58. Katrinia
58
Katrinia
W e are four days into our trip and I’m dry heaving in the powder room off the front entry as a florist is setting up outside in the hall. We’ve had caterers, housekeepers, bakers and event planners, basically everyone under the sun, in and out of here for two whole days. I never knew weddings were so much work.
I haven’t had a minute to myself or much less with Cooper since we got here. Either the girls have swept me away for one thing or another or the guys have whisked him off for some dire groomsman emergency.
I know we are here for Theo and Luna’s big day but I thought during the week we were here, staying in a stunning mansion on the coast, we would find some time for us to be alone.
We are after all in Spain.
Abroad, for the first time ever.
After all the years of days and nights we spent dreaming of traveling together, I assumed we would have carved out a moment for just the two of us.
Instead, I am so hung over after a night out with the seamstress that Luna has expertly tailoring her dress so it hugs her curves like a second skin, I can’t even fucking think straight. Let alone be upset that Cooper is once again off with the guys, doing only Lucifer himself knows what.
We have become like two ships passing in the night and I’m determined to put a stop to it. Just maybe after I hurl up the rest of this Gazpacho from lunch. Then I’m sure I’ll devise a plan to get my husband alone for at least an hour.
* * *
Walking out onto the patio for a final dinner before the rest of the guests start to arrive I have on my tightest mini dress I packed and a pair of heels I borrowed from Olivia. They match my dress perfectly even if I only packed this to wear in the bedroom, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
I can’t say for sure but I feel like Cooper has been avoiding me. So I slap on a brave face and round the corner with my chin held high.
When I finally find Cooper in the crowd his back is turned as he’s talking to some distant friend or relative I don’t recognize.
Before I even fully enter the room I feel a pair of masculine hands on my shoulders pulling me back causing me to stumble in my heels. Landing against a hard chest, I whip around ready to spit my best when I realize it’s my boss and Theo’s friend Sebastian.
“You can’t go out there in this.” Sebastian waves a hand up and down in front of me.
“What do you mean I can’t? You’re not my keeper.”
Stella hums in approval at my remark but doesn’t say a word as she looks at Sebastian.
“I mean this is a classy event tonight and you are…”
“I would think long and hard, sebby, about how you are going to finish that sentence regarding my employee.” Stella chimes in, her attitude high as she interrupts Sebastian’s comment about my choice of attire tonight.
“I didn’t mean anything by it, I just figured you wouldn’t want to upstage the bride. I mean you look good enough to eat.”
Stella groans in annoyance and shoves Sebastian out of the way. Taking my hand she drags me back down the corridor and away from the party. She doesn’t say a word until we are in her room with the door closed.
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes.” I hesitate, not having met her in person before this trip but quickly realizing that Stella is the sort of woman I could trust with my life.
It’s crazy that I consider her a woman while I still feel like a floundering adolescent when she is technically younger than I am. Though a woman she most certainly is as she flips through the hangers in her closet before stopping at a pale yellow flowy dress.
“Then put this on.” She doesn’t ask as she shoves the dress in my hands.
“But….”
“No buts . The bathroom is through there.” She points and I just follow her finger and stare before moving my feet.
“I wasn’t trying to upstage Luna, ya know.” I call from behind the cracked door as I shift out of my lace mini dress and into Stella’s beachy sundress.
“I know.”
“Better?” I ask a few moments later, stepping out from the en-suite.
“I’m sure you are always stunning Kat but in that dress you look especially gorgeous.” Stella declares as she tucks my hair over my shoulder. Walking back towards the party my cheeks flush a little at her compliment. I feel like it’s safe to assume she doesn’t give them out freely.
“You can call me Trinia or Trin if you’d like. I started using the nickname Kat when I decided I was ready to move on and start a Cooper-free life.” I admit, correcting her, though I don’t know why. Sometimes words just spill from my mouth when I’m nervous so quickly I barely have a moment to think them through.
“Well seeing as how you’re now married to my client I guess the Cooper-free life didn’t go as planned?” Stella cocks a brow as she looks down at me.
I twiddle my thumbs with my fingers laced in front of me. Puffing out a little laugh at the idea of ever really being able to live a Cooper-free life. The thought is so unimaginable it’s almost funny.
“There was never such a thing as a Cooper-free life for me. I mean not really. Even when he was gone all those years, the memories of him took up so much space in my mind it was like he permanently resided there, rent free. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t shake him.”
When she doesn’t respond I look up and Stella is nearly in a daze before she snaps out of it.
“I know what you mean.” She whispers and when I follow her line of sight to where she was staring a moment ago I see Sebastian laughing joyously in the corner.