Chapter Twelve
Alicia
As soon as the ceremony was over and pictures had been taken, I went back to the bridal suite to get my phone and text Eliana to check on her, and make sure she was okay considering she's currently sat in a hotel room by herself.
She told me she was fine and was packing to get ready for her flight this evening, but the thought of her leaving had devastation coursing through my body.
I did plan to sit in the bridal suite and hide away, but my father came to get me after everyone had eaten and told me to come down to the reception to enjoy the rest of the evening with everyone.
So that's why I'm now seated at one of the tables off to the side of the room with my third glass of champagne in my hand, watching people on the dance floor as music pumps around the room.
Gulping down the remainder of the alcohol in my glass, I put my phone back in the small clutch bag I bought here with me, and move away from the table towards the tower of champagne glasses, plucking another one from the top layer.
I turn around, planning to go back to my table and continue my sulking, but almost bump into the platinum blond-haired male standing behind me in a crisp suit, and a large grin on his face, which forces small indents in both of his cheeks.
"Care for a dance?" he asks.
I raise my brows in surprise, glancing around the grand hall at the people milling around, wondering if this is some sort of prank.
"Me?"
Jaylen nods, offering me his hand.
"Why?"
"Rory promised Sophia she'd drink for her tonight because Sophia can't, so she's already out for the night.
I took her to our room, and then on my way back here, spotted you by yourself, and that's no way to spend your wedding night.
So, I'm offering you a dance, considering my arsehole of a cousin hasn't," he says, rolling his eyes at me.
My lips tilt up, and my eyes dart across the room to where said arsehole is currently sitting with a scowl on his face as he stares my way while his sister sits beside him, trying to gain his attention.
"Okay, sure." Placing the glass on the edge of the table, I take his hand and follow him to the dance floor.
He guides my left hand to his shoulder before respectfully placing his right hand above my hip, as our other hands clasp together beside us, and we move around the dance floor in time with the slow music pumping through the room.
"You look beautiful, by the way," he says, smiling down at me.
"Thank you," I whisper, surprised by how nice he's being towards me.
My eyes run over his face, and I feel an ache in my chest as I remember the story Louise spoke of earlier regarding the man standing before me.
"You're not what I was expecting," I tell him, causing him to chuckle before he spins me around.
"What exactly were you expecting?"
I shrug, shaking my head.
"From all the stories I'd heard about how things have gone down in London in the past, I guess I just expected everyone here to be as cruel as they are back in New York. But you're different," I state.
A flash of emotion passes through his bright eyes, but then a smile splits across his face, masking whatever emotion he suddenly felt from my comment.
"Yeah, I'm the sensitive one, as they say… I'm not mad about it, though. It's how I ended up getting the woman I wanted."
A genuine grin now takes over his face, and I can't help but feel the ache in my chest grow bigger as I recognise the look on his face.
It's the same look my father gets when he talks about my mother.
The look my sister has when she's with Miguel.
Love.
Something I doubt I'll have in my life.
My dress suddenly feels too tight. The boning in the corset digs into my ribs, the waistband squeezing me in, making it hard to breath, and the slit up my leg reminds me that too much of my thigh is exposed for everyone to see.
I clear my throat, stepping back, and Jaylen glances down at me with concern marring his features.
"Are you okay?"
I nod, gulping as I release my hold on his hand, glancing around the room for my father in the hopes of having an excuse to leave.
When I don't see him, I take a deep breath and place my hands against my waist, wanting to tear the dress from my body as an itching sensation crawls across my skin.
"I think I just need some air," I mutter. "Thank you for the dance, and for being so kind."
Before I can turn away from him, he gently grips my wrist, waiting until my eyes meet his.
"I know Dominic can come across as a cold motherfucker sometimes, but I promise he's not all bad. If you're ever fed up with him, or if you ever need anything, the girls and I are happy to help, okay?"
"Yeah, okay. Thanks."
I shake his hand from my skin and then walk over to the table I was previously sitting at, grabbing my bag from the table and taking my phone out as I exit the room.
Walking into the corridor, I lean against the wall and bring up mine and my sister's text thread.
Alicia:
Please tell me you haven't left yet?
Eliana:
Nope. Why? What's wrong? Everything okay?
I breathe a sigh of relief when she messages me back almost instantly.
Alicia:
Want to come see me before your flight? Maybe bring me something to change into as well? This dress is restricting as hell and I need to get out of it ASAP.
