She doesn’t even have to think about it as she answers, “Fogo De Chao.”
“Good choice.” I pull out of the parking and steer the vehicle toward the exit. “I’m in the mood for steak.”
While I drive us toward the restaurant, Mariya stares down at her wedding ring, which has me asking, “Do you like it?”
Her eyes dart to me. “What?”
“The ring.”
“Yes, it’s beautiful.” Her gaze flits to my left hand. “Do you like yours?”
“Yes.”
It’s quiet for a moment, then she asks, “If we were so drunk that we can’t remember anything, how did we manage to get a license and rings?”
Shit.
My eyes dart to her before settling back on the road ahead. “Pure fucking luck.”
She stares at me for a moment. “Can you remember anything?”
Every single detail of last night. The way you tasted. The sound of your moan when you get lost in a kiss. Your smile. The way you looked at me as if I was your entire world when we said our vows. How it felt to hold you in my arms.
“No.”
She sighs, then stares out the window. “It sucks. I always thought I’d have a big wedding.” Sadness tugs at her mouth. “I missed out on what was supposed to be the most important day of my life.”
Guilt rears up, making me shift uncomfortably in my seat. I never thought of that. I stole the entire experience from her.
“I’m sorry, Mariya,” I murmur, the guilt evident in my voice. “We can always renew our vows, and you can still have your big day.”
“It won’t be the same,” she mutters, the sadness in her tone taking one hell of a swing at my heart.
Reaching for her hand, I give it a squeeze. “I’ll make it up to you.”
When she doesn’t respond, I silently vow to give her the wedding of her dreams once we reach the six-month mark.
Chapter 13
Mariya
The realization of missing out on the entire experience of my wedding hits hard.
I won’t get to plan anything. No wedding dress. No shopping with Mom and getting ready with her and Violet.
Dad won’t walk me down the aisle.
My heart constricts painfully in my chest, the ache so sharp I struggle to inhale.
It takes all my strength to keep the tears back.
In one drunken moment, I’ve lost so much.
My voice is hoarse, the sadness seeping through, as I say, “I don’t think I can do this.”
“It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours.” Reaching the building, Luca parks the vehicle turns off the engine, then turns to look at me. “Can you at least try to give it a chance?”
I take off the safety belt as I shake my head. Locking eyes with him, I say, “I’m not trying to be a bitch. There’s just so much I’ll miss out on if I stay married to you.”
For once, he doesn’t get angry with me, and I feel the full force of having his undivided attention on me.
Tingles spread over my skin. My heart beats faster, my breaths growing shallow.
“What will you miss out on?” His tone is patient and even a little caring.
“Everything. The romance. Dating. All the firsts that go hand-in-hand with falling in love. The proposal. Planning the wedding with my mom. Having my dad walk me down the aisle. Violet being my bridesmaid. The reception.” I sigh, my shoulders dropping. “And so much more. The list is endless.”
He stares at me for a moment, then reaches for my hand. Just like earlier, there’s a spark when his fingers wrap around mine.
“You can still have it all.”
My eyes drift over his handsome face. “You’ll agree to an annulment?”
Yes, I love him, but I’m not willing to torture myself by staying in a marriage where he doesn’t love me. In a perfect world, Luca would fall head over heels for me, he’d romance the ever-loving shit out of me, and we’d live happily ever after.
But the real world is far from perfect, and I’m starting to suffer from all the whiplash because part of me is hanging on to the mustard seed of hope that Luca will suddenly fall for me, while the other half knows it will never happen.
“No,” he answers, unwilling to see things from my point of view.
I start to pull my hand free from his, but he tightens his hold and says, “We can date over the next six months. I’ll propose to you, and we’ll have a wedding with our friends and families.”
Frustration slithers through my chest. “You don’t get it. I don’t want a pretend marriage, Luca.”
“I already said this marriage will be real in every way.” He lets go of my hand and shoves the driver's side door open.
I have zero appetite, and the last thing I want to do right now is have dinner. Climbing out of the car, I slam the door shut, my eyes burning on Luca as he stalks around the front of the G-Wagon.