Chapter 3

Isabella’s smile faltered.

“Still thinking about Sienna, Dante?”

He didn’t look at her.

“She spent three months altering that dress. Tonight was supposed to be the first time she wore it for pictures.”

He’d chosen the gown, but I’d changed the neckline, reshaped the train, and sewn every stone back on by hand.

“When we pick her up, I’ll take her pictures myself. She worked too hard on that dress to go home without any.”

Isabella pressed her lips together.

Dante looked out toward the rocks.

Another firework burst overhead, briefly lighting the water. His eyes narrowed.

“The tide’s higher than I thought. I can’t see her.”

Isabella stepped beside him.

“She’s probably sitting on the highest rock,” she said quickly. “Or floating with the life ring. You’ll see her once you get closer.”

Mom rubbed her hands together.

“She must be freezing. We’ve seen enough fireworks, Dante. Go get her before she catches cold.”

He nodded and started toward the yacht.

Isabella stayed where she was. Then she gasped.

“Wait. You guys need to see this.”

She held up a phone. Its light washed across her face.

“Sienna just posted.”

Dante stopped.

I moved closer with them.

The post was less than three minutes old.

It showed a hotel room, a steaming cup of coffee on a table beside the window.

Underneath was a caption.

The water was cold. My family was colder. I’m done. The wedding’s off.

The location tag named the Manhattan hotel where Dante and I were supposed to get married.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Dante’s expression hardened.

“She got a ride back?”

Mom pressed a hand to her chest.

“Oh, thank God.”

Relief lasted barely a second.

“Would it have killed her to call? We’ve been standing here worrying about her!”

Dad took the phone from Isabella.

“The wedding’s off?”

His voice dropped.

“Capos are flying in from Chicago. The Morettis have guests arriving from Sicily. She thinks she can embarrass both families because she didn’t like a joke?”

Dante pulled out his phone and called me.

I watched him hold it to his ear.

My phone was somewhere beneath the harbor, as cold and useless as the hand that had dropped it.

The call went to voicemail.

He tried again.

“Sienna. Pick up.”

Voicemail.

A muscle worked in his jaw.

“She’s really pissed.”

Isabella moved closer and touched his sleeve.

“This is my fault. I shouldn’t have suggested it.”

He kept staring at his phone.

“What if she means it?” she whispered. “What if she refuses to show up on the wedding?”

Dad looked at her.

Isabella hesitated, then spoke in a rush.

“I could stand in for her. Just for the ceremony, until she calms down. We look alike. With the veil, most people wouldn’t even—”

“No.”

Dante turned to her in disbelief.

“Sienna’s the only woman I love. She’s my bride, and she’s the only woman I’m ever going to marry.”

Isabella’s hand fell from his sleeve.

“I was only trying to help.”

He turned away before she finished.

“The rocks aren’t far from shore. If she flagged down another boat and got back on her own, she was never in any real danger.”

“We’ll go to the hotel,” he told my parents. “I’ll talk to her. She’ll listen once she’s calmed down.”

They started toward the clubhouse.

I stayed beside Isabella.

While the others walked ahead, she slipped the phone into her coat pocket.

I’d recognized it as soon as I saw the cracked corner of the case.

My work phone.

Before we boarded, I’d left my bag in the clubhouse. I hadn’t wanted to carry two phones in a wedding dress.

Isabella took it and sent that post.

She hadn’t needed to invent much.

Just a few words beneath a picture I’d already taken.

And suddenly everyone believed I was warm, safe, and choosing to ignore them.

A black SUV waited outside the clubhouse, its engine running.

Dad’s driver opened the rear door. Mom and Isabella climbed in, followed by Dad.

Dante took the front passenger seat.

“You know how stubborn Sienna can be. I’ll go up first and set out the rings and her gift.”

He looked down at his phone.

“Then I’ll apologize. In front of all of you, if that’s what she needs.”

Mom sighed.

“You’re a good man, Dante. I’m sorry she’s putting you through this.”

He said nothing.

“She’s always been so cold,” Mom continued. “Never thinks about what she puts anyone else through. I’ll talk to her.”

“Let me handle it.” He said.

The SUV pulled out through the marina gates.

Beyond the window, fireworks kept rising above the waterfront.

Red and gold flashed across their faces as they headed into our wedding day.

There was a bride to placate. Guests to welcome. A wedding to keep on schedule.

I was the only one left behind in the freezing sea.

“What did you get her?” Isabella asked.

Dante glanced up, his expression softening into a slight smile.

He checked his phone again, as though expecting me to call.

“You’ll see when we get there.”