Repent (The Disciples 3)

“Christ, I’ve had way too much champagne and tequila.”

“Please, drink more water.” Charlie looks at all of us.

“You’re fine.” Doug picks up his phone for a selfie. “Smile. Here’s to finding your happily ever after.” He takes around ten photos before Charlie stops him. It was a long car ride, and trying on all these dresses helped because we had alcohol, but poor Charlie is sober and swelling as we speak.

I take one more look at myself, turning to the side and then facing front again. The truth is I want to look like a princess. I want Edge to see me and remember this as another one of our moments.

“Let’s do this.” I blow out some air.

“You ready, Baby Doll?” Doug slips on his black tux jacket.

“I’m ready.” I try to move, but my heels and the dress are a major challenge.

“Hold on,” he snips as he takes one last look at himself in the mirror, then reaches for the bottom of my dress.

“How am I going to walk when we get there?”

“Edge.” That’s all he says as he looks around to make sure we have everything. Eve holds our purses and the open champagne bottle. Charlie has the makeup bag. We barely get out the door of the suite when Robert is at our side taking all the purses and the rest of our belongings. He holds his arm out for Charlie as he maneuvers us through the loud casino.

The sun is starting to set as we exit the Bellagio. The deep burnt oranges and reds with a slight purple hue at the top make it seem as though the universe is sending out good vibes for us.

“Ohhh, Robert, how far away are we?” Eve turns to him as he helps Charlie scoot into the back. “We need to get there in time so we can capture this in the wedding pictures.” She dramatically holds up her hand at the sky.

I have to bite my lip not to blurt out we might not even be taking pictures. But why rain on her excitement. No one likes a Negative Nancy.

“It’s not far, and as long as we don’t run into traffic, we can be there in ten minutes.” He smiles as she settles into the back.

“Can I just say you look beautiful?” He takes my hand, helping Doug stuff the back of my dress inside. I lean over trying not to spill out of the top of my dress.

“Thank you. I hope you’re okay. We’ve kept you all day,” I say. As I flop down next to Eve, I catch Doug and him smiling at each other. Doug shakes his head at him and grins, then follows me into the car.

Robert climbs into the front and says, “That’s my job.” He looks at us then flashes a big smile at Doug as he starts up the limo.

“Holy shit. You’re going to get more action than me tonight,” I hiss at Doug.

“Something tells me we might both get lucky.” He adjusts himself, causing all three of us to look at him.

“What? I never said I was a saint.” He moves my dress aside so he can take the bottle of champagne from Eve.

I look out the window, so nervous that my stomach clenches. The limo speeds down the street. “Tell me this is right. That Edge and I are going to be okay,” I announce to any of them. I don’t care which one of them reassures me, but someone needs to.

Surprisingly it’s Charlie who grabs my hand and squeezes it tight.

“If you allow yourself this, Dolly, really let yourself accept him, then no one can have a more pure love than you and Edge.”

I look at her, then at Eve who nods. “She’s right. Edge and Dolly forever.”

My eyes instantly get teary.

“Just breathe. I’ll fix you when we get there and no more talking.” Doug looks at all of us and reaches for Eve’s hand. “Robert, please put some music on.”

Doug’s hand tightens on mine and I squeeze his back.

“Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush fills the back of the limo as Doug drinks champagne out of the bottle.

I try to take a deep breath, but my dress is like a boa constrictor squeezing the very life out of me.

“I can’t breathe,” I hiss at Doug. “I told you this dress is too tight.”

He rolls his eyes and brushes the hair off my shoulder.

“Sometimes we have to sacrifice for beauty.”

“So, I’m going to faint again,” I mumble as I twist, trying to loosen the dress.

“At least you’ll look fantastic.”

“Thank God for that.” I can’t help but laugh as I try to kick him, but I’m tied up in the dress, so I settle for glaring at his shitty grin.

“Why are they always playing this song? And I wish you two would drink water.” Charlie blows some hair out of her flushed face.