Page 32 of Marry Lies
I should’ve thought this through, but of course, it was so last minute—
“I’ll take those,” a woman behind me says. I spin around and hand the tulips to her, and she gives me a warm, encouraging smile. She has long, light brown hair and the most gorgeous set of green eyes I’ve ever seen. “I’m Juliet. I’m Chase’s girlfriend,” she explains quickly, pointing to the beguiling man next to her.
Chase gives me a knowing, cocky smile as he tips his head. “Nice to meet you, Stella,” he practically purrs, blue eyes twinkling with mischief.
Do they all look like this? My god, the world is not safe from the Ravage brothers.
Before I can introduce myself, Miles tugs on my elbow and pulls me back to where he’s standing.
“You look beautiful,” he murmurs into my ear before taking my hands.
It’s so intimate.Toointimate.
I close my eyes briefly to tamp down the panic crawling up my esophagus.He’s being nice. Get it together.Still, I can’t help but grieve the wedding I always wanted—a white dress, outdoors, with fairy lights and everyone I love gathered together. I suppose there’s still time for that after this year is over, but still. My chest aches a bit when I think of the fact thatthisis the first time I’ll ever be married.
In a courthouse.
Wearing a purple dress.
Reciting vows to a man I barely know.
The commissioner drones on about marriage—it’s all very unemotional—and my eyes wander to the crowd. I don’t recognize anyone aside from Luna and my father. Charles isn’t here, which doesn’t surprise me. Standing next to Chase and Juliet are two other men I can only presume are the other Ravage brothers. They both give me reassuring smiles.
As if they all know this is a ruse.
My heart is galloping inside of my chest, and I inhale for three seconds, exhale for three seconds…
“You okay?” Miles asks me, his green eyes scanning my face. “Please don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet.”
I manage a small smile.
Get. It. Together.
“I’m fine,” I tell him quietly.
His eyes flash with something—alarm, maybe—and his thumb brushes the top of my palm briefly. My skin pebbles at the soft touch, and though I’m nervous, his eyes somehow ground me.
“Deep breaths, Estelle,” he says, too low for anyone else to hear. He doesn’t seem nervous at all. His brows are slightly pinched as he studies my face, but otherwise, his hands aren’t shaking and sweaty like mine.
My chest rises and falls, stuttering when the commissioner says something about rings. It catches me off guard.Rings?Of course we’d need rings.Shite. Miles holds his palm out and hands me a plain, gold band. I take it as the commissioner talks about the significance of the rings. My pulse is whooshing too loudly through my eardrums for me to hear him. I slide the band over Miles’s ring finger as my knees turn to jelly from sheer nervousness.
“Here,” Miles says, sliding a gorgeous vintage platinum and amethyst ring on my ring finger.
It takes me a second to recognize it, and when I do, I pull my hand away, startled.
“That’s my grandmother’s ring,” I whisper as the panic builds.
No, no, no.
This is all wrong.
“Estelle,” Miles warns, taking my hand again. “Let’s discuss this later, yeah?”
I nod once as he slides the familiar ring onto my shaking ring finger. A few seconds later, the commissioner declares us married, and the room tilts as I look up at Miles. There’s something about a kiss—
I’m going to be sick. This is all wrong. This isn’t how I’m supposed to feel on my wedding day.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, calming myself.