Eliana:
Come outside :)
My brows furrow in confusion and I read her message a couple times, expecting it to change, but when it doesn't, I glance up from my phone, looking both ways down the corridor I'm currently in.
Without a second thought, I slip off my heels and start running, heading towards the entrance of the venue, hope sparking in my chest.
As soon as I step outside onto the pebbled ground, I spot my sister standing beside a blacked-out SUV with a wide, mischievous smile on her face.
"What the hell?" I screech, barrelling towards her until my arms are wrapped around her small frame, squeezing her against my body as tears blur my vision.
She laughs as her arms enclose around me.
"You text me at the perfect time," she says, pressing a kiss to my cheek before drawing back and glancing down my body. "You look stunning, Lissa."
"What are you doing here?"
Her teeth clamp down on her bottom lip as she tries to contain the smile that wants to break free.
"Well, I didn't come to the wedding for a reason…" she says, making my suspicion spike.
I narrow my eyes at her as she takes a step back, placing her hand on the door of the car beside her.
"I didn't want you to be alone while you're living here, and as much as I'd have loved to be here with you, we both know that's impossible, so I thought of the next best thing.
I roped Miguel into helping me. I didn't come to the wedding because I had to plan this little surprise and meet him at the air strip. "
Confusion swarms me, but when she pulls the handle, opening the back door of the car, and a soft yapping greets my ears, the tears swimming in my eyes drip down my cheeks.
A tan fluff ball jumps out of the car, and I fall to my knees as Jellybean bounds towards me, the pink bow on her head slightly slanted from where my sister obviously struggled to put it on.
I chuckle as Jellybean climbs up my chest, licking the tears that stream down my face as I squeeze her to my chest, running my fingers through her fur as a giddy feeling spurs to life inside of me.
"Hey, baby girl," I coo, welcoming the kisses she's giving me as I bury my face into her little body, basking in the comfort she supplies me.
"I think it's fair to say I'm the best sister ever, right?"
I look up at Eliana and nod, shakily laughing as I loosen my hold on my furry best friend.
Jellybean jumps off my lap, running in circles around my legs, and I walk over to my sister, pulling her into another hug.
"Te quiero mucho," I whisper.
She repeats the same back to me and then pats me on the back before releasing me.
"Now, how about we get you out of this dress and then get you to your new home, so you can have some quality time with your girl here before your hunky husband gets home."
At the reminder of the man I married, I make a sound of disgust.
"Hopefully, I can avoid him for the rest of eternity."
She laughs at me as she nudges me towards the car.
I pick Jellybean up, placing her in the back seat as I stand behind the door, my back towards my sister as she starts tugging at the ribbon that holds the dress together.
"You did bring me something to change into, right?"
"Yes, obviously," she scoffs, yanking so hard on the ribbon that I stumble back. "All your stuff is in the car, along with everything for the little princess in there… Christ, why is this so hard to get off?"
"Just rip it," I tell her, wanting to get out of the dress as soon as I can.
"I am not destroying this dress, Lissa."
"Fine. I will," I huff, grabbing both sides of the skirt where it opens up. I swing my arms back and rip the material, exposing my bare legs.
My sister gasps behind me as I chuck the skirt of the dress to the floor before digging my hands into the corset, attempting to escape from that, too, but I understand her struggle when it seems almost impossible to get off.
"For fuck sake. This is ironic. I'm trapped, stuck in this stupid fucking thing. I swear, this is a sign," I grumble.
"So superstitious." Eliana chuckles, moving to the boot of the car as she starts searching through bags until she pulls out a pair of scissors and walks back over to me. "Maybe this is a sign. You may feel like you're trapped in this marriage, but in reality, it's going to set you free."
I roll my eyes as I wait for her to literally cut me out of the corset. As soon as the item of clothing drops away from my body, tumbling to the floor, I breathe a sigh of relief, quickly moving my hands in front of my breasts, covering myself.
"Some clothing would be nice," I whisper-yell, nervously glancing around to make sure no one else is outside.
"Using your manners would also be nice," Eliana retorts as she chucks me grey tracksuit bottoms and a matching cropped top. "Get dressed so I can drop you off and get back to the airstrip."
The reminder that my sister will be leaving me soon has my stomach churning as I pull the top over my head and then slide the bottoms up my legs.
I guess I really have to get used to the fact I'm going to be alone now.