Chapter Five #2
Juliet fills me in on the wedding details.
About the rooftop venue, she secured that it’s usually two years out for bookings, the white and blush tulips that she had flown in because they are out of season, but my brother insisted.
Every detail she lists makes to sound gorgeous, and I’m sure it will be.
She’s known for her celebrity events and weddings, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m marrying a stranger…
even if that stranger has kind eyes and that boyish grin that I couldn’t stop seeing in my mind as I fell asleep last night.
“I also booked you the honeymoon suite at the hotel across from Oakley’s. It’s gorgeous, and since you won’t have a proper honeymoon, it’s a little something I can do.”
“The honeymoon suite?” I say, shock running through me. I hadn’t considered what the expectations for our wedding night would be. I mean, this whole thing is temporary anyway. And he doesn’t know I’m a virgin. It’s not something I planned on losing to a man I don’t know… even if he’s my husband.
Before I can ask follow-up questions or ask her to cancel, we pull up to the bridal salon. I see my brother’s truck too.
“The guys are here?” I ask.
“Yep, but they won’t see you. The salon is designed in two sections: a tux fitting shop and a bridal boutique. So don’t worry, Scottie isn’t going to see you in your dress until tomorrow.”
We head inside, and the moment we do, five sets of eyes swivel to catch Juliet and me walking in, my dress cradled in Juliet’s arms now.
A seamstress walks over quickly and takes the dress. “I’ll put this in the bridal room.”
Juliet hands over the dress and then puts a gentle hand on my back to escort me towards the waiting woman in the room.
“Perfect, then let’s introduce you to the girls. You’re part of us now.”
I glance over at her, confused. “A part of you? How do you mean?”
A woman with blonde hair and a bright smile gets up and walks over. “You’re one of the wives of the players… Well, after tomorrow, that is. I’m Peyton—Hunter Reed's girlfriend.”
Another woman gets up and offers her hand. “You’re the newest WAG. I’m Cammy—JP Dumont's girlfriend and administrative assistant to Penelope Matthews… the Hawkeyes GM. She’s not here today, but she’s really excited to meet you.”
Juliet starts to point out the two other women, standing off to the side, both smiling back at me. Vivi, Trey Hartley’s girlfriend, and a very pregnant Kendall, Aleksi M?kelin’s wife, as of a week ago.
Juliet beams. “Ladies, meet Katerina. Scottie’s fiancée and the newest member of our club.”
A chorus of delighted gasps, and I swallow. I wasn’t prepared for everyone to be so excited, so interested… so nice.
The warmth hits me like a wave. It’s… unfamiliar and overwhelming, but not unwelcome.
I feel like a fish out of water, but I guess for now, this is my new life, and I need to embrace it if I want to fit in with Scottie and my brother’s world.
Which at the moment, if I want to stay in the States and dance, I’ll have to.
Peyton loops her arm through mine, tugging me toward the fitting pedestal. “Okay, show us the dress.”
The boutique hums around me—women laughing, dresses swishing, Cammy muttering about necklines, Peyton insisting Juliet promised them champagne “for morale.”
And for the first time since I left New York…
Maybe I can learn to love it here, even temporarily.
I step into the dressing room. When I emerge, the room goes silent.
I climb the pedestal as the seamstress fusses over the hem, pinning, tucking, smoothing.
I keep my eyes down until Juliet says softly, “Look.”
I lift my head.
My reflection stares back—off-white fabric, soft curls pinned with pearl combs, skin glowing under the lights. I look like someone I used to dream about being.
A bride.
Not a bargaining chip. Not a weapon. Not a Popovich pawn.
Just a woman.
A quiet breath escapes me. My eyes sting at the thought that my brother might be saving me from putting on a wedding dress to marry who my father wants. This might actually work.
“Katerina?” Juliet murmurs. “You okay?”
I nod… barely.
And that’s when the door opens.
Juliet circles me like a general preparing for battle, tugging here, smoothing there, nodding firmly at the seamstress as she pins the last edge of lace along the hem.
“Almost done,” she says. “Turn for me, sweetheart.”
I turn slowly on the pedestal, fingers brushing the delicate skirt. I’ve worn hundreds of costumes on stage. Glittering gold. Stark Swan white. Crimson satin.
My chest swells, and I’m not sure if it’s with hope, maybe. Or terror. They feel the same right now.
Then—
The door opens.
I look up.
And everything inside me goes still.
Scottie stands frozen in the doorway, one hand on the frame, breath caught somewhere between his lungs and the floor.
His eyes find me and swear he stops breathing. Not figuratively… he literally stops. We both do. He looks so dapper in his suit. Like an image I’ve dreamed of. Of the groom, I always thought I would end up marrying in my childhood fantasies.
His mouth parts and his eyes widen as they take me in. The color drains from his face before rushing back all at once, flushing his cheekbones.
“Holy shit, you're beautiful…,” he mutters, barely audible.
Heat flares under my skin, so suddenly I almost flinch.
“Scottie!” Juliet yelps. “No—NO.”
He doesn’t hear her… or flat-out ignores her.
His gaze drifts down the dress, slowly, and heat warms my body everywhere his eyes settle on me… then back up… slowly, as if wanting to take in every inch of me. My heart stutters so violently, I’m sure everyone can hear it.
His voice is rough when it finally scrapes out:
“Katerina…”
Just my name.
But the way he utters it—like it’s the only word he knows — has me thinking that I’ve never heard anyone say it with such care like that before.
Juliet springs into action, bustling forward like someone trying to stop a toddler from grabbing a hot stove.
“OUT! Out, out, OUT! The groom is not allowed to see the dress!”
She shoves both palms into his chest.
Scottie doesn’t move.
Not even an inch. He’s all solid man, and I’m sure he’s taken bigger hits than Juliet on the regular out on the ice.
He’s a six-foot-two brick wall of awe-struck uselessness, and I hold back a chuckle at this point.
“Scottie,” Juliet warns, “move your body. Get out. You can see her tomorrow when she’s walking down the aisle.”
Finally, her words break loose inside him, and his trance ends.
Juliet shoves harder this time, using her whole weight.
He finally stumbles back a half-step—but never looks away as he lets Juliet push him back out the door that he came through. Then she slams it shut behind him…
I grip the skirt to keep my hands from shaking.
Juliet turns back slowly, eyebrows raised, mouth twitching like she’s two seconds from grinning.
“I know that look,” she says.
I swallow hard. “What look?”
“The look of a man who just saw the girl he’s about to marry…” She taps her chin gently. “…and forgot how to swallow without choking on his own tongue.”
My cheeks go hot. “It wasn’t—he was just—”
Juliet laughs under her breath. “Oh, honey. That boy just had his soul rearranged the moment he saw you.”
“I—”
“Don’t deny it. I saw his face. I’ve only seen that expression once before.”
“When?” I whisper.
“The moment I realized I was falling for my fake husband.”
I blink. “Coach Haynes?”
“Mmm-hmm. Green-card marriage. Six years. Two countries and two sweet babies later.” She adjusts the lace on my sleeve while she reminisces. “Sometimes the universe sends you something unexpected. Something you didn’t pick… but maybe deep down, it’s what you needed all along.”
I breathe in shakily.
Juliet squeezes my hand. “Keep your heart open, Katerina. Scottie Easton is a good man.”
I glance towards the door that he just left through.
I won’t fall for him. This is temporary.
But this arrangement might not turn out to be as cut and dry as planned.