Pov Camila I woke up strangely anxious on Wednesday, beginning to remember more often the remaining time for Saturday. Somehow, I calmed down a bit as soon as Clara informed us that everything we were going to do that day was all about tasting the buffet. It had all been arranged by her and Taylor. So Lauren and I just had to go to the marked spot-a kind of ballroom a bit far away-to decide what to get on the menu or not. They were with us, just to help in some eventuality. We spent hours sampling sweets, chocolates, salgadinhos, canapés, cold cuts of various types, portions of pastas, soup plates and more. Taylor helped with the task, perhaps because she wanted to appear useful or maybe because her pregnancy was making her hungry. Lauren seemed interested in the subject, and I remembered her taste in cooking. As my back was beginning to ache faster now, I sat on one of the chairs and allowed her to settle the matter, choosing whatever I wanted. I did not really care about anything as long as she did not miss the wedding. That night, Lauren and I had a little discussion. When I asked for my identity card and my birth certificate to finish the last few documents to make the marriage possible, I discovered that she had decided, by herself, that we would be married in total communion of property. I understood absolutely nothing about legal matters of marriage, but I knew enough to make sure that marrying Lauren, by signing a paper claiming that her entire fortune was mine as well, was at least unfair. "And what would you suggest?" Total separation of goods? She mocked. "That would be more plausible, would not it?" - Not! "Then explain to me how I have some influence on YOUR fortune. "If I'm marrying you, that means I want our lives to come together." What's mine is yours, and that's my idea of unity. "And why can not I join you without having to take your things-" "You're not taking anything. I'm breaking up ... - It's unfair and clearly advantageous to me! Only I win with this! - And I do not lose anything! Why are you so stubborn? "And why do you always decide things on your own?" "But you agreed to leave legal matters under my responsibility!" "But I did not remember that we had to decide the kind of property regime!" We argued for a while until my head started to ache and Lauren seemed deeply sorry for having started a discussion, too worried about my state of nerves and how it might affect the pregnancy. When I was lying down and being properly pampered, she tried to convince me in a calmer tone that there was no reason why we should opt for another type of property regime, and that if I had the same opinion, we could change it after marriage. To make things easier, I accepted. I knew that if I continued with my idea, the marriage would probably not end in three days' time. Besides, Lauren was right: She did not have much to lose, because if it was up to me, divorce was not an option. By Thursday I could no longer hide my anxiety, which was aggravated when Lauren announced that she was going to do the proof of the dress and that I could not go along. "Why not?" I asked with a crying face. "I want to surprise you too, for the day." She spoke with a smile on her face as she hugged me."But ... I do not want to be alone!" I said, feeling the tears come very slowly. "You will not be alone." You're staying with my mother and my sister. "And who's going with you?" Chris and Oliver do not count, you need a woman's opinion ... "" And I'm going to have a female opinion. I looked at her full of doubt. She still smiled gently, kissing my forehead as if I were a child. - Who is going with you? I repeated, a little suspicious, though I did not really know what. But if it was not her mother or her sister, it was some random woman. And any random woman bothered me. When Lauren prepared to answer, the bell rang louder. "Oh, I think she's here." She said, holding my hand and leading me into the foyer. When Ally entered the house along with Marcel, Julia, and Emily, I wondered how I had not realized their absence for the wedding. Maybe I was a little oblivious to everything, whether it was the rush or the lethargic state I'd been in since Lauren had asked for my hand. "Do you know how long these bags have been made?" Ally asked, releasing herself from Lauren's arms and pointing to the door. - Relax, Ally. - Chris said, coming out of nowhere and going to talk to her - The invitations will not be in time for any of the guests, so we have another reason to play with her face for the rest of her life. Everyone greeted each other and I stood there like a pamonha, watching everything without moving. - The other bride! Ally said, pulling me out of that catatonic state. I hugged her and thanked both her and Marcel's congratulations. I kissed each of the girls, feeling suddenly more cheerful about their presence there. "You're fatter," Julia said quietly, since she was too young to understand things