34. Capri
34
CAPRI
“I’m so glad you decided to come!”
I circle the small boutique, struggling to find a dress I feel comfortable in. “Yeah, well, I need to convince Mom I’ve moved on somehow,” I tell Collie.
She pulls out a short red dress and holds it in front of her. “What about this one?”
“Too much ass. It’s a wedding, Cols.”
“This one?” She switches to a creamsicle orange one that looks stunning against her golden skin.
“That’s the one,” I say with a grin, causing Collie to smile wide.
“Perfect!” she exclaims. “Now, go try these on.” She hands me a stack of six dresses and ushers me into the changing room.
I hate shopping. Not because I don’t have style; I do. I just haven’t been happy with my body for so long that it’s always felt like a chore to shop. Being with Jones has definitely helped with my self-confidence, though.
I gravitate toward the black one because when in doubt, go with black. It’s slimming. I open the curtain to show Collie what I’m working with. “Seriously?” she says. “We’re not heading to the morgue, Capri. Let’s see some color.”
“I’m regretting inviting you,” I tell her, flinging the curtain shut and changing.
“You love me.” She laughs. “Okay, back to Mom.”
I groan. “What about her?”
“You told her you had a date. Does that mean you asked Jones?”
I may have told a little white lie to my mom. But I’m annoyed with how relentless she’s been about me dating. I know she’ll be upset if I tell her I’ve been seeing someone and never told her. But then again, she’s already upset thinking I’m not seeing anyone.
I can’t win with her.
So, I told her I was bringing a date to shut her up and convince her I’ve moved on.
She doesn’t need to know that I actually have. With Jones.
“I mean, not exactly.” I walk out in a pink dress.
“God, no,” Collie says in disgust. “You look like fucking Pepto. Next.”
I roll my eyes. “I still need to ask him.”
“Why haven’t you yet? The wedding is next weekend.”
Because he leaves in less than a month and I’m panicking.
We’ve been so lost in each other this past week, I feel like I’m living this fantasy that’s not my own. I forget about time when we’re together, and at this stage in our relationship, although nothing has been defined, there’s unease in that.
We need to have a conversation about what happens when he goes back to Capri.
I know that. I just think both of us have been avoiding it because we finally let ourselves have each other again after so long.
Why can’t good things ever last?
Collie can see the hesitation written across my face. “Holy shit. You love him, don’t you?”
“What? No. I don’t love him.”
The bewilderment coming from her should be concerning. She’s having an epiphany, and it’s about me. “Oh, babe. You do. How can you not see it?”
Maybe I’m in denial? Fuck, I don’t know. All I do know is that my chest hurts when we’re away from each other, and nothing else matters when we’re together.
But does that mean I love him?
“Cols, I don’t know what I’m feeling, okay? This is too much, too soon.” Heavy emotions build up inside of me.
“Not to sound like a broken record or anything, Capri, but love is love. You can’t fight it, can’t predict it, you just have to accept it. You and Jones are grown adults who are mature enough to decide for yourselves what’s ‘too soon.’ After everything you’ve been through, I think you’re warranted loving someone as quickly as you’d like.”
How did I get so lucky to have her as a sister? She always knows exactly what to say when I need it the most.
“I don’t know what to do with these feelings. I’m terrified that he’ll leave and I’ll never hear from him again. For once, I’m not scared to let myself love him; I trust him too much. It’s the aftermath that scares me.”
“This is why you guys need to have a conversation, babe. Don’t assume he’ll leave you if you’ve never asked what’s next.”
“I know. It’s hard not to, though. I’m an overthinker.”
I make quick work changing into the last dress—a baby blue one.
Collie’s gasp startles me. “Wow. That’s the one,” Collie says as I turn to look at myself in the mirror. “You look stunning.”
The silk fabric hugs my curves with a halter neck and a midi-length. But the best part is by far the back. With a low scoop, half of my back is revealed. It’s sexy yet still remains modest enough for a wedding.
“Damn,” I exhale. “I look hot.” I laugh and Collie joins me, chuckling loudly. “Yeah, you do.”
She walks behind me and pulls me in for a hug. “Talk to him. I have a feeling he’s thinking the same things you are. Make it work for each other.”
“How’d you get to be so smart when it comes to relationships?”
Collie grins and shrugs. “Honestly, I have no idea. I should start charging for my services, though. Shouldn’t I?”
Maybe she should. I’ve added so much wealth to my life this year just by saying yes to things. Collie is the reason for that. “Thanks, Cols. For everything.”
“Always.”
* * *
Capri:
I have a question.
Jones:
Yes.
Jones:
The answer is yes.
Capri:
I haven’t asked you yet. LOL.
Jones:
I already know my answer. Can’t wait. It’s gonna be fun.
Capri:
You gonna let me ask now?
Jones:
Sure. My answer will still be the same.
Capri:
Wanna come to a wedding with me next weekend?
Jones:
Yes. See…easy.
Jones:
Just to clarify…as your date?
Capri:
Yes.
“Okay, so I feel like I need to prepare you for my mother.”
“Hit me,” Jones says as we walk toward the ceremony entrance.
It’s finally Mariah’s wedding day. I insisted on picking Jones up and he laughed in my face like I was the funniest thing in the world, deciding for us that he would be driving.
Men.
“Since my divorce, she’s been ruthless about me dating. She means well, but it can be extreme.”
Jones grins. “So, what you’re saying is, she’s not expecting me?”
I laugh. “Not at all.”
“You haven’t told her about us?” he asks. There’s no accusation in his tone, just curiosity.
I tell him the truth. “I haven’t. I wasn’t sure where we stood, and I didn’t want to assume without talking to you about it first.” I send him a soft smile, hoping he understands my intentions.
Holding my hand, Jones stops me in my tracks. “Let me clear things up for you, okay, sweetheart?”
I nod.
“We’re together. In every way that counts. What that looks like for our future, I’m not sure yet, but I know I see you in it, and we’ll decide that together. Okay?”
My stomach is constantly filled with butterflies around this man, and I can’t think of one reason why that’s a bad thing.
“Yeah, okay.” I smile, the warmth of his words causing tingles to course through my body.
Maybe I do love him.
“Can’t wait to meet the fam!” Jones chants. “Have I already told you how stunning you look?” His perusal of me will never get old.
“Only a dozen times since you picked me up.” I smile, loving his eyes on me. “You don’t look so bad yourself, Captain.”
Jones takes handsomeness to another level. He’s wearing a freshly tailored navy blue suit, crisp white dress shirt, and light blue tie. I figured when he asked what color I was wearing, he planned for us to match.
I’ve never loved the color blue more.
His thick locks look effortlessly sexy with perfectly trimmed scruff, and I know he’ll have every woman in here staring. Let them. It’s an honor to be the one on his arm tonight.
Entering the large cathedral church, I lead Jones to where I spot my parents sitting. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”