Page 124 of Rum & Coke

“Oh, cariño. You look so beautiful.” Valentina beamed.

I smiled at her through the reflection of the floor length mirror. “Thank you.”

“I can’t believe this happened so fast.”

“Me either,” I admitted.

The day after Sebastian proposed, Valentina and a guard took me to get a dress. It was off the rack, and honestly, I didn’t care. Nothing I planned for this wedding would be what I ultimately wanted. The dress was a halter style princess dress. After it was purchased, I was measured, and the dress was sent to be altered. When we got home, a wedding planner came knocking, and flowers were picked. I chose white roses. I thought it was only going to be my bouquet, but Valentina made sure to order a shitload for the reception tables and the ceremony. When she was told how much it would cost to rush the order, she didn’t bat an eye.

The planner helped me pick a cake, told me she’d get a DJ, and I chose the invitations with her. The one thing I didn’t pick was the location. Sebastian had done that himself because he said someone owed him. I didn’t question him. The next day, the invitations arrived, and Sebastian gave Valentina a list of who he wanted to invite. Because money was no object, she overnighted all the invitations since the wedding was fast approaching. No one from my side was invited, but it had to be that way. My parents knew nothing about what was going on, and the only people I’d want to come were Melony and Sophia, and I couldn’t have them involved.

“And this guy is so handsome.” Valentina bent in front of Colton.

There was a knock on the door, and I held my breath, hoping it was Joss. Mateo entered after Valentina opened the door.

“It’s time.”

Everything stopped, and I wanted to cry.

Joss didn’t come through.

Joss didn’t stop this.

Joss wasn’t here.

A tear slid down my cheek before I realized it and I wiped it away.

“Don’t cry, cariño,” Valentina said. “You’ll mess up your makeup.”

“I know. I’m just so … happy,” I lied.

She hugged me. “This will be the happiest day of your life. Mr. Delarosa is taking you somewhere special for your honeymoon.”

“He is?” I looked into her eyes.

“Si.”

“But …” I looked down at Colton who was playing with a fidget spinner.

“You and Colton of course. He’s made arrangements.”

“He has?”

“Si.”

“Okay.” I smiled. “Can you give me a minute?”

“I’ll stay with her,” Mateo spoke up.

“Okay. I’ll see you down there.” She hugged me again and then turned to leave. Another guard was standing outside the doors and started to escort her toward the elevators.

I expected Mateo to step into the hall and close the door behind him, but he didn’t. “I’ll just be a minute.”

He closed the door with him still inside the room. “We don’t have long.”

“What?” I whispered. I looked at Colton, who had switched from his spinner to his iPad.

Mateo walked toward me, and I took a few steps back. “When you go down there, everything’s going to change.”