Page 19 of Waiting Game

Originally, she wanted to run away and elope to save all the fuss, but of course Toni’s mother wouldn’t allow that. Whether he liked it or not, he was the head of The Family, and had to put on a show.

It wasn’t just about the wedding, or the party - but a display of power and wealth.

“Okay,” Vera said, “the girls are lining up downstairs. Toni you will go first, straight to the end of the aisle. Then Dimitri, then Angelo, then Samuel, and then you Lorenzo,” she reached up, cupping my cheek fondly, “best man will be going last.”

We all nodded, and fell into line.

We took the elevator down, and walked to the back exit of the building where there was a large double door that opened up to the rear of the hotel. The girls were lined up on one side of it, though I couldn’t see Rome yet.

Her friend Mina was first in line, and would walk down with Dimitri, and then I saw Zarina behind her, who would walk with Angel. The rest of the line was hidden by the large door, and I grew frustrated.

I leaned out, trying to sneak a peek into the greenhouse to see if I could see the back of Valerie’s head. I couldn’t see anything or anyone - just Antoni walking down the path with his mother on his arm.

The music started and Dimitri took the blonde girl by the arm, then Angel, and then Sammy. I shuffled forward, staring down at my shoes and waiting my turn.

I looked up, and couldn’t move.

The ghost of my past was standing in front of me, in a satin, champagne coloured dress that I hadn’t even noticed on the other girls. Her curls fell around her collar bones, and she chewed on her plump bottom lip as her icy blue eyes stared into mine with as much shock on her face as I felt inside.

Valerie blinked a few times, and then turned forward, offering her arm to me so we could walk down the path together.

I hesitated before I took it, but turned off the part of my brain that was reeling.

She was here, and even though it was just a small part of her arm, I got to hold her again.

Neither of us said a word as we walked down the aisle together, but I caught her glancing at me from the side of her eye as I was doing the same.

Valerie hadn’t changed a bit.

She was still a tiny thing, the top of her head barely reaching my shoulder. Though I did notice that her figure had filled out some, and the dress was tight on her hips.

It took every part of my self-discipline to continue down the aisle, instead of yanking her away from the crowd and to a secluded spot where only we could exist.

She pulled away from me quickly, as soon as we got to the end of the aisle.

Antoni was watching me with a teasing expression on his face, which dropped to a look of pure contentment as the music changed and Rome emerged into the greenhouse.

She wore a dress that was similar to the bridesmaids, satin and tight fitting, with a low-cut back.

But instead of the nude, champagne colour - it was black.

I guess that she had anticipated that Vera would choose white.

She looked beautiful, with her hair pulled into long waves over one shoulder. Rome was inarguably gorgeous, but I still felt my eyes flickering to her bridesmaid instead. Valerie kept her eyes expertly trained on anywhere but me, but I knew that she noticed me just as much as I noticed her.

“Ring,” Antoni hissed, snapping me out of my daydream.

I fumbled through my pockets and found the ring, and I noticed Valerie smirk as I struggled. I realised that almost the whole ceremony had blurred past me in my haze.

“Do you, Antoni Santino, take Rome Dawson, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do,” he smiled down at his bride.

“And do you, Rome Dawson, take Antoni Santino to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“Hmm…” Rome paused for a moment, with a playfully teasing expression on her face as she pondered the question.

Vera shook her head and rolled her eyes, while everyone else laughed.

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