8. Tessa

8

TESSA

P aige shows up at Ronan’s place a few hours later with a bottle of wine in one hand and a big bag of Cheetos in the other. A rush of relief flows through me as soon as I see her. I’ve been pacing the guest room nonstop since Ronan left earlier. I almost called Paige because I needed someone to talk to, but I didn’t want to step on Ronan’s toes if he wanted to be the one to tell her about our plan.

I still can’t believe I agreed to this.

“Bestie, we have a lot of things to talk about, so get some comfy clothes on and meet me in the living room. We’ll get drunk and eat chips because we’re classy like that.”

I smile for the first time in hours, loving how carefree my best friend is. It’s one of the luxuries of being a mafia princess, I suppose. She’s never had to worry about her safety or money or anything, really. Her parents and now her brothers have always been there for her, often without her asking.

Since I’m pretty sure Ronan must have already told her what our plan is based on the wine and the way she was waggling her eyebrows at me, I let out a deep breath and head down to meet her

Not even an hour later, a half-empty bottle of red sits on the coffee table between us, along with the scattered array of snacks Paige pulled out of her pantry to go with the chips. I’m curled up on the couch in one of her plush throws, my legs tucked under me, holding an almost empty glass of wine.

Paige, on the other hand, is positively buzzing. She’s sitting cross-legged on the floor, her wine forgotten as she leans forward, her eyes wide with excitement. “I still can’t believe this,” she gushes for the third time. “You’re marrying Ronan . My brother. This is freaking awesome. We’re going to be sisters for real!”

I laugh, the sound more high-pitched than usual, thanks to the wine warming my veins. “It isn’t a real marriage,” I remind her… again. “It’s just… a solution. A way out.”

Paige waves me off like I’ve just said the most ridiculous thing she’s ever heard. “Oh, please. Real or not, you’re still going to be Mrs. Ronan Gilroy . Do you know how many women would kill for that?”

I roll my eyes but can’t help the giggle that escapes. “Yeah, because marrying a Gilroy is every girl’s dream, right?”

“Are you kidding me?” Paige points her index finger at me and grins. “Have you seen my brothers? They’re practically custom-designed to make women swoon. And Ronan? He’s the broody, silent type. That’s catnip, Tessa. Catnip.”

Shaking my head, I snort. “Paige, you’re ridiculous.”

“No, you’re ridiculous,” she fires back, her tone teasing. “You’re sitting here like this is some boring business arrangement when you should be planning your wedding night outfit.”

I choke on my sip of wine, coughing and laughing simultaneously. “Oh my God, it’s not like that!”

“Oh, it’s going to be like that eventually,” she says a little too confidently. “Trust me, I know my brother. He’s not the type to do anything half-assed. Once he’s in, he’s all in.”

“Paige!” I throw a pillow at her, my cheeks burning. “You’re impossible.”

She catches it, grinning like she’s won. “I’m just saying, Tessa. This might be a fake marriage, but I think you’ll be surprised how real it could feel if you let it.”

I stare at her, the laughter fading just slightly. “Why are you so excited about this?”

Paige’s smile softens, and for a moment, she looks more serious than I’ve ever seen her. “Because you deserve someone who gives a damn about you,” she says simply. “And Ronan? He does. More than you realize.”

Her words hit me harder than I expect, and I look down at my glass, swirling the wine as I process them. Before I can respond, the sound of footsteps pulls our attention away from the conversation.

Ronan strides into the living room, his presence filling the space like it always does. He looks tired but sharp, his dark hair slightly mussed from the wind. His gaze sweeps over the scene—the now-empty bottle, the snacks, Paige sitting on the floor like a giddy teenager, and me, half-buried in a blanket, my cheeks pink from the wine.

He raises an eyebrow. “Looks like you two are having a party.”

“It’s a wedding eve celebration. A bachelorette party, if you will. Oooh, I should call strippers,” Paige announces, grinning as she stands.

Ronan’s eyes flick to me, and I can see the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Bring a male stripper into my house and see what happens.”

Paige scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Jealous already. So cute. Want to join us? I’ll grab another bottle.”

“As much as I love being invited to Tessa’s bachelorette party, you two look like you need to drink some water.” His eyes land on me as he says it.

“I’m perfectly fine,” I reply, though the slight slur in my words gives me away. “Just a little wine. No big deal.”

“Uh-huh.” He steps further into the room, his gaze never leaving mine. “How much is ‘a little’?”

Paige snickers, flopping back onto the couch. “Don’t worry, Ronan. She’s just tipsy, not plastered. I’ve got her covered.”

“I’m right here, you know.” I give her a playful hug, giggling.

Ronan sighs, his smirk growing as he looks at me. “You’re going to be a handful, aren’t you?”

“Probably,” I reply, grinning up at him. “But you’re marrying me tomorrow, so… I’m your problem now.”

Paige bursts out laughing, and even Ronan can’t suppress a chuckle. “Fair enough,” he says with a shake of his head. “Drink some water, both of you. We’ve got an early start tomorrow.”

As he heads toward the kitchen, Paige leans over, whispering loudly enough for him to hear, “Told you he’s all in. He’s so bossy.”

I bury my face in the blanket, groaning. Yeah, bossy is putting it lightly. If this is a glimpse of what I’m in for, I’m not sure whether to be terrified or thrilled. Or maybe both.