like subtlety. She sounded so sincere I could not help laughing, even with her mother's apologetic apologies. "Julia, she's pregnant. Marcel said, laughing too. Ah! Is there a baby in there? She asked, putting her hand on my belly. Emily mimicked his gesture, not knowing why. - Has. A girl. I answered. - But this house is more and more beautiful every day! - Clara said, appearing as suddenly as Chris and going to hug Ally and Marcel. Julia looked a bit glazed on my belly, and Lauren started to get scared of her. She was grateful to Taylor for showing up with her even bigger belly and making her momentarily forget me. After a big lunch, including Mike, who had made a point of taking a break from work for the family reunion, Lauren asked Ally and Chris to accompany her on the dress test. I felt left out, but I did not want to confess this to anyone, trying to look more mature than I really was. That afternoon would have taken longer if I had not bothered to help everyone in the finalizations for the ceremony. Taylor chattered excitedly on the phone with florists, while Clara had left to be able to send urgently the last calls that were missing. Marcel, by some miracle, had managed to get Julia and Emily to sleep in one of the guest rooms in the afternoon, and Oliver coordinated the work of the gardeners, who had to leave the garden "flawless," according to Taylor, until the next day. Now that people were starting to run, literally, to finish the last feuds of the party, my heart and my nerves seemed to understand reality slowly, making it clear that in two days I would marry Lauren.Two days later I would marry Lauren. That was real. It was happening. I tried to be quiet, hiding from all my nervousness and anxiety, and quietly asking the gods that nothing should go wrong. That nothing that could postpone that marriage, in any way, in any sense, would happen. *** Friday arrived without the fifth having really gone. When the clock struck at 6 o'clock in the morning, I decided to get up, as falling asleep seemed an impossible task for my state of nerves. I knew there was not much reason to be anxious like that, but I could not help it. It was not something I controlled, and the incessant hammering of that same thought inside my head only made it impossible for me to distract myself at all: "Tomorrow I'll marry her. Tomorrow I'll marry her." Lauren got up thirty minutes after me, claiming that her sleep had been interrupted solely by my absence in bed. I envied her for her calm, as if the next day was going to be just another Saturday. - Did you sleep well? She asked, looking at me with a concerned expression. - Yeah. - I lied. She did not need to know that my eyes had not been nailed for even ten minutes, but I was sure that the purple tint on my eyelids made this fact quite obvious. For the rest of that day Lauren insisted on asking me if everything was okay, and as the hours passed, getting closer to the big day, the harder it was to lie about that question. At one point, I ended up losing my temper and started to be rude - but it was not for bad. All I really wanted was for her to keep me quiet. The garden of Clara and Mike's house was crazy. A truck had brought several wooden chairs, tables, benches, and some boards that were already being joined together by some unknown men. Everything was more or less stacked in one corner, and on the other side you could see more men mounting irons and unfolding white linings, like awnings, struggling in every direction. Oliver, Chris, Marcel, and even Mike, who had purposely missed work, were helping with the housekeeping. There were so many people there, in and out of the house, doing so many different things and talking so many confused things that I began to feel really agitated. - Hey ... Everything okay there? I heard a voice behind me and turned, finding Ally with a simple smile on her face coming to stand beside me. "Nervous ..." I managed to say, leaning against a pilaster as I watched the whole preparation. - Because? - Do not know. - I admitted. "Well, it's normal to be nervous about the wedding, even for no reason. It really is a very important day. "It's ... Important ..." I stammered, trying to loosen my knuckles. "I just hope I do not wake up now." Ally looked at me in amusement. "You're not asleep." "I'm not sure ..." We sat in silence for some time, watching the men work. Lauren, who was leaning against a wall not too close to us, was looking in our direction whenever she could, from afar, give me space. Maybe she was afraid of me after the last answer I gave her. "I have to admit one thing. Ally spoke again, catching my attention. She looked away, without looking at me. "When I knew what she felt ... I tried to make her forget about you. Although I did not know that, it was not a shock to hear his words. In fact, it would have been strange if she had NOT tried, since anyone in her position would do the same thing for her best friend who suddenly decided to fall in love with a whore. "Okay," I said, not really offending me. "But I'm glad you did not.