Daisy snaps her fingers and I focus again on everything wedding related spread on the table before I look over at her with a sheepish smile on my face. She’s studying me intently, her eyes the same blue color as the pictures I’ve seen of her late mother and not missing a damn thing. I wish I could hide from her, from anyone really.
She leans slightly over the table and sweeps her hand over the fluff. “You’re not really into planning this wedding, are you?”
I shudder slightly, knowing damn well that this 18-year-old girl should not intimidate me, but, still, fear spikes inside me and my heart starts thumping inside my chest. What if I’m honest and then she goes back to Constantino and spills? Can I trust her? More than I trust my fiancé, the man I’m supposed to spend the rest of my life with even though I don’t feel like I really know or understand his real intentions?
“It’s not that,” I hedge. With one arch of her delicate eyebrow, I feel myself crumbling like a damn house of cards. Who the hell am I? I’m a fucking Scavo. I square my shoulders and then look at the wedding stuff. “Look, I just never really imagined my wedding being anything more than a business exchange and I’m not sure it’s much more than that right now.”
Daisy’s eyes widen in surprise, and I realize I’ve said too fucking much. She leans even closer and hisses, “What are you talking about?”
I sigh and then let everything tumble from me even though I know I shouldn’t, I know it’s stupid, I know it’s dangerous. It appears I simply don’t care anymore. Which is not good. Recklessness gets people killed, especially when we’re talking about the most powerful family in the city.
When I’m done, she lets out a huff and then slumps back in her chair, an emotion in her eyes which I fucking hate to see there—pity. She looks at the wedding preparations and then back at me and then takes in the lavish dining room we’ve taken over in the house which is all Constantino and none of me.
She shakes her head and makes a slashing motion with her hand. “I know that it might not seem like it, but I can tell you right now my brother has never been happier than he has been with you. My feelings on that haven’t change with what you’ve told me.” She huffs out a humorless laugh and shakes her head. “I think he’s telling you the truth about wanting you from the start and wasn’t above using your position to his advantage to get exactly what he wanted.” She rolls her eyes. “It’s such an Agosti thing to do,” she points out with a small smile on her lips.
My eyes widen and my voice comes out incredulously, “What does that even mean?”
Her laugh is lyrical before she gets herself under control. “It means you need to put all your doubts and your insecurities on the side and give him the benefit of the doubt on this one.” I open my mouth to dispute her advice, but I don’t get the chance when she blurts, “Do you love him? If he hadn’t manipulated you or your situation at all, would you doubt him and his words?”
I blink at her once, twice and then my eyes slide shut as my chin hits my chest. My voice is barely above a whisper, “No, I wouldn’t doubt him. I felt something for him the moment I met him.” I clear my throat and try and force myself to form the words past the lump there which feels a lot like realization, “I do love him.”
When I look at Daisy, she’s beaming at me and nodding with tears in her eyes. I furrow my eyebrows together as she lets out a self-deprecating chuckle. “I’m a sucker for a good love story.” I want to ask her about what the deal is with her and Lorenzo. She must be able to read it on my face because she gives me a sad, watery smile. Her voice is dejected, “Not everyone gets their happily ever after. For whatever reason. If you know he’s the man for you, then jump in.”
My heart aches for her while my own realization makes me feel giddy. I look over the table and know I should put in some more time on planning the wedding. It’s going to be tight to make it happen already, but at the same time I have this yearning to see him.
“We should get back to it then since I’m going to be marrying the man,” my voice sounds a little unsure because I want to go to him. Right now.
Daisy laughs and this time it’s bigger and brighter. She shakes her head and starts closing the binder we’ve been using for notes. “No, I can get my friend Hyacinth, Tazio’s sister, to help us another day. You need to go and get all dressed up and then go see your man at Sala,” she wiggles her eyebrows at me.
I stand and rush over to her, hugging her fiercely. I murmur, “I hope you get your happily ever after, Daisy. You deserve it.”
She gives me a squeeze before letting me go. The sadness in her eyes and the wave of unrequited affection and love almost knocks me over. I hate this for her, but at the same time I can’t imagine her brothers being okay with Daisy and Lorenzo being together. She’s going to need a champion, someone on her side, and I vow to be that person for her if she needs me.
“Go, go,” she gives me a shove and I race to go and get ready.
By the time I’m dressed, Daisy is already gone, and my heart sinks a little bit. I’ll fight for her because someone needs to. I understand how difficult it is growing up in this world as a woman. The men want to coddle you and treat you like a princess, but also expect you to sacrifice. They want us strong, but then demand our weakness.
Being with Constantino, loving him, it gives me strength. I hope I do the same for him because I don’t want to be anyone’s weakness. Maybe it would be the same way for Daisy and Lorenzo.
It doesn’t take long to grab a taxi and get to Sala. When I’m approaching the entrance, the bouncer looks surprised to see me for a second before he masks it and opens the door for me without needing to see my ID or anything. I can’t help the small smile on my lips knowing full well that is Constantino’s doing.
I look around the club for a moment, marveling at how impressive it is. Everyone is here to have a good time and it’s busy tonight. I’m about to head to where I know Constantino’s office is because he’s told me it is where he spends most of his time.
As I move through the space, I look over at the bar to find him there. At first, all I can see is him. I want to go over to him and wrap my body around his and tell him how I feel about him. I’ve been pushing him away a little here and there in order to protect myself, not believing this could be real.
I don’t want to doubt. It might not have happened in a traditional way, but I want our marriage to be filled with love. I think it can be.
I stop when I follow his arm to see the way it curves around the waist of the woman next to him. Her back is facing me, so the only thing I can really see is her black hair and the curves of her figure. When he leans into her and whispers something in her ear, I swear my heart shatters.
I turn and leave knowing I was just a damn fool. I might not be able to get out of this marriage considering I'm a woman of my word, but I don’t have to make it pleasant for him. What does it matter if he gets fed up and gets rid of me anyway?
I’m a Scavo and that’s all I’ve ever been. Now, I just happen to be the last one.