by Cathryn Fox
“I think this ball gown will be perfect for you.”
My heart races a little faster in my chest as she removes it from the hanger and helps me into it. The second I see the dress on me, the silhouette perfect for my shape, I swallow hard and fight the barrage of emotions pushing tears into my eyes.
“I knew it,” Lucille says, and clips it in a few places. “We have to do a few alterations, and we’ll put you at the top of the list of course.”
My throat squeezes tight, my legs a little wobbly. “That’s so kind.”
“Anything for the Bianchis.” She stands back. “What do you think?”
“I love it,” I whisper, my heart aching in my tight chest. “But I can’t go with the first dress, can I? I mean, I’ve watched the shows and it takes girls forever to pick their dress, right?”
A wide smile splits her lips. “When it’s the right one you know.”
My pulse leaps. She’s right. When it’s the right one, you know. A surge of love wells up inside me. At the wedding last summer when Roman kissed me, it sealed the deal. For years I thought he was the right guy, but that kiss was electric, setting off a storm inside me that would forever ruin me for other men. Maybe deep down, he feels it, too, but is too afraid. A little bubble of hope wells up inside me. Is it possible that he wants this, too, and is using Richard as an excuse? I spin around and there is nothing I can do to wipe the ridiculous smile from my face. I’ve always tamped down hope, too afraid of disappointment—too used to disappointment—but this just all feels so right.
“Should we go show the others?” she asks.
I nod, my hair bouncing around my shoulders as we step out and she puts me on an elevated pedestal. I glance in the mirror, and I really do feel like Cinderella. Is it possible that fairy tales really do come true?
“Okay, turn around, dear,” Lucille says.
I spin and everyone smiles with lots of oohs and ahhs. The way they’re all looking at me makes me feel like I’m someone very special, even though I spent my whole life telling myself I wasn’t.
“It’s perfect,” Mamma says. “She’ll take it.”
I laugh at that and Lucille looks at me. “Do you say yes to the dress?”
I take in all the expectant eyes and put my hands to my chest. “I say yes to the dress.”
* * *
I glance around my empty classroom. Honestly, I can’t believe the week I’ve had, or that it’s Friday afternoon already—my wedding is less than twenty-four hours away. For the last week, when I went off to teach, Roman’s family would forge forward to put the perfect wedding together for me.
I push to my feet, ready to head home to my new...family. I smile and resist the urge to pinch myself. Honest to God, I’m just afraid to let myself get too excited.
“Oh, I didn’t see you there,” I say, finding Richard in my doorway.
He puts his hands in his pockets. “The big day is tomorrow, huh?”
“Yes, we’re renewing our vows for his family,” I say, disliking the smirk on his face.
He gives a humorless laugh. “Renewing? You say that like you guys are already married.”
“Yes, well, if you’ll excuse me.” He steps farther inside, blocking my escape. I try to go around him.
“You’re lying,” he says. “You were never married. This is all a farce, some sort of fake arrangement you have with Roman. Go ahead, admit it.” He scoffs. “Not that any of it matters now, not with you both sealing the deal for real tomorrow.”
I lift my chin an inch. “I don’t owe you any explanation, Richard.”
“No, but you owe me one,” Andrew says, entering the room from the hall. Richard’s smirk widens, as he turns and slinks out, leaving me alone with Andrew.
“Peyton?” Andrew says, his brow furrowed. “Is it true? You and Roman were never married?”
My stomach clenches so hard I’m sure I’m going to throw up. “It’s...um...the marriage bar...” Good God, no matter how I put it, it’s never going to look good for me.
“We don’t have a marriage bar.” He angles his head, his eyes narrowed, studying my face. “Not anymore.”
“I realize that, but from my research, and those I’ve talked to, I heard it was still practiced.” As more words stream out, I attempt to turn the oncoming tide with, “I just thought it would be okay. No big deal. Harmless lie.”
“I see.” He adjusts the collar on his shirt and stands a little straighter, exuding his authority. “You lied, then?”
“I don’t really think—”
“Presenting yourself as married when you’re not is a lie, Peyton,” he says, his voice taking on a hard edge that shoots daggers of worry through my body.
“I just thought...” I take a breath and change tactics. I can’t lose this job. I just can’t. This has been my dream for so long and I’ve connected with the children. “I’m good at my job, Andrew. You can see that. Marriage was an obstacle and that was my only way to get around it, so I could show you how good I am at my job. I wanted you to judge me based on my merits, not my marital status.”
“Being single is something I would have accepted. Lying, however... I’m afraid you don’t have the morals for this job, Peyton.” As he frowns and shakes his head, my heart goes into my throat. “If you’ll please take all your things with you when you leave.”
My knees nearly collapse as the room closes in on me. I grip my desk and I take a few quick breaths as air squeezes from my lungs. Is this really happening? I open my mouth to plead but he shakes his head to stop me.
“That will be all,” he states, and disappears out the door.
“Ohmigod,” I say, and fall back into my chair.
I just lost my job.
I sit there for a long time, trying to wrap my brain around this turn of events, until the hum of the lawn mower outside my window sets me into motion. I have to tell Roman and once I do, there will be no need for us to go through with the wedding.