P aige’s bedroom is a flurry of motion, filled with the soft rustle of fabric as she pulls dress after dress from the closet, the beat of Teddy Swims playing from her speaker, and me, pacing a hole into the plush carpet. My dress hangs on the back of the door, a simple, white silk gown that somehow appeared in the living room this morning before we went downstairs for coffee. Paige gushed over it, insisting it was “perfect for a last-minute wedding.” I can’t deny it’s beautiful, but the sight of it makes my stomach twist. Especially since the only way it would have gotten there was Ronan. How he’d gotten a wedding dress in my exact size in less than twelve hours was a mystery, but then again, he’s a powerful man with many powerful connections. And he’s about to become my husband.

My best friend is practically vibrating with excitement as she flits around the room, arranging my makeup and giving me a running commentary about how this is so exciting because we’re going to be sisters . Her energy is infectious, but I can’t seem to match it. Instead, I sit on the edge of her bed, clutching the hem of my robe and staring at my reflection in the vanity mirror.

My face is a little pale, with an undertone of green. I look more like someone bracing for a storm than a bride.

Paige notices my silence and stops fussing to kneel in front of me. “Hey,” she says softly, her tone gentle now. “What’s going on? You’re not having second thoughts, are you? You can back out. You and I can hop on a plane and go back to live in Ireland, so your parents can’t force you to marry anyone. Whatever you want to do, I support you, and I always will.”

Bless her. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve a friend like Paige, but she’s truly the best. She never stopped being there for me, even when I was barely surviving and dragging her down. Some days, it still feels like I’m barely surviving. Today is one of those days.

I shake my head quickly. “No. I mean… not really. It’s just—” I pause, struggling to find the right words. “It’s a lot, Paige. I barely know Ronan, and yet… I feel like I do. He saved me. He pulled me out of the worst time of my life, and now he’s pulling me out of this mess with my parents. I don’t even know how to process it. I’m scared, but I know he’s the best option. Also, how selfish is it of me that I’m willing to let him give up his life?”

Paige reaches for my hands, squeezing them tightly. “Tessa, I get it. It’s overwhelming. But you have to trust me on this—Ronan isn’t marrying you just because it’s the right thing to do. He cares about you. And I think that has intensified because of the connection you shared. My brother would deny it if I asked him outright, but I see it in how he looks at you.”

I swallow hard, my throat tight. This marriage might be temporary, but my feelings… they’re making things cloudy.

Before I can reply, there’s a knock at the door. Paige stands quickly, shooting me a reassuring smile and a couple of silly finger guns before opening it.

“Ronan?” Paige uses her entire body to try to block the doorway, even though her brother is at least a foot taller than her. “You’re not supposed to see the bride before the wedding!”

“Can I come in? Just for a minute.”

Paige glances back at me, her expression unreadable, before stepping aside. “Fine. But no peeking at the dress!”

“Paige, I fucking bought the dress. I picked it out myself.” He rolls his eyes at her, and I can’t help but smile. It’s fun watching her interact with her brothers.

Ronan steps into the room, just him being here is easing the nerves fluttering around in my tummy. He’s dressed in a black suit, of course. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in anything else. His tie is undone, hanging loose around his neck, and for a moment, I itch to reach up and tie it for him. Then his eyes find mine, and everything else fades.

Paige takes the hint and slips out, mouthing, “You’ve got this,” before closing the door behind her.

I stand awkwardly, clutching the edges of my robe as I face him. “What’s up?”

He steps closer, his expression calm but concerned. “I just wanted to check on you. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine,” I say quickly, moving my gaze from his. He raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

“Tessa,” he says in a gentle, soothing tone. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”

The knot in my chest loosens just slightly, and I let out a shaky breath. “I’m just… nervous. This whole thing is overwhelming. And I feel like I’m dragging you into this mess.”

“You’re not dragging me into anything,” he says firmly, stepping closer. “This was my choice. And I’ll tell you something else. You don’t have to be nervous. Not about this. Not about me. You’re safe, Tessa. I’ll make sure of that.”

His words wash over me, soothing my nerves and healing some of the tiny cracks in my soul. When I look up at him, his dark eyes are steady, unflinching. At that moment, I realize something I haven’t let myself fully acknowledge—Ronan makes me feel safe. And after what I went through, that is everything.

“I trust you,” I whisper, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

Something flickers in his eyes, something warm and unguarded, but he doesn’t say anything. He nods, his jaw tightening like he’s holding back a dozen other things. Instead, he steps back, giving me space.

“I’ll see you out there,” he says roughly. “It’s going to be okay, baby girl.”

Baby girl.

My pulse speeds up, and my heart pounds. He’s the only man who’s ever called me that, and it feels… special… intimate… hot.

“Okay.” As dry as my mouth just went, I barely manage the single word .

When the door closes behind him, I take a deep breath, steadying myself. Paige bursts back in seconds later, grinning like a maniac. “He’s so into you,” she sings, giggling as she does a spin. “Now, let’s get you married!”

I let her fuss over me as she helps me into the dress, my nerves fading into something quieter. The sun is high when we step out into the garden, casting a golden glow over the neatly trimmed hedges and a dozen white chairs. My parents are near the front, looking out of place, while Ronan’s family fills the rest of the seats like the unit they are. Even though I haven’t met most of them yet, I already feel so much support from Ronan’s family. And I’m about to be part of it. That thought calms me even more, hugging me like a warm blanket.

Moving my gaze to Ronan, my breath hitches as I spot him standing near Declan, who looks surprisingly comfortable in his role as officiant. Ronan’s suit fits him perfectly, and his tie is now neatly in place. His eyes meet mine as I step into view, and everything else fades away.

Paige gives me a quick nudge. “Go get him,” she whispers.

I take a deep breath and step forward, the grass soft beneath my heels. My nerves are gone now, replaced by a calm certainty. Whatever this is—real, fake, or somewhere in between—I know one thing for sure.

I’m safe with Ronan Gilroy. And for now, that’s enough.

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