22. Veronica
CHAPTER 22
Veronica
“Are you sure?” I ask Chloe as we walk down the sidewalk towards a boutique.
“Yes!” she beams. “You’ve become one of my best friends. It would be rude not to have you in the wedding.”
I pick at the skin on my fingers while we approach the open door to the store. Since Chloe asked me yesterday, my nerves have been eating away.
It was a good distraction from what happened between Leo and me last week. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about how demanding he was or how those words he spoke seeped deep into my skin like a tattoo.
They are engraved in my body, and I’ve been replaying them like lyrics that get annoyingly stuck in your head. The dominance in his voice and his demeanor was something I hadn’t seen before. Sure, he let out his dark side while we were sneaking around in the asylum, but this was a new level.
I don’t want to admit it to myself because I want to believe he isn’t capable of the revenge he wants to seek, but the darkness in his eyes has me on edge. He held a fucking wine opener to my throat, for Satan’s sake!
There was a glimmer in his green eyes, which had grown a shade darker. For a moment, I thought he might dig the sharp metal into my skin. I think that calling him out made him remove the opener from my neck.
The sweet Leo I remember from our time together is somewhere in there. I just need to bring him back and remind him how good we can be together, even after everything we have been through.
“Camille?” Chloe’s sweet voice pulls me out of my rampant thoughts. When my eyes focus on her standing inside the store, she smiles softly. “You won’t be able to try on dresses out there.”
My brows dip in confusion, and when I look up at the sign and all the dresses behind her, I remember the reason for my being here. To try on bridesmaid dresses. Something I never thought I would be doing in my life. Smiling back, I step through the entrance and stand with her.
“Sorry,” I apologize as I glance around the small shop. “Guess I’m just nervous about having to stand in front of a shit ton of people.”
“I get it.” Her arm touches my back as a way to comfort me. “If it helps, they really won’t be focused on you. Plus, you’ll be walking down with Leo. That could help calm your nerves.”
“I’m walking down with your brother?” I twist my head in her direction. If I’m walking down with her brother, the best man, that means—“I’m your Maid of Honor?”
“I planned on asking you. Sorry for you finding out this way.”
“Chloe, I can’t be your Maid of Honor. You have other friends… Girls you’ve known way longer than me?—”
“Yeah, those friends started acting differently towards me when they found out I was pregnant.” Her shoulders sag, and a frown takes over her face. “They all stopped inviting me to things. I don’t talk with them as much as I used to. I’m pretty sure they have a group chat that doesn’t involve me.”
“Are you serious?” My blood boils for her. These women have been friends with her for years and then decide to act shitty because she is pregnant? “Were you friends with them when you were pregnant with Carter?”
“I was, but things were different back then. People change.” She sighs.
“From what I know, they are all single, bitter bitches who don’t have a nice bone in their body.” The tone of my voice was low, but Chloe still heard me.
“Camille!” Her eyes grow wide, and for a moment, I think she’ll hate me. She will march out of the boutique and kick me out of her wedding for saying rude things.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize. The words feel strange as they leave my mouth. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
When I think she will slap or yell at me, Chloe smiles. Following that smile is a laugh. “You’re right. They are bitter bitches. Sometimes, I think they only stick around because of Leo.”
“What do you mean?” Curiosity gets the best of me. I shouldn’t care what these women think about Leo, but I do because I’ve been with him. He’s been inside of me and explored my body more times than I can count.
He is mine.
“They always had crushes on him ever since we became friends way back when. Sometimes, they’d only come over to the house when he was home. Thinking about it now, I see it is a huge red flag in a friendship. But after his… altercation and being sent to prison, they are more interested than ever. Guess they can’t stay away from the bad boy.”
She laughs a bit at her last sentence, but it isn’t full of humor.
“Chloe, promise me something.” I position my body to face her and grab her hands. “After the wedding, stop being friends with them. If you don’t feel they are being true to you, why keep the friendship going?”
Her lips turn up, eyes shining bright. “You sound like my brother speaking to one of his patients.”
My spine stiffens, but I keep my expression neutral. “Guess he is rubbing off on me.”
More than I care to admit.
“Thank you, Camille. For being such a great friend.” Her words cause me to cringe internally. I’m not a great friend. I’m far from it. “You are the best choice for my Maid of Honor. Even though we’ve known each other for a short time, you are always real with me.”
I attempt to offer a kind smile, but it is tight. That’s when it dawns on me.
“How come you set me up with Leo? You said all your friends are interested in him, so… why even try setting a friend up with him?”