With my life crumbling around me, I force one foot in front of the other and somehow make my way back to the villa. “Roman,” I call out, my voice as shaky as my hands as I drop my purse. I race through the villa and go to the rooftop, but he’s nowhere to be found. I run back downstairs to grab my phone from my purse, but papers on the kitchen island catch my attention. Maybe he left a note.
I run to the island and pick up the papers, and as soon as I realize what I’m holding I sink into the closest chair.
A prenup.
A level of separation between those who have and those who don’t.
A piece of paper that reminds me who Roman is, and who I’m not.
Tears press against my eyes and bile punches in my throat. An almost hysterical laugh explodes from my mouth. I drop the papers onto the floor like they’re disease-ridden and slowly back away. Yeah, I should have seen this coming. People like Roman and his family need to protect themselves from someone like me—a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who will never be good enough, never really be accepted or loved for who I am.
I never, ever should have let myself believe in fairy tales.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Roman
“OKAY, I HAVE TO RUN. Peyton should be back at the villa by now,” I say, and my sisters all take turns giving me a hug. I absolutely love the way they took Peyton under their wings, readily accepting her and showing her love and affection, just like I knew they would.
Before I leave the family villa, I take a look at the beach below, the perfect spot for us to exchange vows tomorrow. A seed of hope wells up inside me. It’s all kind of surreal, really. I’m not sure I can quite wrap my brain around the fact that I’m marrying my best friend’s sister. After my gold-digging ex walked out, refusing to sign the prenup as is tradition in our family, I closed my heart off. But things are different with Peyton. She’s sweet and beautiful, open
and honest, and yeah her brother is going to tear me a new one, but once he sees how serious I am about her, how much I love her—that this wasn’t just about sex—I think we’ll be able to bring him around to our side. It’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission, right? Besides, he wants his sister happy, and I damn well plan to spend the rest of my life making her exactly that.
I step outside and hop in the car waiting for me. “How are you doing today, Elias?”
“Very well, Roman, and you seem quite happy yourself.”
I smile. “Tomorrow is a big day for me,” I say.
“To the villa?”
“Yes, thanks.”
As we drive through the streets, my heart beats a little faster, I’m so anxious to get home and pull Peyton into my arms. Being away from her for any length of time practically kills me, and that just makes me laugh. I pull out my phone to see if she messaged me, and disappointment wells up inside me.
Man, I’ve got it bad.
I stare out the window and take in the scenery. I might have to travel to the States every now and then, but most of my work can be done here and meetings can be held online. If Peyton wants to stay in the villa we can do that, or if she wants to buy a new place, I’m open to that, too. Whatever she wants, she gets.
Elias stops the limo in front of my villa, and I thank him and rush up the steps. I punch in the code and step inside.
“Peyton,” I call out. “You home?” I note that her purse isn’t by the front door, but she could very well have taken it to our bedroom. I take the steps two at a time and find the bedroom empty. I go all the way to the rooftop, but she’s nowhere to be found. Perhaps she hasn’t returned from school yet. I shoot her off a text and when she doesn’t answer, I head back outside and walk to her school. I try the front doors and find them locked. Strange.
I walk around the school, only to find it’s closed for the weekend. I check my phone again, worry gnawing at my gut. Is it possible that she went to the family villa, expecting I’d still be there? I shoot a text off to Lucy.
Hey, Lucy, is Peyton with you guys?
No, why, what’s up?
Oh, nothing, she’s probably just doing a bit of last-minute shopping.
You sure everything is okay?
Perfectly fine.
I shove my phone back into my pocket, but something isn’t right. I feel it deep in my gut. I hurry back to the villa and make my way through the place again, but Peyton is still missing. I step into the bedroom. Something is off. I walk around the bed and to the closet. I open it and my heart sinks into my stomach.
“What the hell?”
I hurry to the other bedroom, check the closet there, but her things are nowhere to be found. In the bathroom I find her cosmetics and toothbrush gone.
Peyton packed up her belongings and left? I take a breath to calm myself, working to figure out why she would have done this, and I almost laugh when it occurs to me she’s probably staying at a hotel tonight. Tradition dictates the bride and groom don’t see each other before the wedding. Still, why wouldn’t she have mentioned it? Perhaps she left a note and I haven’t seen it yet.
I head to the kitchen to check, and my foot kicks up papers. I snatch them up and realize it’s the prenup I left on the counter this morning, every intention of discussing it with Peyton tonight. Why the hell is it on the floor? I falter backward a bit, my mind racing and slowing on the most logical explanation here.
Peyton found these papers and bailed.
I sink into the chair, unable to believe this. I pull my phone out again and send another text. When it goes unanswered, I dial her number, but it goes straight to voice mail. Has she blocked me? Worry sets in, and I pick up my phone and check flights out of Malta. There isn’t one until tomorrow, so it’s not like she’s taken off today, unless she chartered a private flight.
Fuck me.
