Page 1 of Contrition

prologue

ESTRELLA

“Are you ready to go get married,hija?” my mother all but proclaimed from behind me. I stared at myself in the mirror and quickly turned my gaze towards hers. Twisting around to face her, my lip wobbled slightly as I noticed tears lining her eyes—yet, I had the sneaking suspicion they were of nothing but joyous belonging, even as her next set of words brought giggles out of my nervous frame. “Like, really? Because we can make a run for it. You know, I almost ran out on yourpapá. I wouldn’t judge you in the slightest.”

I looked down at the wedges that paired beautifully with the equally white, innocent, and yet untraditional styled tea-length dress that adorned my frame.

Untraditional and unique.Just like us.

I was gonna be sick.

“No,Mamá. I’m okay. I…just want to throw up a little bit.”

“Not on your dress, you won’t! All of your pictures would be horrendous. We have enough pictures of you being sick at those loud concerts. Consider it forbidden on your wedding day.”

A chuckle sounded from behind the spitfire of a woman I called my mother, followed by a brooding voice that had haunted me daily for months—nearly as much as Zack’s husky one that I would know anywhere. My head snapped up and I tensed marginally as he spoke. “Oh, c’mon, Mrs. Flores. You know you’d have the time of your life at one of those concerts if you came along. We could make you a roadie and everything.”

My mother turned to look at me with a raised brow before turning it directly back on Theo. “A ‘roadie’? What on Earth is that?”

Theo only continued with a wink. “Oh, they’re pretty things like yourself who help out with the…needsof musicians on tour. If you catch my drift.”

My mouth popped open as I blushed furiously. My mother turned back towards me with a horror-stricken face. “Hija! Are you a ‘roadie’? Does Zackary know? What are you going to tell him?”

“No,Mamá. I am not a roadie,” I paused, turning to talk to Theo directly. I glared fiercely as I found him nearly bent over with silent laughter. “Andyouleave my poor, innocent mother alone! She doesn’t know any of these terms. You’re going to give her heart failure.”

Laughter marred his voice as he spoke again. “I know. That’s what makes it so funny. I can tell her anything, and she’ll think you’re a devil. I could absolutely use this to my advantage, you know.”

I growled as my mother cut in. “I am standing right here!”

Finally containing his humor, Theo prowled forward. I gulped as he stood directly before me, only to turn, bend down, and place a kiss on my mother’s hand. “You are, indeed. And you look absolutely beautiful, if I do say so myself. A band mate would be honored to consider you a roadie.”

Ireallywas gonna be sick.

It was my mother’s turn to blush. “Oh mi.hija, are you sure you don’t want to marry this brother instead? I think I may like him more.”

If my eyes could have rolled to the back of my head, given the horrendous timing and situation that my mother was clueless of, they absolutely would have. My teeth ground down as I responded, “I am absolutely positive.”

Theo straightened and turned towards me again. “Ouch.”

“Get over yourself.”

My mother swatted at my arm. “Modales.”

I rubbed the spot on my arm with a pout. “Sorry,Mamá.”

Theo smiled sadly as he looked at me, then turned back towards my mother. “Do you mind if I have a minute with your daughter alone? I promise—no roadie behavior. Just a little, privatebest mantalk. May as well bash my brother one more time, right?”

My mother, ignoring my all but pleading look, nodded and walked towards the room exit. “Of course! I need to go find herpapá, anyway. It’s almost time, Estrella. Do your last-minute touches!”

And with that, she left me to fend against the wolves. Or—well—wolf.

DearGod.

I turned back towards the mirror to hide my nervousness at Theo’s close proximity, only to catch my own brown eyes and heavily painted reflection once more. My face held more makeup than I had likely ever worn in my entire life, with my hair being pinned in a cascade of braids and waves that made me appear nearly ethereal.

I was getting married. To my best friend. To my soulmate.

I finally felt the courage to smile at my own reflection as I spoke. Even if it was a tid-bit forced, given how I had loved avoiding the man behind me for three months now. “What’s up?”

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