Charlotte
Chapter 13
Charlotte
T he next day, I wake up feeling groggy, like I’ve taken cold medicine. These dreams have got to stop before I spontaneously combust. The back of my neck is sore, and so is my left ass cheek. I feel so hungover and don’t remember what happened, but I know I was here in bed the whole night.
The sheet beside me is cold, which means Javier has been gone for a while already. There’s a knock at the door, and I call out, “Come in.”
Grandma walks in, carrying the huge white wedding dress I picked out when we went shopping.
“You can’t keep that in here where Javier will see it. It’s bad luck for the groom to see the dress before the wedding.”
“Sweetheart, you need to put this on, and we are going to visit the priest. Javier’s orders.”
My eyes widen. “But the wedding isn’t until tomorrow. What’s going on?”
She flashes me a guilty smile. “Charlotte, you and Javier are getting married today.”
“I need to call my father and let him know when to be at the church.”
“No, sweetheart,” she says as she reaches over and places her hand on my arm. “Your father is exactly why Javier is moving the wedding.”
I look over at the nightstand beside the bed and notice my phone is missing. “That son of a bitch took my phone?”
Abuela makes a face to say she’s sorry for her involvement.
The crushing weight of guilt I’ve carried since childhood, a constant reminder of my failings towards my father, bears down on me. Am I supposed to feel like I want him there at my wedding? The thought of defying my dad and marrying Javier weighs heavily on me, stirring up a mix of anxiety and guilt. Despite the heaviness of his betrayal, the memory of his sacrifice for the one he loved leaves me with a sense of obligation towards him.
“This isn’t right. I need my father to walk me down the aisle. I’m all he has.”
“I’m sorry, honey. We need to get you dressed and do as Javier says. Otherwise, there will be consequences.”
Tears wet my eyes. I’m going to get married today to a man who I hardly know without any family at the wedding. Water falls down my cheeks as I sniffle. It’s not that I want my father there to cause problems, but I just want a father. Someone who loves me to walk me down the aisle.
She wipes my tears and helps me get the wedding dress on. Pulling out a beautiful lace head covering, she explains to me what it is. “This mantilla is your something borrowed. It was my grandmother’s and has been passed down through the generations. I wore it and would be honored if you wore it too.”
I give her a nod and a warm smile as she finishes up my hair and makeup, before she places the lace veil over my head. Looking in the mirror, my heart flutters at how beautiful I look.
“Javier is meeting us at the church after speaking to the priest.”
We finally finish getting ready and make it to the church with time to spare. Inside, I wait until Abuela tells me it’s time. As music plays from inside the chapel, I walk down the aisle. The church isn’t full but does have a few people sitting in the pews.
Isabelle and Sal are there, along with several other people who I know work for Javier. As I take my first tentative step, I glance up and lock eyes with Javier. He’s looking at me so intensely, I suddenly suck in a breath. He reminds me of a hungry animal desperate for a bite.
As I approach, he reaches out to take my hand.
My fingers are suspended midair. Do I want to do this? If not, what will Javier do? Everything inside me screams that I should be fighting, but if left to choose between spending a lifetime being married to Javier or Eric, I would choose Javier. Not only does he take care of me, but his grandmother is also the best friend I’ve ever had. Even in the short time I’ve known them, I feel like I belong.
I never felt that way with Eric. It was always a cold relationship where I was so desperate for love and attention that I allowed him to use me. Even though this marriage will be a huge fuck you to my father and Eric, I am ready for it.
Our fingers touch and emotion burns the back of my throat as Javier’s cool hand pulls me close. His grandmother places the lasso of rosary beads over both of our heads. The priest explains how the lasso binds us together, then starts the ceremony.
Javier eyes bore into mine as a muscle in his jaw ticks.
It seems like seconds pass before I’m saying I do. Once the priest pronounces us husband and wife, Javier leans over and takes my mouth in a dominating kiss. I resist at first but then our tongues battle. Knowing he’s going to win, I melt into him and enjoy the kiss.
Once he pulls his lips from mine, Javier holds the back of my head and locks eyes with me. “Mine. Wife.”
It’s like he’s turned into a Neanderthal and only speaks one-word sentences.
“Tomorrow, we will have a ceremony for all my associates, plus a reception dinner. Tonight is for just us.”
The way he’s looking at me sends a shiver down my spine.
Giving him a nod, I turn and hug Abuela and Isabelle before allowing my husband to lead me out of the church.
As he puts me into the car and fastens my seat belt, I start trembling. Javier isn’t having our guards drive us. He’s driving us himself. I don’t know what to expect and how to react. Until today, I’ve been able to put him off, but now that we are officially married, I don’t think I can stop him.
What’s even more confusing is that I’m not sure I want to.