Don’t Marry Him

2: Don’t Marry Him . 

“One week,” Maya said, dragging me into the bridal store. “One week to forever.”

“Or one week to my funeral,” I muttered.

She laughed. “Drama queen.”

We walked into the store my step mother had handpicked yet she was not present , I know she wasn’t my biological mother but she was still the mother of the bride , my bridal dress fitting was important but here I was , It was just me and Maya …Even Tommy wasn’t here .

Maya folded her arms. “Where is he?”

I sighed. “Tommy? I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” She stopped walking. “Ariana, it’s your wedding dress fitting. The least he can do is show up.”

“He said he had something to handle, he is busy ”

She scoffed loudly. “Of course he does. That boy always has something to handle, he is always busy “ 

I pressed my lips together.

“Honestly,” she continued, lowering her voice, “I still don’t understand why you’re marrying him.”

“Maya…”

“No, listen. I love you, but this marriage doesn’t make sense. He treats you like an option. He never shows up. He barely listens to you. And now, on the most important week of your life, he’s missing again.”

I stayed quiet.

She leaned closer. “Let me ask you something.”

“What?”

“Don’t you have a crush on Levi?”

I stopped walking immediately.

“What?” I snapped.

She raised a brow. “Why marry the wrong brother?”

My hand flew to my mouth. “Maya! Don’t say that!”

She burst out laughing. “Relax, I’m just saying, Don’t you have a crush a Levi ? You have always liked Levi ?”

“It’s not a crush and I don’t like him ,” I said quickly. “It was just some stupid high school thing. Levi doesn’t even see me as a woman. We’re just friends.”

“Friends who stare at each other like they’re about to have sex with their eyes ”

I glared at her. “Maya… I like Tommy.”

She scoffed. “Since when?”

Before I could answer, my phone buzzed.

I looked down.

Levi: Have you tried your wedding dress yet?

I typed back slowly.

Me: Not yet … but Tommy isn’t even here to see it.

The typing bubble appeared.

Then disappeared.

No reply.

I stared at the screen, my heart sinking.

Why did I send that? Was I too forward complaining about Tommy ? 

Maya tapped my arm. “Come on. Go try some dresses. Let’s at least make you look like a billionaire’s wife.” 

“ I am going to be a billionaire’s wife “ 

“ Well that’s if you married Levi …Tommy isn’t a billionaire “ She scoffed . 

“ Your mouth is going to put us in trouble…” 

“ Go try on your dresses !”

I forced a small smile and followed the sales attendant into the dressing room.

The first dress was too tight.

The second one made me look like a cupcake, it didn’t fit my shape 

The third one was sexy  but ugly.

Maya complained about every single one.

“No.”

“Too boring.”

“That looks like curtains.”

“Who do you think you are? A choir member?”

I laughed for the first time that day.

Then I stepped out in the fourth dress.

The room went quiet.

The dress was simple. No heavy beads. No massive train. Just soft lace hugging my body perfectly, It was the prettiest dress I have ever seen . 

“ This is so beautiful…like it was made for you “ The sales attendant said 

Maya’s mouth fell open.

“Bravo! This is your dress “ 

I looked at myself in the mirror and  I liked what I saw.

Then I heard a voice.

“You look like an angel.”

My heart nearly stopped.

I turned slowly.

Levi was standing near the entrance, his hands in his pockets. His eyes were fixed on me like I was the only person in the room.

“Levi?” I whispered. “What are you doing here?”

He cleared his throat. “I was just stopping by. I… decided to check.” 

“ Do you like it ?” 

I didn’t know why I was asking my brother in law to be if he liked my dress but my lips just moved , his eyes was scanning me and I just stood , glaring at him . 

Maya leaned close to my ear and whispered with amusement, “What is this yearning look you both have? She’s getting married, you know that, right?”

“ Shut up … “ I chuckled 

Levi looked away immediately. “Yeah. Of course. I know.”

I walked closer. “How did you even find us?”

He shrugged. “I guessed” 

Maya clapped her hands. “Okay! Enough tension for one day. Ariana, go change. I need to have lunch, I’m hungry ”

After everything, Levi insisted on driving me home, Maya left house alone and decided to go home in an uber. 

“We need to have boundaries now.” Levi said breaking the silence 

I looked out the window. “What do you mean?”

“You’re getting married,” he said calmly. “Things can’t be the same anymore.”

“I know,” I whispered.

“You shouldn’t call me the way you do anymore.”

“I don’t.”

“You shouldn’t lean on me for everything.”

“I don’t.”

“You shouldn’t need me the way you do.”

“I understand,” I lied , I didn’t understand, I wanted to scream at him , why should we stop being friends because I was getting married to his brother ? It was unfair. 

The car stopped in front of my house, I opened the door.

“Ariana,” he called.

I turned back to him.

He hesitated. Then stepped out of the car and walked closer.

“Don’t marry him.”

My heart skipped but I was unsure of what I just heard. 

“What?” I asked. “Did you say something?”

He froze. His eyes shifted.

“ Huh ?” He stuttered. 

“ What did you say ?” I asked moving closer to him . 

“I said… Don’t miss your meals ”

But I was sure, I heard it clearly.

“Don’t marry him “ 

Wasn’t that what he said ?