Any Way You Slice It
Page 17
Chapter 14
It was Thursday after work; I sat in my little apartment and realized that I wasn’t going to be living here anymore. .
I had told Lucy that Aaron wanted to take me away for a romantic weekend to celebrate my success. She naturally found that totally swoon-worthy. We roped in a couple of our regular helpers to cover my weekend shifts.
When I came back from Vegas on Sunday, I’d officially be moving into Aaron’s. But I guess I could still stay here if I needed to since I started work so early. Not that sharing a place with Aaron would be torture, mind you.
Still, I hadn’t lived with anyone except when I’d followed Jacob to the US all those years ago, and that definitely hadn’t worked out. I was used to taking care of me and only me, so this would be a big change.
I had ordered a wedding dress online and the package arrived today, just in time. I hadn’t opened it since Cherie insisted that, if she wasn’t coming to the wedding, she was at least coming over for a pre-wedding dress-viewing and champagne. That was nice. I had never had so much champagne in all my life as I had these past two weeks. Still, one more glass couldn’t hurt
With the business changes and this wedding, I felt the old life I had built for myself shifting. Probably for the better, but the truth was, I had been happy in my little flat, building my business, making a few friends, and having a beer at O’Shaunnessy’s. It hadn’t been a huge life, but it had been worthwhile. Things felt like they were about to expand exponentially.
Cherie came bounding up the stairs and entered, as always, without knocking. She had shopping bags over one arm and a bottle of champagne in the other and was humming the bridal waltz.
“Hey, you. What you got there?” I grabbed a bag from her.
“Only a few little treats.”
“Cherie!”
“Don’t Cherie me. You’re my best friend and you’re getting married.”
I grabbed a couple of glasses from the cupboard while she popped the bubbly.
“To the bride.” We clinked then Cherie got all comfy on the sofa. “Okay, dress first.”
We unwrapped the dress which I had found at a great designer discount site online. Lucky for me, I’m a standard size. Still, I had a moment of panic.
“What if it doesn’t fit?”
“It will.” She squeezed my arm—her version of a love tap. “Open it.”
I unfurled the dress, a strapless ivory sheath that fell right below the knee. It was lacey but also simple, elegant, and it was made out of fabric that felt like butter.
“Ohmygod, I love it. Put it on.”
The dress felt amazing and, when I looked in the mirror, l looked like a proper bride. Cherie whipped the elastic band out of my hair and my curls cascaded around my shoulders.
“You look amazing. Aaron will choke on his own tongue.”
I almost swallowed my own. “What?”
“I meant in a good way.” She grabbed another bag. Linnea’s was scrawled across the front. Wow. The fanciest lingerie shop in town. “Open this.
It was a white teddy that would be perfect under the dress. “You like?”
“I love.” I hugged her. “Thank you.”
“Now this one.” She lifted a large box from the next bag and inside, beneath a riot of tissue paper, she’d hidden a bunch of treasure. The first was a small beaded bag. It was her nonna’s she explained.
“Something Old.”
I started to cry. “That’s so lovely, Cherie.”
“Now don’t get all misty on me,” she fanned her hands in front of her eyes. “My mascara will run.”
“It’s just, well, your family is like my family and…”
“I know sweetie. And now you’ll officially be one of us. So you need a part of us on the big day. Apart from the groom that is.”
Something Blue was next: a cute and surprisingly tasteful garter. It was followed by a small bracelet made of sea pearls that I knew was Cherie’s, so Something Borrowed. Finally, the Something New: a small veil.
She slid it on my head and, with all the other bits; I now truly looked like a bride. That’s when the tears started in earnest.
“Oh my God, what am I doing?” I asked her.
“You’re getting married to a really great guy.”
“But look at me. Shouldn’t all this be for when you’re in love? For when it’s real?”
“Look at me, Piper.” She grabbed my chin and made me face her. “It is real. You really are getting married to a real guy who really likes you.”
I shook my head. We were such great actors, we’d even convinced her.
But then that little voice in my head reminded me of Aaron’s pretty speech.
What if he had really meant it?
“I know you don’t want me to say all of this because this isn’t how it’s done. But he does like you.”
“Yeah, but it’s not love.”
“Well, honey, what does love look like? Love is caring, love is kindness, love flirts, love shows up, love makes you dinner, love smiles when it sees you and love has your best interests at heart.”
I shook my head and wiped away some tears. “You sound like him. Your family has some weird ideas about this stuff.”
“Our grandparents all had arranged marriages and they worked out fine for fifty plus years, so I guess we believe what my grandmother says: that love grows wherever it gets water and sunlight.”
“I need a drink.”
“First, you need to get out of this pretty dress so we don’t get those mascara coated tears on it.”
She was right. I peeled off the frock and she packed the wedding dress and accessories away neatly for me. We also packed my bag for Vegas while we were at it.
“Listen to me.” Cherie hauled the bag off my bed and stuffed it next to the dresser. “I’m not saying you need to marry Aaron and fall in love. I’m saying that it’s possible you already have and the idea scares you.”
She knew me too well. “Of course that would scare me. He doesn’t believe in love.”
“Of course he does. Honestly, he’s just as messed up as you are. Just because he’s got the fancy house and the big job and a bit of bravado doesn’t mean anything. He’s been burned by his parents and so now he’s scared. Remind you of anyone?”
“Maybe.”
“Definitely.” She nudged me with her shoulder and handed me a drink.
“We need a toast. To your happily ever after, for now at least.”
“That I can drink to.” And we clinked our glasses.
After she left, I lay on my bed drinking a cup of tea and wondering what the hell I was thinking for about the millionth time that week. Then I reminded myself that I wanted this. This meant I could stay in Boston, keep my business and make my dreams come true. This was my only option. Being married to Aaron was part of the deal and I was going to have to make it work.