He’s not wrong.
And when Carina appears in a huge—and I really do mean huge—princess cut dress, I can’t help but agree with him. She looks fantastic, of course, with the pink dress and black hair.Has she dyed it?
The two of them state their vows to each other and I can’t help but tear up a little. I really am proud of Carina—of how much she’s survived; of the way she’s opened herself up to love, even if it’s unconventional.
When the ceremony is over, Carina rips off the black hair—a wig I now realise—to reveal her pastel pink strands once more, twirls it around in her hand, then states that instead of a bouquet, she’s doing a wig toss.
It’s a very small group, and the only non-married women are Tess, Nate and Enzo’s mothers, and me. The four of us stand awkwardly waiting to catch the wig.
My thighs press together, every nerve alight. Eli stands off to the side as my shadow. He grins at me, then slips his hand into his pocket.
Oh fuck.
I almost fold in half as the egg comes to life. It’s a battle to keep my face neutral, to stay upright, to breathe like a normal person in a room full of witnesses.
Glaring at Eli, I’m not really paying attention—which is why I can’t quite believe it when I end up with a face-full of synthetic hair. Oh fuck. I caught the wig.
Izzy comes running up to me and squeezes me tightly. Thankfully, Eli kills the vibrations as she does. “Ahhh, you caught it. I bet you marry your stalker.”
Eli drapes an arm over my shoulder. “She will.”
“It’s really good to finally meet you in person,” I say, ignoring both their comments.
“I know. It’s strange; I feel like I already know you.”
Before we can properly catch up, Carina is bounding up to us. “Let’s go. We’re having a party at the house.”
It’s a small affair really, only their closest friends and family are in attendance—which makes my invite all the morespecial—so it makes sense that they’re having the reception at home.
Eli guides me outside to his car. I assumed he’d want to take the bike, but his exact words were: “I would never risk your safety by putting you on my bike in anything less than full leather.”
As I slide into the seat, I groan, finally releasing some of the tension I’ve built up over the last few hours.
Eli chuckles. “How are you feeling?”
“Full,” I breathe. “So full.”
“Maybe we should skip the party,” he offers, waggling his brows.
“Can’t. I need to support Carina.”
He shakes his head, grinning. “Always thinking about others.”
By the time we reach Carina’s house, a light sheen of sweat has broken out across my forehead.
We’re the last to arrive, and just as we step inside, Tess is holding a microphone. “I’m going to make this short.”Yeah, right.“Cari,” she says, glancing left, “I’m so happy we reconnected and get to be besties again. I don’t know what I’d do without you—probably be in prison. I’m so,sohappy you found Nate after everything and get to be the happiest badass in the entire world. You deserve someone who puts you first.”
She turns to Nate. “Just know that I will hit you with whatever inanimate object I can get my hands on if you ever hurt her.”
Carina cheers, and I laugh.
“Okay,” Tess continues, “it’s only fair you get a ‘first dance’. Everyone clear the space.” She waits until we’re lining the walls. “Right! For the first time as husband and wife—Mr and Mrs Rossetti.” It’s fitting they both take on Carina’s new identity, Nate taking her surname.
The music starts—Murder on the Dancefloor—and Nate and Carina move like they’re the only two people in the world.
I shake my head as the song ends and another begins.
Eli drags me with him, wraps his arms around my waist, pulls me close, then spins me out. I collide with his chest as he draws me back in, and I beam up at him.