Page 78 of Undone

She taps her spiky heel.

Her eyes flatten.

Shit.

She’s about to go all bridezilla on me. “Whatever.” I roll my eyes, grab the dress, and take off my jeans—uncaring that five pairs of eyes are looking at me. The dress flutters over my head for a second before I pull it down. Its silkiness glides across my skin reminding me of things—I shouldn’t be thinking of.

“I thought you were skinny before, but damn girl, you are nothing but skin and bones,” Keisha clicks her tongue.

“It’s the Keto Diet, isn’t it? I lost fifteen pounds for my wedding on it.” Tanya ran a hand down her toned body.

“No. She probably juiced. Luce was always making some green, leafy drink in the teacher’s lounge,” Amy replies.

Tanya’s huge diamond ring waves in front of my face as she dusts bronzer across my cheeks. I choke back a sob. Maybe I should try harder to fake things I can’t feel.

“Amy—do you have an extra pair of those gel boob inserts? Luce’s chest is caved in.” Tanya’s eyes meet mine as she dips the brush and starts applying the powder to my chest. “Girl, you really need to eat more carbs.”

I stand up abruptly. “I-I can’t. I can’t do this anymore. I shouldn’t have come back.” I try to get to the door, but Amy blocks my escape.

Tanya grabs my arm, “Spill. Now—cut the shit, Luce. I knew something was up, but I also know better than to try to pry it out of you. You’re not as strong as you think. We all need friends to lean on sometimes. I-I know I’ve been a demanding bride, but it’s finally my time… after all the heartache I went through to find Vito. It’s finally, my time. I’m sorry if it makes me a bitch to be happy. I want you here, Luce. Can you be here for me?”

“Of course. I feel like shit. Truthfully, maybe I’m even jealous. I thought it was my turn too. But he cut and ran just like all the ones before.”

Tanya arcs an eyebrow, sits on the bed, and pats the mattress beside her. “Now we’re getting somewhere.” She snaps her fingers dramatically in the air, “Drinks. We need drinks! And you—,” she points to me, “you are going to sit right here and tell us all everything. Who is this schmuck that I need to add to Vito’s hit-list? He’s mafia. Did I mention, I’m marrying a made man? It’s so hot!”

“I guessed. He always wears a suit and more hair gel than a bottle of Got 2 Be Glued,” Keisha snorts.

“Shut up,” she snorts.

“His name was Lucas Smith… he’s the President of an MC in California…”

“Is he huge?”

“Yes.”

“Everywhere?”

“Yes.”

“Is he covered in ink?”

I sigh, “Yes.”

They all fan themselves as they sip some fruity cocktail Keisha made. “I let him go down on me in the woods the first day we met.”

“Girl? Damn…. now this is a story we all need to hear, and don’t you dare leave one detail out.”

I have everyone’s full attention as I take them back in time with me. Downing my drink, I fall back against the pillows. My eyes flutter shut as I recall everything from the moment our eyes met until the night I waited and waited for him until dawn.

“… and I sat out there on the front porch for hours. I didn’t believe Dev and Rog when they said he wasn’t coming. I kept telling myself they didn’t understand what we had. No one could. Especially when he looked at me like I was a shooting star he captured. When we made love—he whispered the hottest shit. I knew what we had was real. And I thought deep down he’d show. It wasn’t until the pink rays of dawn broke out across the sky that I stood. I could barely walk inside. All my limbs were frozen from waiting all night. But my heart—it turned into a block of ice. But even ice breaks. It cracked and shattered leaving nothing but a frigid void.”

“Asshole,” Amy muttered.

“That man needs a smackdown,” Keisha agrees, shaking her head.

“I’m so sorry, Luce.” Sara says quietly.

“Vito has contacts in LA. I’ll have his dick delivered to you in a box.”

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