- Me too. She punctuated, this time turning to me. "You know the power you have over her, do not you? You know she eats in your hand, and that's why it's so easy to make her suffer. I smiled, turning to face the people who worked at the back of the garden. "She also has a little strange power over me ... So I think we're even. "Maybe ..." She finished a little distractedly, following my gaze. Lauren appeared in front of us, and I wondered how long it had taken her to cross that huge field and come our way without either of us really noticing it. - Hey, is everything okay? "Lauren, do you know how many times you asked me that today?" I answered calmly. "I saw Ally talking to you ... I found ..." I interrupted her, holding her neck and giving a gentle kiss to her lips. Let's do it like this: If I feel anything, I'll tell you. Promise. OK? "Okay," she replied, still not very convinced. I'm just a little nervous. If only I could take care of something to help with the housekeeping ... "" No way. You will not make any effort. Lauren was lovely most of the time, but sometimes she was just stubborn as a mule. Before I started yelling at her, or worse, I started to cry like a disgruntled child, I turned my back and walked in, stamping my foot and making my indignation clear by being treated like an invalid. Lauren wanted the party arrangement to be a surprise to me as well, and maybe I'd managed to escape and peek into the back yard if Chris was not helping his sister on that plane. But anyway, it was not exactly what my heart throbbed all the time. - It's tomorrow-ã-ã! Chris said in a dramatic voice, shaking me by the shoulder and getting exactly what he wanted: Leave me a little more desperate. - Stop it, idiot. Do not you see she's nervous? Taylor spoke reproachfully. "Any bride gets nervous on the eve of the wedding, Jabulani. - She is pregnant. "Do not make her more anxious, Chris. It is not good. - Love ... - Lauren started, close to my ear - Want us to go home? - What? - Chris got in again - Home? Lauren, you retarded, you'll be married tomorrow! We have to go out for your bachelorette party! I was still mute, just listening to everyone around me. It was healthier to be quiet, because maybe, the moment I opened my mouth, it would really upset me. "Do not you think maybe it's better for Lauren to keep Mila company, son?" Mike asked, probably noticing how weird I was. "Lauren will suffocate you for the rest of your life!" We just have to celebrate, since today is the last day! He said excitedly, turning to me and making an intellectual face. "Mila, do not worry. We'll just fill our faces and spend the night with some program girls. For some reason it made me laugh and speak for the first time in a long time: "She can drink, but she will not spend the night with a program girl."And how are you so sure of that?" Chris teased, raising an eyebrow. - I just know. I said, staring at Lauren and laughing unintentionally. "Okay," he said, still trying to make drama. "Lauren, Oliver ... Let's pack up and fuck you." - Dude ... I'm married. Oliver concluded quietly. - Fuck you! Let's go! "Okay," Taylor said, smiling. "Mila, let's have some fun too. - WHAT? FUCK NONE! I was startled by Lauren's sharp bellow. "Oh, and only you guys can enjoy the night?" She teased him with authority. "If you leave my bride with you, I will not marry you tomorrow!" "Do not be so dramatic. - This is unfair! Oliver is with us, it's enough for you to know that nothing is going to happen! Geez, I'm feeling very little fun right now. Oliver said softly, and I laughed. - And I'm with Mila! Taylor spoke as if it was a good argument. - Damn! That's exactly why I do not want to ... - Lo, breathe. - Ally got in, talking for the first time - I'll take them. She stared at her sister, as if challenging her to convince me to do some shit in Allyson's presence. It took a long time before Lauren convinced everyone that, "for God's sake," we would not do anything that could come close to the word "bold." Both Taylor and I were in relatively advanced stages of gestation, and if she really thought that talking about drinking vodka and going to a women's club was true, Lauren needed psychiatric treatment urgently. When Chris, Oliver and she were ready to leave, I went to say goodbye. "Hey ..." I grabbed her by the leather jacket she wore, purposely bringing her closer and speaking in a funny tone. - Hey. She replied, leaning against me and hugging me tightly. "If you get any closer, I'll stay." I smiled, kissing her in a simple yet provocative way, speaking to her lips. "Remember, you'll marry tomorrow." - There's no way to forget. "Oh, you do. I do not know how many doses of anything your brother is going to make you drink, and I do not know where you go. But I just want you to remember me. - Do not