77. Juliet
77
JULIET
Sofiya
It’s wedding dress day, ahhh!
Sienna
If only Sofiya was excited!
Sofiya
Hey, I didn’t get to choose my wedding dress. I’m living vicariously through Juliet
The bridal shop person will be here in an hour. Do you want her to set up in the penthouse or your apartment? We don’t mind either way
As always, Sienna and Sofiya accommodated me without making me feel guilty. Romeo had been called away early this morning, but Queenie and I had been practicing taking the elevator alone.
Juliet
I’ll come up to you
I was about to put my phone down when it vibrated again.
Romeo
Thinking of you, angel. I can’t wait for you to be my wife
Juliet
I’m heading upstairs to try on wedding dresses soon. Any requests?
Romeo
Something dangerously sexy
Wait, no. I don’t want to have to blind our guests
Something that covers you completely
It should be white
Juliet
Wow. That was helpful
Romeo
Brat. I love you
Juliet
I love you. Stay safe
Romeo
How could I not when I have you to come back to?
I smiled at my phone like a fool. I was actually a bit nervous about trying on dresses. I’d looked at dresses online and it had quickly become clear that designers made dresses for one specific body type. However, Sienna and Sofiya had insisted that they were taking care of everything and I would find something perfect.
I made a latte, grabbed a bagel, and headed out to the small balcony overlooking the park. I wasn’t comfortable leaving the apartment yet, but I could manage the balcony and rooftop without anxiety now. The first few trees were turning green in Central Park as spring tried to make its way to New York.
Queenie hopped on my lap and took a bite of my bagel before I could stop her.
“You do realize you’re not actually the queen?”
She stared at me with unrepentant eyes and licked her lips.
I snorted. She ruled everyone in her domain.
I stayed outside after I finished my breakfast and practiced my breathing techniques. I’d started seeing a therapist. We had video sessions twice a week, and Romeo had even joined a few of them. He was so encouraging and willing to do whatever he could to support me.
The first few weeks after I returned were a blur, but Romeo, Queenie, and our friends had been constant. Matteo and I had even had another self-defense lesson while Clementine cooed in her bassinet.
When it was time to head to the penthouse, I headed to the front door with Queenie curled up in my arms. I’d spent most of my last therapy session doing exposure therapy in the elevator. Queenie had taken her role as emotional support expert very seriously.
My heart thundered in my chest as I pressed the elevator button. I could manage the short ride without a panic attack now, but it still wasn’t easy. I couldn’t stop my smile, though, when I stepped inside the elevator and was greeted by the colorful art and handwritten notes everyone in the building had written for me.
I was surrounded by love, even in my fear.
Seconds later, the elevator dinged and Queenie and I stepped off. Angelo was outside the penthouse apartment and broke out into a smile when he saw me.
“Look at you, taking the elevator on your own.” He was typing something on his phone, and I narrowed my eyes.
“Are you reporting on my movements?”
He winked. “You know your man is prone to dramatics if he doesn’t get his Juliet report.”
I pursed my lips but couldn’t completely stop my smile.
Angelo bowed his head to Queenie, saying, “Your Majesty,” before opening the apartment door. “Have fun.”
Queenie leapt out of my arms the second we were through the door and marched imperiously up to Noodle. Her tail smacked him in the face—not that he minded. Noodle saw Queenie as his best friend, but I was pretty sure she saw him as her royal subject.
“Hello!” Sienna called out. “We’re in here!”
I headed into the kitchen, blinking at the massive charcuterie spread of fruit, cheese, and pastries on the island.
The girls pulled me into a hug and pushed a mimosa into my hand.
“Everything is set up in the living room,” Sofiya said. “We’ve banished all the boys except for Noodle, and Clementine is with Matteo so we can be completely focused on you.”
Sienna dragged me into the living room before I could sputter a response about how they were doing too much for me.
“This is our bridal consultant extraordinaire for the day, Charlie,” Sienna said, introducing the woman standing between two long racks of white dresses.
“It’s so nice to meet our bride-to-be,” Charlie said with a smile as she shook my hand. She was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with her hair in adorable space buns, but what put me instantly at ease was that she was plus-sized like me. The tension in my chest, the worry at being judged by a snooty consultant, faded away and was replaced by excitement. This was supposed to be fun . I was marrying the man of my dreams, and I would do it in a gorgeous, fancy dress.
Charlie wasted no time pulling dresses for me and asking what styles I liked. I showed her some pictures on my phone of dresses that had caught my eye, and then we got started. She helped me into the dresses in the guest room, and I modeled them out in the living room where Sienna had set up a full-length mirror. All the dresses fit me pretty well with just a few alterations needed—important since the wedding was so soon—but none of them felt right.
