Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Excuse me,” Addison says, putting up her hand, “but what?”
“Yeah, that’s what I said,” Stefano adds before he turns and glares at Levi, who just rolls his eyes at him.
“Would you give her a minute to explain before you come at me guns blazing?” Levi tells him, putting his hands in his pockets.
“My sister passed away.” I look at the girls and ignore the stinging and burning that my eyes feel. “And, well.” My voice trembles and instead of continuing I take a second to steady myself. Levi walks over to me and puts his arm around my shoulders, trying to give me support. If only he knew how much it means to me. “And now I’m going to be adopting my niece.” All the women put their hands to their chests, giving me a sad look. “And the best way for me to do this according to a reputable source”—I use my index finger to wipe the tear that is going to escape from my eyes—“is for me to be married.”
“Which is why we are getting married.” Levi now looks at Stefano. “She needs help and I’m obviously going to help her.”
“Oh, thank God,” Stefano exhales, clapping his hands and putting them on his knees. “I thought you lost your mind.” He laughs at me, then looks at Levi. “This makes much more sense than you two.” He moves his hands from me to Levi. “You know, being together.”
“Again.” Levi sounds a touch irritated, and I feel the heaviness of his arm around my shoulders. “I’m right here.” I reach around his waist, showing him that I’m here for him.
“I’m not saying anything bad,” Stefano backtracks. “I’m just—”
“Maybe you should stop talking,” Addison mumbles to him.
“Now would be the perfect time for you to, I don’t know,” Sofia starts talking, “shut up.” She picks up her hands to her sides and shrugs.
“I’m just saying he’s him,” Stefano states, “and she’s her.”
“I’m looking at a woman and a man who look like they need to get married,” Clarabella states.
“Sorry, want to get married.”
“Look, I need to do this,” I inform them all, “if not for me, then for Cici. So I need to get married.” I shake my head. “We need to get married and we would like you guys to work your magic and make it happen.”
“Or we can go to Vegas,” Levi throws in, and the minute he says the V-word the gasps fill the room again. This time it’s not a sad, shocked gasp, it’s a how dare you say that kind of gasp.
“Did you just use the V-word?” Presley accuses him, putting her hand to her mouth as if he said a bad word.
“And she is not talking about the—” Clarabella says, pointing down at her vagina.
“Everyone needs to just….” Addison picks up her hands. “Just, we are going to do this.” She looks at us, and for the first time since all of this started, I feel a sense of relief. As if it’s all going to be better.
“So we can be married,” Levi asks her, “today?”
“But—” Shelby steps forward, holding up her hand to stop us all from talking. “There are a couple of things you need in order to make this happen, and number one besides obviously having a groom—” She points at Levi.
“Also, can we say you get top props for that?” Clarabella winks at her.
“Not that.” Presley slaps her. “You need a dress.” She points at me and I shake my head.
“I don’t need a dress,” I inform her and feel Levi’s hand move away from my shoulder.
“Yes, she does.” I hear from beside me and I look over at him. “You need a dress,” he assures me and all I can do is stare at him.
“I’m wearing white and something old.” I point at the shirt. “Something sort of blue.” I hold up my arm at the bracelet he gave me for my last birthday. “And someone is going to lend me something.” I look around at the women, waiting for them to offer me something.
“You’re right,” Shelby declares, nodding at me. “We can lend you a dress.”
“Well,” Clarabella adds, “because we are just awesome, we have a selection of dresses that we actually carry from one of the stores in town as samples. It’s good for her and for us, apparently.”
“Why don’t you go with them?” Levi looks at me. “See if there is anything you might like.” I immediately start to shake my head. I am not going to be buying a wedding dress that I don’t need. It’s another expense I can’t take at this time. I’m already dreading the lawyer bill and I don’t even know how much it’s going to cost me in order to draw up the adoption papers. “You do that and I’m going to go and check out where we are going to exchange our vows.”