worry. Let's end up drinking at some nightclub. And anyway, I'm always thinking about you, so there's no danger. She said it in her seductive, affectionate voice, like a gentle cat, and I felt a little shaky. - Right. I said, still against your mouth. "I'm going to pretend you're not so smelling and beautiful, and that it will not serve as bait for single bums." "I already have my private whore." She spoke close to my ear, still in that "I'll suck you all" voice. "And I doubt anyone will reach her feet. In anything. It was no use how many times she would use this weapon. That soft voice purring close to my neck, speaking inappropriate things always made my body turn into a giant jelly. "You're not going to do anything bad, are you?" She asked suddenly. "Do not listen to my sister. She's crazy, and I'm sure no idea she gives is going to be good ... "" Trust me. "I said it simply, kissing it again." Depending on when you get back, I'll be in our bed waiting for you. Her eyes flashed with that. "You just made me not want to go anywhere." "Shit, you're going to have to put up with the rest of your life! - We hear Chris scream from the car - Does anyone throw a bucket of cold water on them? "I do not want your brother to hate me." Will soon. She put her hand on my belly and kissed me before pulling away, this time with an intensity that might say something like "if you're not awake when I get back, I'll wake you up by force." In the end, everything Allyson, Taylor, and I ended up doing was talking about our pregnancies and taking pear vitamin all night, listening to music on the couch in Lauren's house, which I still made me think of as "our ". At least that had worked: Channeling my thoughts to something other than the next day made me quieter, listening intently to all of Ally's experience and what Taylor already had to tell as well. It was good to have something to talk to them that would serve as a distraction. But my "bachelorette party" has gone too fast. By midnight, Ally and Taylor were gone-not without first making sure I was okay. Luckily, all that pear-de-dairy vitamin got me somehow calmed down. I took a shower and went to bed immediately, wishing Lauren was not far off. Now, alone there, I was starting to shake again, and again I was bombarded with thoughts of marriage and all that could go wrong with him. Luckily, the tiredness my body felt was greater than my nervousness, so I slept. The smell of alcohol pulled me to reality again, and I wondered how long I had managed to sleep. I opened my eyes a little bewildered, and although it was dark, the dim lighting outside in the garden allowed me to identify Lauren there, half over me, kissing me so subtly that our lips barely touched. - Hmmm ... - Shit ... I did not want to wake you ... - She said, and immediately I identified its dragged voice. - What time is it? "Two, I think ..." "You're drunk." I spoke against his mouth, wrapping an arm around his neck. "I know ..." She replied in an apologetic tone. "Can I turn on the light?" I opened my eyes at once in the dark, now really attentive. - Oh my God ... What is it? I asked, remembering that drunken Lauren always resulted in bombastic revelations. She stretched, reaching for the bedside lamp. I sat up, leaning against the head of the bed, starting to get nervous again. I stared at her as if I could foresee what she would say, noticing in her completely messy hair and the stench of alcohol. - Spit it out. "I spoke at once, without worrying whether I was being rude or not. She stared at me in surprise, trying to sit up straight on the bed. "I ... I want to give you something ..." For the first time, I looked at his hands and noticed that they were not empty. In them, there was a white box of open velvet, showing a pair of earrings in the form of drops. They looked like glass. They were beautiful, delicate, and incredibly valuable in appearance. I looked at her again. - Only that? She was startled by my response, shifting on the bed and looking a little bland. "I ... did you want anything else?" We can buy ... "" No, that's not it! I interrupted her trying to explain. "Is that all you had to show me?" Did not want to say anything? "No ... It was just that ..." I sighed in relief, now allowing myself to look right into the jewelry she offered me. "They're beautiful-" "Can you use it tomorrow?" - Clear. I answered, closing the box and giving her a kiss. Fortunately, the earrings fit perfectly with the choker that was part of my dress. She smiled, though her eyes were out of focus. "You're very drunk!" "I'm going to wake up tomorrow and give you that excuse to give up marrying ..." "I'll marry you in an alcoholic coma." She said, kissing me passionately. - It would be a challenge to answer the "yes". I played softly, making her lie down and taking off her shoes and jeans. - Wow, you're taking off my clothes ... Cool. "You're too drunk to have sex, sweetheart. "I'm never too