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I grabbed her wrist. “This place makes you feel like you’re drowning, but don’t run again. Please. I need my friend.”
She squeezed my hand, her expression brightening. “Sorry, girl. You know I love being your friend. And I love my guys. But it can feel so suffocating.”
I nodded. “You’ll get there once you figure out which one you want.”
“I can’t choose.”
I kicked off my pumps and stripped out of my skirt and blouse. I slipped into my gown with Kali’s help. The dress had black feathers with a long train and a low-cut corset. It was exactly as I had envisioned.
“Girl,” Kali beamed as she appraised my dress. “You look like…”
“A black swan,” I finished for her.
“Wow! This is incredible.” Her mouth widened as she ran her hand down the feathers in awe. “I can’t believe you sketched this.”
“The designer did an incredible job,” I said with a smile.
“You look hot. Damn, even I want to fuck you.”
I laughed so hard I snorted.
“Luca will love this dress.”
“How are we doing, ladies?” Domenica said from the other side of the curtain.
“We’re almost done,” I told her.
We appraised ourselves in the mirror for a moment. I smoothed a hand down the front of the gown and smiled at myself in the mirror.
My cell phone buzzed with a new message.
Luca
How’s my beautiful bride?
Alex
I feel like a queen in this dress.
Luca
Because you are a queen.
Clutching the phone in my hand, I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt, wishing I didn’t have to wait a few more days to make Luca my husband. I wanted to marry him that second.
After we changed, Kali suggested we head into the bathroom. She lifted the plastic bag from the bench, and we locked ourselves inside the bathroom. Kali unboxed three different pregnancy tests.
I sat on the toilet, and Kali handed me one after the other. Nerves shook through me as we waited for the tests to change color. I washed my hands, unable to look at them, while Kali could not take her eyes off the counter.
Kali gasped. I moved beside her, and my eyes widened at the sight of all three tests. One had a blue plus sign, another two pink lines, and the final one said positive.
“There’s no denying you’re preggers,” she muttered.
“I have to tell Luca.” My heart dropped to my stomach. “The timing could not be worse.”
“It’s not the end of the world. We have allies committed to taking down The Carver. He won’t get you.” She rubbed her hand over my stomach. “Or this baby.”
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