Page 60 of The Masks We Burn

There was once a time I had a plan. A convoluted one with too many unknown factors, and a pretty heavy chance for me to fall flat on my face, but a plan nonetheless.

Secure a scapegoat.

Find a job.

Prove to my mother I can do everything on my own without depending on a man for anything.

What Ididn’tplan for was having feelings for the guy whose only purpose is to give me more time. Or spend every other night wrapped up in his arms. And I damn sure didn’t plan on proving my mother right.

But in the end, I feel as though I’m doing exactly that. Day by day, William is working himself into my bloodstream, filling my body with an antidote I didn’t know I needed.

Every day it’s as if he chips another piece of my armor, taking away the need for me to hide from him, and instead letting me see he isn’t the guy I thought he was five years ago. He’s not arrogant or selfish, cruel or pigheaded. He’s sweet and accommodating, caring and funny. He doesn’t push for more than I’m willing to give and helps me feel sane when I want to pull my hair out. I still haven’t told him about my biggest fear, but now, I’m not scared to. I know he’ll listen and do the special thing he does so well and put my mind at ease, validating everything I’m worried about.

That’s just the kind of man he is.

I still don’t know what the hell I’m going to do when I graduate in two months, but what I do know is, that’s okay.

Will has agreed to let me use him as my fiancé for as long as I need or until my mother finally figures it all out. But either way, I’m enjoying the ride to my possible doom a lot more than I could have imagined.

“You sure are all smiles over there.” Remy nudges me in the side, garnering a giggle out of me. “Doesn’t happen to be because of a giant neighbor of ours with dreamy green eyes and perfectly bronzed skin, does it?”

I huff, leaning back in the comfy plush chair. Yes, it does. Hell, almost every smile out of me these days has something to do with him. “You know all about it, huh?”

She shrugs, pulling on the string meant to help zip up the back of our sample dresses.

We met at the bridal shop to try on our dresses while getting to see Lily’s final fitting. She wanted to surprise us on the wedding day, but the girl couldn’t wait another second to show someone. Her aunt Mina had a fit when she found out she had to wait for “first look” pictures Lily wanted to take with her.

The full-length chiffon dresses Lily picked for her bridesmaids are the perfect cool gray. They come in an empire style with a quaint sweetheart top, flattering all curves and making me feel like a damn forest fairy goddess.

“You look beautiful, Remy,” I say, standing to fix some of her wild strands back in place.

“Both of you do.”

We both whirl around to see Lily walking toward the bridal platform, both hands holding up the front of her dress as she steps up.

Holy shit.

My jaw hits the floor as I take her in. An insanely gorgeous beige bohemian gown with nude lace flows from her body and trails into a chapel train. Beading and intricate lace designs cover the entire bottom top half, cinching in the middle before tapering below the waist. But the part that has me nearly panting is the extremely deep V in the front, and the alluring branch-like stitching in the nude back that seems to be attached to her skin.

I’m literally floored by her beauty, and it isn’t until the attendant hands me a small box of tissues that I realize I’m crying. “Bitch, you look like something out of one of Remy’s fantasy books.”

“Like a queen at winter solstice.”

Lily laughs, wiping her own tears. “So you like it?”

“Love it,” Remy and I say in unison.

Lily’s smile grows as she nods, taking one last glance in the mirror. Seeing the person she is now, the woman she’s grown into after all the things she’d had to go through, is awe-inspiring. She was dragged through the muck, given shit circumstances, and still came out on top—finding her career path, love, and true happiness. She didn’t let her fear weigh her down or hold her back.

She dug deep and made things happen.

“I’m so proud of you, Lily,” I mutter, swallowing around the thickness in my throat.

Lily turns, twirling a loose strand around her finger before holding out her hands to me. I step up on the platform and let her wrap her arms around my neck, and even though I try not to, the tears fall one after the other.

“I couldn’t have done this without you and Blaze, Amora. You both befriended me at a time when I was hurting and lashing out and didn’t think I could ever trust anyone ever again after Spencer. I was closed off, a bitch, and sometimes a really crappy friend, but you loved me through it all. You gave me hope that not only could I have true friends again, but I couldloveagain.Forgiveagain.”

She pulls away, holding my shoulders while tears fall from her big brown eyes and onto her dress. “It’s my turn to show you that same unrelenting friendship.”

---