drunk to fuck you. Lauren concluded, pulling me onto her. - You have to sleep! - I said, already laughing at the situation while trying to take off his jacket - Or did you really forget that you are getting married tomorrow? - That's it! This is my last night as a free woman ... Nothing more appropriate than sex, is not it? How could she reason with being so drunk? "To have sex with your future wife?" There's nothing really interesting about it. - Hey! - She began, in a falsely irritated tone - I choose who I will have sex with in my bachelorette party! We do not even get married and you already want to have me! I approached her face and rubbed it on purpose."You love it when I tell you." I know it turns you on. "Which is why I want to have sex with you." She finished with a sly, half-drunk smile on her lips. He laughed again, finding no flaws in his logic. - Fuck you. I said to myself, sinking into her arms and letting her do what she really wanted to do with me. *** I woke up to a slightly annoying song, and only after a long time did I realize that it belonged to my cell phone. It was strange: I had already been unaccustomed to receiving calls. I looked over at Lauren's side of the bed and found she was not there. Meanwhile, my cell phone vibrated and rang loudly on top of the opposite dumb servant. "Hello," I said, rubbing my eyes and testing my hoarse voice. "Look, if it's not Sleeping Beauty." - Taylor said in a mocking voice on the other side - Tell me one thing: Are you still planning to get married today? I got up at once, being caught by surprise at Taylor's words. Unfortunately, the movement was too fast, and the next second I sat on the bed again, completely dizzy. - Wow ... What time is it? I asked with my eyes closed, trying to calm myself down. - Noon. And now that I know you're already awake, I'm going there. You have 5 hours to become the most beautiful bride in the world, so brush your teeth, take a shower and get ready in less than 5 minutes. And simply, without saying anything else, she hung up. I tried to stand again, glad I did not feel that initial dizziness anymore. I walked as fast as I could into the bathroom, brushing my teeth without even looking in the mirror and entering the shower at once. As I left, curled up in the first towel I saw, I found Taylor already seated on the undone bed, staring at me with those little eyes. I was scared, but I made up quickly. - Good Morning. She said with a smile."Why did not she wake me up?" Where is that motherfucker? - At our parents' house. "Oh, I'm glad She's going to have time to pack up!" - Mila, breathe. Only then did I notice my real state of nerves. If in the days before my anxiety had reached scary levels, today I looked like an atomic bomb about to explode. - Ok ... What do I do? I asked, already panicked, hoping she would guide me somehow. "First, you calm down. Then we had lunch. And then we started packing you up. - Right. I'll calm down ... - Great. "She started, easy." And answering her earlier question, Lauren did not wake you because she said you looked exhausted. Well, I was exhausted. I had not slept for many hours, but that did not mean that the best thing she had to do was let me sleep late for our wedding! "I did not preach the night before-" "Glad you slept the night before. It means we can use less makeup to cover our dark circles. But in compensation, we'll have to cover one or two bruises. I stared at her, looking for some purple spot in me now, but found nothing. The side of your neck. She explained, looking calm and amused at the same time. Honestly, my sister could suck with less force. I would really kill Lauren when I found her. - But do not worry. It's nothing I can not hide. I sighed in relief, forgetting to be ashamed. - Are you sure? - Have. Now, get dressed at once. Oliver's downstairs preparing lunch. Since you're up late, you will not have time to enjoy breakfast. We had lunch and then, let's get going! It was good that Taylor was there. If it were not for her, I would probably end up crying in a little corner, still wrapped in the towel. I did not know if she already had everything schematized and timed inside the head, but her expression of ownership of the situation was enough to calm me down a bit. I went downstairs a few minutes later, wearing whatever jacket, sweatpants, and my pink-chewing-gum slippers. I found Taylor and Oliver chatting excitedly in the kitchen, discussing lunch and schedules we had to meet. "Is Lauren not having lunch here?" I asked, though I already knew the answer. "No," Oliver replied, picking up something in the refrigerator. "Tradition says that the bridegroom, and in the case of Lauren bride, can not see the bride with the dress before the wedding, but we think it would be much more exciting if you did not see each other." no way. - This is unfair. She saw me today when she left before me. And he did not call me. I finished, looking like a