I drive my fingers through my hair and pace and continue to wait for her response. When my phone finally rings, my heart leaps—except it’s my sister. “Hey,” I say, sounding completely irritated.
“Ah, are you okay?” Lucy asks.
“I don’t think so.”
She lowers her voice. “What’s up, Roman?”
“I think she’s gone, Luce. I think she saw the prenup and changed her mind.” I glance around the empty villa. It’s stark and hollow without her in it.
“That doesn’t sound like Peyton.”
“I didn’t think so, either, but her things are gone, and she’s not answering my messages.”
“Maybe she’s staying somewhere else tonight.”
“I thought that at first, but all her things are gone.”
“That doesn’t make sense.” She goes quiet for a moment. “Could something have happened at school?”
I tug on my hair as it gets harder and harder to breathe. “I don’t know.” I swallow but there’s nothing I can do to hide the panic in my voice.
“You know the principal, right? Why don’t you give him a call?”
“Okay, good idea. Thanks, Luce.”
“Let me know, okay?”
“Don’t say anything to the others, please.”
“You know I’ve got your back, Roman. I wouldn’t have made you eat mud if I didn’t love you.”
That pulls a chuckle from me. “Later, Easy-Bake. Love back.”
I find Andrew’s number and call his place, but no one picks up. Determined to get to the bottom of matters and hoping I’m making a huge deal out of nothing, I call for Elias and get him to drive me to Andrew’s home. I’m out of the car before it even comes to a complete stop, and I dash up the stairs. I pound on the door, and Andrew opens it, a frown on his face.
“If you’re here to try to get Peyton’s job back for her, you’re wasting your time.”
My heart stalls and I grab a hold of the rail, squeezing until my knuckles turn white. “What are you talking about?”
His eyes narrow on me, assessing my face. “She didn’t tell you?”
“No, I can’t find her.”
He nods, like he understands that. “Now that she’s out of a job, she’s probably going back to the States.”
“Why is she out of a job?” Jesus, what the hell happened today? “She’s the best person for it, Andrew.”
“Is she now?” He taps his finger on his chin and worry explodes inside me. “Do good people lie about being married, Roman?”
I suck in a fast breath. “Oh, shit.”
“Yes, exactly.”
“You know we’re getting married tomorrow.”
“It was never about the marriage, it was about the lying.”
“Come on, Andrew, you have to give her another chance,” I plead. “A marriage bar is ridiculous. You must know that.”
“I’m sorry, Roman. The contract has already been signed by Richard.”
My throat squeezes tight. “You’re making a big mistake.”
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m in the middle of something.”
He closes the door and I stand there staring at it for far too long. How the hell did he find out? It had to have been Richard, and while I’d like to track him down and introduce my fist to his face, right now it’s Peyton I’m worried about. She needs me. Phone in hand I head back to the limo and shoot a text to Peyton, telling her I know about the job and we need to talk.
Three dots pop on the screen and I stop breathing, waiting for her words to come in, but when they do, my jaw drops.
Peyton: Thank you for your support. You’re off the hook. Marriage is no longer needed.
“What the hell?” I say as my life crashes down around me. She’s letting me off the hook? Doesn’t she know how I feel? A groan catches in my throat. How could she know? I was too afraid to tell her, too afraid she’d bolt.
Goddammit, even though I neve
r expressed what she meant to me, she had to know, right? Or have I been reading what’s between us all wrong? I sit in the back of the limo and pull the prenup from my back pocket. My mind searches for answers. Was I only a means to an end with her? Now that she no longer needs me for the job, is she done with me, or did this prenup have something to do with her running away? My ex left because I asked her to sign one and she refused, and that lesson taught me she wanted what I had, that she never wanted me for me. Is the same thing going on with Peyton? Does she want my name and what’s in my bank? I shake my head slowly, refusing to believe that for one single second. But while my heart says one thing, my brain reminds me of past hurts.
No, she’s not like that.
I sit in stunned silence as Elias drives me back to my villa. I give him a generous tip and head inside. With a headache brewing I go upstairs and into the bathroom. I toss back a couple pills and plunk down onto the bed. I turn my head sideways, and that’s when I see my grandmother’s wedding ring, sitting beside the lamp.
I jackknife up and reach for my phone. Goddammit, I can’t let this happen. I just can’t. I walked away from her once and it nearly destroyed me. I know there is more between us; I felt it in her touches and kisses, felt it when we made love last night. So why did she run away? Is she afraid I’m going to hurt her?
There’s only one person who can help me figure out what’s going on, and it’s time I come clean. I pull up my contacts and press Call. The phone rings, and I take a deep breath when Cason answers.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Peyton
“COME ON, WE’RE going out,” Carly says.
I sink deeper into the comfy sofa and plant my feet on the coffee table. “Nope, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Yes, you are.”
I pick up the remote and flick through the stations. I haven’t left my condo in two weeks, not since I lost my job—and the man I love—and hopped on a plane to come home. Someone raps on my door, and I sit up a little straighter, my heart missing a beat. I honestly have no idea why I would think it’s Roman. We had fun, played house for a while, but now it’s over. I’m sure he’s glad he’s off the hook for marriage.