“Leo wouldn’t work well with my other friends. They aren’t his type, but you…” She squeezes my hands gently. “It’s not the fact of him being with one of my friends. I mean, seriously, who am I to judge? I’m marrying his best friend! I just knew the two of you would work from the moment I met you.”
I divert my eyes from hers and change the subject. “Does he know that we are walking down together?”
“Not yet.” She laughs. “And you know, even though he is my brother, you can talk to me about your relationship with him.”
“There isn’t anything to talk about. We haven’t hung out since bowling.”
“But he lives across the hall from you now. Maybe that will change?” Her voice is full of hope.
I’m not complaining about her pushing this on us because this is precisely the reason I befriended her in the first place. That thought has my stomach churning.
Yes, I used Chloe as a pawn in this game, but I have grown to tolerate her. She has become like a sister to me, which is weird because I’ve never felt this close to someone besides my actual sister.
If this all blows up in my face, I’d hate to lose this. Look at me—having a real friendship.
“Maybe.” I clear my throat, ready to say something else, until a worker finally greets us.
“Hello! I’m sorry for the wait.” She flashes apologetic eyes and then drops the volume of her voice. “We have a bride on the verge of a meltdown.”
I contain my eye roll as Chloe says, “Planning a wedding is stressful; I get it.”
The lady nods and then continues, “I’m Ava! What can I help you with today?”
“My friend here needs to be fitted for a bridesmaid dress, and I would love to try mine on.” Her hand falls to her stomach. “This little girl is growing faster than expected, so I’d like to ensure mine will still be good for the wedding.”
“Of course! Why don’t we start with your friend first?” Ava suggests. “She will be wearing the same color as the other girls?”
“Yes.” Chloe nods. “Just a different style. Whatever she is comfortable with.”
After multiple uncomfortable dresses, I am about to give up. I want to throw in the towel and tell Chloe that, as much as I appreciate the offer, I can’t be in the wedding.
I stare at myself in the mirror as I wear the deep red dress. The straps are too tight on my shoulder, and the fabric is so tight around my stomach that I’m having trouble breathing.
In the reflection, Ava pops her head in with a smile. “You ready to get out of that one?”
“Yes.” I sigh with relief. “I can’t breathe.”
She produces a little laugh, unzipping the back for me. “I have one more I think you’ll love.”
“That’s what you said about the last six.” I glare at her in the mirror. “I’m calling it quits.”
“Trust me on this one.” She smirks and then reaches past the curtain, separating my dressing room from the viewing area.
The fabric's color matches the dress I am wearing, but this material is satin. I step out of the dress, not caring if Ava sees me naked. I’m sure many women have stripped down in front of her.
She helps me step into it and leaves me to pull it up my body myself. The first dress, she attempted to help, but the touch of her hand on my skin made me flinch. No matter how many times Leo has had his hands on me or the countless hugs Chloe gives me, it seems that I still don’t particularly appreciate being touched. And since Ava saw the threat in my eyes, she hasn’t helped again.
Once the dress is draped over my body, Ava zips me up and looks at me in the mirror. Her eyes shine, and she can’t contain the smile spreading across her face. My gaze leaves hers to see what she is looking at, and once my eyes land on the dress, my jaw drops.
This dress hugs my body perfectly and isn’t too tight. Thankfully, I can breathe in it. The straps fall loosely over my shoulders, resting comfortably on the middle of my arm. Its neckline is straight, sitting right at the tops of my breasts, only showing a little cleavage.
I allow my eyes to scan down my body in awe. The dress appears to have shadows in spots where the material bunches together. It’s elegant, sultry, and stunning.
“Wow,” I whisper, not believing I could feel something like this for an article of clothing.
When I was younger, my mother dressed me nicely when we went to banquets and events. But I was a kid. Sure, I enjoyed dressing up for a while, not as much as my sister, but it was fun until it wasn’t. I felt like their little doll and came to hate the idea of wearing something nice.
This is the first time I’ve worn something this elegant, even since being locked up. And I don’t mind it.
“The color goes so well with your hair and skin tone,” Ava utters softly.
I glance at my hair, the brown showing more prominently than the blonde I had been dying it with. I should touch it up, but this brunette fighting its way to the surface makes me miss my natural hair.
Not only the color, but the curls as well. They were a part of me, and I badly wanted to figure out how to reverse the treatment the lady put on my hair. Letting the color grow out and getting my curls back is a risk, but is it a risk I’m willing to take?
“It’s perfect.” My voice remains low as I appreciate the dress some more.
“Why don’t we show the bride?”
I nod, and she steps back, holding the curtain so I can walk through. When I come out, Chloe is on the pedestal wearing her wedding dress.
It’s simple yet graceful. It’s made of satin with thin straps on her shoulders. The fabric swoops a bit at the neckline. It hugs her body, but there is enough room for her belly to grow and remain comfortable.