bitch. "Do not worry, I think she was still a little drunk in the morning. Probably her memory will be affected. To seem like time was slowing, I tried not to speak. I watched Oliver finish preparing his lunch in silence, had lunch in silence, and washed the dishes in silence. I do not know if he or Taylor cared about my attitude, but at least they seemed sympathetic. When the makeup and hairdressers team arrived at 1:00 p.m., I kept practically silent, talking only as necessary, even though my heart was now beating really fast. There were three people, apparently in a good mood, handing out compliments I could not pay attention to. The agitation inside the house brought me closer to the reality that I insisted on departing: The hours were passing, and fast, making me little by little walk to the moment of the wedding. From my wedding. With her. - Okay, so let's lighten your eyes, as we did a few days ago, and highlight the shapes of your face ... - ... your hair is already smooth by itself, but let's get a brush and ... -. .. what do you think of these points of light? I think they're going to fit in with ... - clear nails, right? I do not think it matches another color here, because ... - ... that base is the color of your skin. You're going to hide your "little fun" in the neck, it will not be difficult ... "" Sure.I was completely oblivious to what was really going on. It was automatic. If someone did something stupid, Taylor would naturally scream and have it fixed whatever was wrong. I was asked to look up, look down, cock, tilt my neck, lower my head, close and open my eyes, reach out and separate my fingers. They talked to me all afternoon, and all I did, besides obeying, was answering things like "yes," "aham," and "is." Taylor appeared every ten minutes, increasingly produced and made up, making me look "pretty" to me, and I smiled at her purely for reflection. I'm getting married in a few hours. In a few hours- "" And then? " What do you think? "I blinked a few times, noticing the mirror in front of me. It showed a person very similar to me, but infinitely more beautiful. The cheekbones were flushed, the eyes looked bright and outlined, the mouth looked even more sensual. The frayed braid with each millimetrically messy yarn gave me a delicate, but at the same time elegant look. I was much prettier than on the makeup day. "You did not like it?" Taylor spoke again, pulling me out of the trance. - Liked it! Is perfect. - I said, looking at the people around me - Thank you! Taylor and the three unfamiliar people laughed after a brief sigh, perhaps of relief when they noticed that I would not make a scandal and have all the work reworked. I stared in the mirror again, making sure that Lauren's carelessness around my neck was properly camouflaged. - I forgot something ... Can you repeat the makeup on my bruise? I have to pass something here ... I reached for my almond cream and put a thin layer there, apologizing for not having remembered that detail before. They did not seem to care, and they reworked the work around my neck as if it were something easy. When my look was officially over, I looked around for Taylor just as she and the manicure entered through the door again, bringing my dress carefully. Time to get ready, bride. She spoke in a good mood, and my heart skipped a beat. I do not know if it was because of what she was bringing, by the way she called me, or by making me realize that we were approaching 5 pm. "Get dressed ..." I muttered, between a sigh and another. My breath was clearly affected, and as if it were magic, a glass of water appeared in front of me. "Hey, you have to focus here. If you get too nervous, we'll have to stop and take care of you. "She started very seriously, and I wished I was not a loose and useless pregnant. "I know ..." "Okay. One step at a time, and when you notice it, you'll be entering the wedding already. - Right. I said, trying to sound tough. - Right. The first step is to slip into the dress. We'll help you. The make-up artist withdrew from the bedroom, leaving only Taylor, the hairdresser and the manicure helping me with the dress and all the incredibly difficult task of putting myself into it without my makeup or makeup being compromised. In the end, by some miracle, all the acrobatics seemed to work out. I slipped on my slippers and when Taylor put the choker on me I remembered the earrings Lauren had given me the night before. As soon as I placed them, again like magic, a stuffed bouquet of Camellias appeared before me, with golden threads and loose, woven leaves.I had not seen many wedding bouquets in my life, but I was sure that was one of the most beautiful that could ever be. I was led into the closet, and when I found myself facing the huge mirror inside, I sighed. I was not the most interesting bride in the world. Neither was she the most chic, nor the most elegant. But I was definitely pretty. Like she'd never been