“Maybe I’m being too picky,” I said, twisting in the mirror. This dress was everything I thought I wanted—lace sleeves, fitted at the top, flaring out into a voluminous skirt at my waist.
“You are not being too picky,” Sofiya said fiercely. “You have so many more to try on!”
“She’s right.” Charlie drummed her fingers against her arm. “I have one I know will look amazing on you.” She pulled out a dress from the second rack. It had long sleeves, a plunging neckline, and beads all over it. It was beautiful, except I could tell it would be a lot more form-fitting than what I’d been trying on.
“Yes! Try that one,” Sienna said, giving me a nudge.
I drummed my fingers against my arm but had to admit I was a little curious, so I followed Charlie to the bedroom.
The dress felt different from the moment it was on. I headed back to Sienna and Sofiya, who gasped in unison.
“Juliet, you look stunning,” Sofiya breathed.
I twirled in the full-length mirror.
The beadwork created beautiful lines on the otherwise simple silhouette, but the most dramatic part of the dress, by far, was the plunging neckline in the front and back. The top of the dress was structured enough that I didn’t have to wear a bra and my boobs still looked perky. It was more cleavage than I’d shown possibly ever, but I felt so sexy.
The dress clung to my curves, not hiding my wide hips or belly.
“It’s perfect,” Sienna said.
“You don’t think it’s unflattering?” I gestured at my midsection. The two of them shouted their disagreements, and Charlie joined in, too.
“Okay, okay!” I shouted, interrupting their fervent pronouncements that I was a sexy goddess with the prettiest tits they’d ever seen . My cheeks hurt from laughing. “Then I guess this is the dress.”
Happy squeals ensued, and we spent the rest of the morning talking about the wedding plans while we drank and snacked.
* * *
Romeo’s hand skimmed my back as I curled against his chest in bed. It was almost midnight and he’d just gotten home thirty minutes ago. He was taking on extra work now so he could have everything set for our wedding day and “honeymoon” after. We had no plans to travel, but Romeo apparently had a full week of activities for us planned in the apartment.
I was just excited to have him to myself for a week.
“We talked about the guest list today,” I said. “And I was wondering if you had invited your mom.”
Romeo hardly ever spoke about his mom. They very occasionally talked on the phone, and I knew she lived in Italy, but other than that, she was a mystery.
His hand froze on my back. “I’m not sure.”
“It’s coming up kind of soon.”
When he didn’t respond, I propped myself up on his bare chest. “You haven’t told me much about her. Were you close with your parents growing up?”
His fingers played with the ends of my hair. “We were all close when I was a kid. My parents were amazing. They had an arranged marriage, but my father said he fell in love with her when my mom walked down the aisle. I had an amazing childhood.”
“I’m so glad you had that,” I said.
He wrapped both arms around me, hugging me to his chest. “I wish you had had that, too, angel.”
I hummed. “What happened then?”
“Matteo’s father, Aurelio Rossi, was Don. His brother, Aldo, was hungry for power and murdered Aurelio. Matteo and Sienna barely escaped with their lives. We spent the next two years at war—my family and many others supported Matteo’s claim, but some supported Aldo. They targeted everyone who supported Matteo. A group of Aldo’s men broke into my parents’ house and held them hostage for days. They tortured them, eventually murdering my papà. I barely got to her in time.”
I pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek, wishing I could take away the pain. I was sure there was a lot he was leaving unsaid because it was too hard to speak, or because he wanted to shield me from it, but I appreciated him sharing as much as he had.
“I’m so sorry,” I said. “It’s horrific you all went through that.”
He took a deep breath. “My mom moved to Italy after it happened, and things have been strained between us since.”
“Do you ever visit her?”
He shrugged. “I was in Italy a couple years ago and saw her. She has a new partner now—a woman named Francesca she met after moving there.”
“Does that bother you? That she’s with someone new, and a woman?”
He shook his head. “No, I want her to be happy. I met Francesca just once, but they seem good together.”
“She’s the only family you have left. We have to invite both of them.” When he didn’t respond, I cupped his cheek. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He gave me a quick smile. “Nothing. I’m sure my mom will be excited to come. She’ll love you.”
I still had a feeling that he was holding something back, but I wouldn’t push him. I trusted he would tell me when he was ready.
“Have I said how excited I am to marry you?” he murmured.
I pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. “You might have mentioned it once or twice.”