I was no longer good.
I wasn't bad either.
I was just… existing. Like I'd told Tex.
The music became louder and louder. My hands started to get clammy as the anticipation became more unbearable as the music continued.
And finally… the door opened, and Andi stepped through.
I had prepared myself for her smile. My body stiffened as she walked happily down the aisle with Nicolai escorting her.
She even threw her own damn rose petals.
The girls joined in the soft laughter as she continued tossing them out of a small basket.
When she was at the end of the aisle, Nicolai kissed her on the top of the head and took his seat up front.
She turned.
I glanced at her smiling mouth. I didn't allow myself to feel anything. I simply stared at it and thought to myself, Wow pretty smile, full of life, marrying, contract, done deal.
"Pssst." She gripped my hand. "You're forgetting something."
"Um…" Was it normal to talk during the ceremony? I leaned forward and whispered. "What?"
"My veil," she mouthed.
"Oh." Feeling stupid I quickly pulled the veil back from her face and froze.
Pure joy met my gaze.
Stunned, I continued to stare, my hands trembling.
"You… uh, you can put it down now." She winked.
I'd prepared myself for her smile.
But I hadn't prepared myself for her eyes, for their inviting warmth, for the adoration I didn't deserve.
She looked at me like I was her hero.
And for one brief moment I wanted more than anything to storm the castle, rescue the girl, and ride off into the sunset.
"Shit," I muttered, releasing the veil and turning toward the minister.
"Romantic." She elbowed me in the ribs.
I would not smile.
I would not fall.
I would not, could not allow it… I just couldn't.
I told my body to stay straight; I told my head not to turn to the side; I told myself not to lean in and smell her.
But no matter what I told myself…
I didn't listen.
She smelled like lilacs; her skin was perfection; her laugh was warmth.
And I was screwed.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Andi
THE CEREMONY WASN'T MY DREAM COME true. I'd be lying if I said it was.
But it was… interesting. Especially during that brief half-second when Sergio had actually looked at me like I was pretty — like I was desirable — like he wanted to be there.
The moment quickly dissipated.
Replaced by the word shit and the sinking feeling he was referring to the fact he was about ready to commit his life to me.
I tried to keep the smile on my face during the reception. And to my utter delight, I had two different flavors of cake; meaning, I was going to kiss Mo on the mouth next time I saw her.
But now… everyone was gone.
And I was exhausted.
My body wasn't what it once was, and I hated acknowledging the fact that I couldn't just stay up all night and party with my new family.
I couldn't even keep my eyes open.
One minute I'd been sipping champagne and leaning heavily on the table. The next I'd felt strong arms lift me up and carry me to bed.
I thought it had been Tex or one of the guys. I mean, all of them were basically muscular bad asses in their own right, so it would be easy for me to confuse which chest was which.
But the smell.
The smell of expensive cologne tipped me off.
Sergio, with all his anger issues, always had a tell. He wore Versace and he had a weakness for expensive everything.
I'd never been the type of girl to like cologne. It seemed overpowering and fake. It reminded me of stuffy overweight men in suits, smoking cigars and talking about crime.
But on Sergio?
Well, let's just say I had a brief fantasy where we starred in our very own cologne commercial, jet-setting across the world in fast cars and yachts.
Oh, and my bathing suit was black and awesome.
And I wasn't sick.
I was healthy and swimming in the ocean.
Damn. I missed the ocean.
I blinked against the darkness blanketing the room and held tight to Sergio as he slowly lowered me to the mattress.
My teeth chattered, not because I was cold, but because I wasn't sure what to expect. Would he try anything with me? Or would the idea actually repulse him?
I tucked my knees up or at least tried to, but Sergio jerked my legs back down.
"What?" I tried to get up on my elbows but was too weak.
"Lie down, Andi. Sleep."
"But you—"
"Sleep," he said in a gruff voice as he removed my shoes then very slowly turned me on my side and began unzipping my dress.
"Are you—"
"Going to take advantage of a sick tired girl?" He finished. "No, Andi. I'm not that guy."
"Bummer," I joked.