“Myles is going to faint when he sees you,” I joke, gaining her attention.
“God, I hope he doesn't. But if he doesn’t cry, we will have some issues.” She smoothes her hands down her dress, gazing at herself in the mirror before focusing on me. “Holy shit, Camille! You look amazing!”
“You think?” I look down at the dress. “The leg slit isn’t too much?”
“God, no! You should see Sylvia’s dress.” Her eyes go wide, her face scrunching up. “But it’s the one she wanted, so…” Chloe trails off for a moment, admiring the dress, and then finally says, “It’s perfect. Leo might be the one fainting at the wedding.”
I shake my head, biting my lip at the thought of Leo seeing me in this dress. He has seen me in that navy dress for the double date, but nothing this… sophisticated.
“Let’s hope no one faints.” I laugh, then turn to Ava. “I’ll take this one.”
Ava nods and gestures for me to return to the fitting room to remove the dress. I do so without her help and then hand it to her once I step out fully dressed in my clothes.
When she rings it up, I fight my eyes not to widen at the price. I don’t make extravagant purchases like this; my mattress is the only exception, especially since I will only wear this dress for one night.
I might be able to return it if I am extra careful and don’t spill anything on it the night of the wedding.
Swiping my card sends a shiver down my spine, but I shake it off. Chloe appears from the back, a broad smile on her face. “I’m glad my dress fits. Even with this belly.”
“What happens if she grows more by October?”
“There seems to be enough fabric to accommodate that, but if it doesn’t fit,” she pauses, thinking about what she’ll do. “Honestly, I’m not sure. I’ll probably find a cheap last-minute dress that fits. After all, the wedding isn’t about what I’ll be wearing. It’s about Myles and I celebrating our love.”
“Have you always had feelings for Myles?” The question slips out of me before I realize I asked it.
“I found him attractive when Leo brought him home for the first holiday. Then Leo took me aside while Myles got to know our parents and told me about the situation.” Her eyes grow sad at the memory. “His childhood was awful. His parents sucked and didn’t care for him. They never wanted a kid and cared more about drugs than their child. I felt so much anger for him. For the little boy he used to be. For the little boy that deserved a far better life.”
“That’s awful,” I almost whisper. I didn’t know that Myles's past was that terrible. Leo never mentioned it when he talked to me about his family.
“Yeah.” She sighs, and as we head towards the boutique door, she opens it, and with a half smile, she says, “But he had us.”
All the stories I’ve heard from Leo about his family made them sound incredible. Like a family that every child wishes they could grow up with.
Thinking back to my past, I wonder what it would have been like to grow up in a household like Chloe and Leo’s. Where the parents showed you love.
Would I have turned out the way that I am? Would I have been able to feel things like love?
“When did you know you loved him?” I ask while we begin our walk to the car.
“Well, the year after we met, I had a crush on him. I was a senior in high school, and he was the cool college kid.” She stares forward as we walk, a smile playing on her lips.
“It never grew more than a silly crush until I had Carter. Since his father, Jeremy, was a piece of shit, seeing how Myles treated my son opened my eyes. When he and Leo did come around when they weren’t busy with school, Myles was always so caring and attentive towards Carter. It made me happy but then sad at the same time because that’s how Myles deserved to be treated growing up.”
“Seeing his love for my child made that crush blossom even more. We never acted on it, though. There was always that tension between us. Flirting when Leo wasn’t around, I didn’t miss the glances he threw me when he didn’t think I was looking. It was after my mother died and Leo got sent to prison that we acted on the feelings. We were grieving and angry. We helped each other simmer down those emotions and ultimately found love.”
“You don’t ever really talk about your mother.” Leo always spoke of his mother, and it’s weird not to hear Chloe gush about her.
A car beeps in the distance, catching my attention. The headlights on Chloe’s vehicle flash as she unlocks the car. She doesn’t respond until we are nestled into our seats.
“It’s been years, but it still hurts to talk about her. My mother’s death still feels… fresh in my mind.” Chloe’s eyes well with tears. “She was the most amazing woman I’ve ever known and was taken too soon. She deserved to live a long and healthy life.”
“That she did.” I take her hand in mine, offering a light squeeze.
She flashes me an endearing smile, then sighs. “Okay, enough talk about sad times. Let me text Myles and see what the boys are up to. Maybe we can meet them for lunch.”
I remove my hand from hers, sitting back in my seat as I stare out the window. Chloe’s words stick with me about how Myles deserved a better life and how her mother deserved to live longer.
Deserve.
I deserve to live a life that I am happy with.
And that starts with Leo.