Only You

Chapter 22

Elora

"Elora! Get down here already!" my mother yells from downstairs for the tenth time. Since I've finally run out of excuses to linger in my room, I sigh heavily before putting on a polite façade and leaving my room.

I thread carefully in my high heels, avoiding a glance in the long mirror in the corridor as I join my mother in the foyer. Once I'm within reach, she takes my face in her hands and beams at me.

"My beautiful girl," she says, looking down approvingly at the dress she chose for me. A soft yellow color she says compliments my skin. The same yellow she used to dress me in as a child. The one he loved and I can therefore hardly stand.

Then the fussing begins, her fingers tidying up any curled strand of my brown hair that might've been slightly out of place while she reminds me of some advice I've heard repeatedly for the past week.

"Shoulders back."

"Back straight."

"Smile. No, not like that, Elora. Softer."

"Don't intimidate him with your wits, even when yours exceed his. Get to know him first. Be cautious."

"Laugh at his jokes. Even when it's not that funny. But not like that, Elora. Softer."

"Be part of the conversation, but don't overdo it. Get a feel of him, pay attention to his reactions."

And finally, "Be yourself, my sweet daughter. He'll worship the ground beneath your feet."

Before I can muster a retort, the giant front door opens, and in steps my father closely followed by who can only be Leander Galanis. They head straight for us, their conversation dying down as they come to a halt a few feet away.

My father greets my mother and me both with a kiss on each cheek while Leander maintains a respectable distance. Only once my father steps aside does he shake my mother's hand before turning to me. I reach out my hand, holding his intense gaze as he gently takes it and brings it to his lips to kiss my knuckles.

It's an intimate gesture, probably meant to give me butterflies. A few weeks ago, it might've done exactly that but now, all I can think of as I look into those chocolate-brown eyes is that they should be hazel. When he rights himself, I can't help but notice that he's several inches shorter than a certain someone. Someone who should certainly not be on my mind right now.

When I keep silently staring at Leander instead of saying something, my mother subtly bumps her foot against mine, making me remember my manners.

I clear my throat and smile carefully. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Galanis," I say politely which makes the man still holding my hand chuckle. It's a deep sound, attractive enough and yet it makes me feel nothing.

All with time, I tell myself, willing to believe it. It doesn't matter that with Alexey, my attraction was immediate. This is the man I will spend the rest of my life with. I will learn to love him as I should. Much to my relief, he looks younger than he is. His hair is still thick and dark, his skin mostly smooth apart from the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes.

He's good-looking, I can see that. So far, charming too.

He stops laughing and smiles at me fondly, his eyes sparking. "Please, call me Leander," he says, swiping his thumb over the back of my hand one more time before he releases me.

I smile at him and nod.

Then my parents lead us to the dining room where my sisters already await. My fiancé greets them both pleasantly and I'm glad to see that my sisters both smile genuinely at him. Surprisingly enough, there's a small blush on Iris' skin as he shakes her hand.

That's a good sign. If I have to leave my family to be with this man, I at least hope that he and my family get along great. That way, I might get to see them more.

Instead of taking my usual seat on the right side of my dad, who is sitting at one head of the table, I move to the other side to be next to my fiancé like I've been told to do. Iris takes my old place without missing a beat, making sure there's no gap in the sitting arrangement.

We're establishing the new order, me and my husband on one side of the table while the second oldest daughter takes my place. We do it like clockwork, no mentioning or discussing it. Still, despite having known this will happen, something inside me twists.

I take a calming breath as the first course is set in front of us and conversation breaks loose. It's okay. The wedding is scheduled to be in six months. I'll get used to it.

Throughout dinner, the conversation is maintained easily thanks to my mother. She makes sure everyone is included, asking questions and making statements so we all get to know each other. Despite my best efforts, my mind keeps drifting off.

What is Alexey doing now that we don't have a date? Is he helping out at his family's restaurant or is he with another client? The possibility leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

The realization makes a surprising surge of guilt tighten my stomach. Why do I think I have the right to want Alexey all to myself when I'm here with another man? He doesn't owe me anything. Just like I do him.

I make sure that I'm subtle with my lack of mental presence, smiling and speaking whenever I think I should. I need to make a good impression on the man I'll marry. Whatever weird infatuation I've developed with Alexey is unimportant. Nothing will ever grow of it. This is important.

I repeat that to myself and yet I can't help but realize how different I am now from when I'm with him. It starts with the clothes. The ones I couldn't pick out myself. Yellow instead of red. Just like that, the confidence and surety I usually feel on my dates with Alexey have vanished and I'm back to being the shy, polite daughter I always have been.

I should be glad that I feel more like myself if it weren't for the fact that I've grown to love who I am when I'm with Alexey. It's heady and wild but this is a reminder that that's only an escape.

This is whom I need to be.

Risking a look at the handsome man on my left, I'm instantly met with his dark eyes fixed on me. He smiles and reaches for my hand, squeezing it before pulling back again as he refocuses on my speaking father.

I meet my mother's eyes and she smiles brightly, having seen the small gesture. She seems happier now than I'm used to. Before the men arrived, she was visibly nervous. Now she seems elated, seeing as my fiancé and I seem to be getting along well enough.

She nods at me and I return the gesture. My parents were right. Leander seems like a good man.

I smile a little more easily. Until I met Rhea's eyes, that is. My youngest sister, who's mistaken Alexey for my lover and who thinks I harbor any kind of attachment towards him, studies me intently. Just like that, my smile feels shallow and I feel like an impostor.

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What are we thinking abt her rn?