Chapter 25
Luci
12 Days Until The Wedding
A s always, Alessandro is gone in the morning when I wake up, the smell of his cologne left behind. Memories from last night keep repeating in my head. The way I felt connected to him like never before. I shake the idea out of my head and get ready for the day. After I’m dressed, I head downstairs but am interrupted by El dragging dresses upstairs.
“Perfect timing! Come with me.” El grabs my hand, pulling me up to the third floor, dresses almost falling out of her arms in the process.
“I came down for some coffee.” Pointing to the kitchen, wondering how El is energetic and put together this early in the morning.
“Girl, do you know me at all? I took care of it. Now come on.”
For once, the door is unlocked and El must notice my face when she chuckles. “I convinced Marco to leave the door unlocked so I could come up with the dresses. Also, I convinced him to switch out the lock for the day and now it locks from the inside. That way no stupid boys can barge in.”
“Speaking of Marco, what’s going on with you two?” Girl talk has never been my strength, but having El around allows me to at least try.
She tosses the dresses on the bed before turning around, hands on her hips. “What’s going on is he’s a stupid playboy.”
“Why do you care what he does? You’re dating Andrea. You are still dating Andrea, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I’m still dating Andrea. Sometimes I think I’d die without him. Today is not about boys, it’s about you finding a dress. Do you have an idea of what you want or should I pick something for you?”
I never gave thought to what kind of dress I would wear. To be honest, the idea of wedding dress shopping terrifies me. “I don’t think I should wear a white dress since. . . you know. Maybe off-white or cream or something similar. You’re the one who’s the best at this though. I think you should pick.”
El cheers and instantly goes to work scanning through the dresses she’s brought while talking to herself. “Too glamorous for a garden wedding. Too boring. Too sexy for a Catholic wedding . . . unless. No. No sexy priests. Oh! I got it.” I’m always shocked by how confident El is, both in her skin and with her quirks.
El turns around holding three dresses, pausing before handing them to me like she’s only now processing something I said. “Hold on! Why no white dresses? Is this about the whole ‘only virgins wear white to their wedding’ thing? Come onnnnn, Luci! That’s a load of bullshit, you can wear whatever color you want. Now, try these three on. The three dresses have different silhouettes yet similar details. They all have some sort of sparkle, vibes to match the garden, and straps or sleeves to please the Catholics while still showing off your assets. We are not in the ’80s anymore we can be glamorous and somewhat conservative at the same time. Now, go put it on and I’ll help zip you up.” She shoos me off to the bathroom before I have time to look at them.
The first dress is a ballgown with a corseted top, sheer sleeves, and a skirt that fades into a floral lace at the bottom. El laces me up, turning us both around and she immediately notices my reaction.
The dress makes me look younger and shorter than I am. “I look like a five-year-old with boobs.”
El leans into one hip, tilting her head to the side as she eyes me up and down. “Yeah. I see that. Ok, next dress.”
The next dress is the one I’m most nervous about. It’s made of elegant lace and sheer in the back but it fits tight against my body. What if I look fat in it? What if my stomach shows too much? What if the pictures show every roll I have? What if Mamma has something to say about it? I consider telling El I don’t want to come out in it when she beckons for me to show her.
She buttons the dress but I refuse to turn around. My eyes tear up as I shake my head and El knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“Honey, I get it. Probably more than you’ll ever know. At the end of the day, you have to love your dress. And if you’re not feeling it, you should go back in that bathroom and try on that last dress. It’s sending me good energy.”
El’s support means the world to me. Having her here makes me feel like I have a friend, even if she is paid to be here.
I close my eyes, taking the time to settle my nerves before grabbing the last dress. My heart races as I study it, understanding what El meant about the dress. It’s fitted on top with a flowy skirt and off-the-shoulder straps. The dress itself is basic but has a fabric overlay that sparkles. All I can think of is the lights in the garden and how it would make the dress shine. When El has me zipped up, I can tell she’s thinking the same thing.
“I’m so damn good at my job. Take a gander, babe.” El’s excitement on her face beams before I see myself in the dress. The second I see myself, I’m shocked at the reflection staring back at me. I’ve never worn something this perfect. The fit, the design, the everything. “I’ll take that as you saying ‘Thank you El. I’m super hot in this dress.’ Seriously, girl, Alessandro is going to disappear with you after the wedding, lift that dress, and rail you in some random room before I get my first whiskey sour.”
I hug El before I go back into the bathroom, changing into my normal clothes. We spend the rest of the morning drinking our coffee and talking about hair and makeup for the wedding. Before we know it, the morning turns into evening and the coffee turns into wine. For a second, I forget what I am to Alessandro and let the excitement of the wedding hold me.