before. So beautiful that, for the first time in my life, I had an idiotic urge to take a picture of myself just to keep it in my memory and to remember that one day I was looking like that. "If you want to know my opinion," Taylor began, trying to dodge the mirror so that only my image would be reflected, "I think you're the most beautiful bride I've ever seen. It was obvious that there were many more beautiful brides than I did, but even so Taylor's compliment worked, bringing something inside me that I did not remember existed: I felt self-love, I felt my self-worth being touched in some way, even that discreetly. - Thank you ... - I said, smiling and trying not to cry - Even if you are exaggerating ... - No you are not. I turned to the closet door and found Oliver leaning against the door frame, wearing a very elegant black suit as he faced me with a smile on his face. Seeing him dressed in that way made my heart race again. "Well, actually ..." He resumed, looking amused. "You're the second most beautiful bride I've ever seen. The first one married me. I hope you're not upset about honesty. "Okay, I'm happy with second place. I replied, trying to smile quietly for the kindness. I just think it's a bit dangerous. Lauren can drop dead and cold when she sees you look so beautiful. - I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that this does not happen ... - Damn, I have to get ready! Taylor interrupted, banging her forehead, suddenly remembering that she still wore the same clothes as before, and came out of the closet running. I stared again in the mirror, testing my breath and mentalising anything happy. I did not dare ask Oliver what time it was, concentrating mostly on staying calm. Taylor was right, I could not be nervous like that. It would not do any good for the baby. But the more I thought about it, the more nervous I became. Aside from being about to get married, I had to control my nerves over my daughter, but it was hard to stay calm. It was not in the nature of a bride to be quiet a few minutes before her own wedding, so I knew no one could demand it from me. But I had to control myself. - Everything okay in there? Oliver asked, as if he could read my thoughts. - Nervous. That's all I said. He would understand. - Do not stay. Nothing is going to go wrong. "Believe me, a lot can go wrong. I said, suddenly thinking of really everything that could ruin that moment, but resolving to verbalize the least of my fears - I can stumble into the dress and stumble on the floor. I'm just like that. - Ask your driver to hold you. I stood, still staring at Oliver as if he had not said anything. Who would take me to the altar? Why had not I thought of that before? By the way, why did I never think of anything before I realized it was too late to solve the problem? - Oliver ... Who ... - Do not worry. You're not going in alone. Suddenly, I felt an almost uncontrollable desire to cry. I missed my parents, and I wished with all my soul that they were there. Not even to tell me, with the certainty that they always seemed to have, that I would be happy. Despite that, I tried to control the tears and look strong, even if only from the outside. It was a great time to accumulate sorrows and uncertainties, and I knew I needed to be whole for what was to come.And with the thought in my parents, wishing they were present even in spirit, I swallowed the cry and took a deep breath, coming out of the closet with my head held high, feeling the courage that few seconds ago was not in me. *** I got to the front of Clara's and Michael's garden in the car Oliver drove. The ceremony would be in the back, near the fountain, so there was no danger in being seen by anyone: Everyone was already in their places. I walked to the side of the house, always staring at the ground, and the beating of my heart seemed to accelerate with each step. Taylor was walking beside me, so beautiful in a long red dress that for a moment my wedding glow weakened. But I did not care. "See if it's not the bride." "I heard someone say, and as I looked up, I saw Chris in an incredibly elegant suit, staring at me with bright eyes and grinning from ear to ear. "Hi," I said, and my voice failed. Maybe I had not used enough force to make a sound. Taylor and Oliver just disappeared, and when I realized, I was alone with Chris. - Dear lady, do you accept my company along the way? He asked in a pompous tone, extending his arm and blinking amusingly. - You'll take me? I managed to say, swallowing and feeling my throat close every five seconds. - Only if you want. I locked my arm in his, still being offered, and sighed. Magically, a song began to play, and even though my heart was almost coming out of my mouth and could not pay attention at all right, I could say it was not the wedding march. It was something softer, less heavy. It was a wonderful sound. "Chris ... Do not let me fall." "Do not worry, little sister. I can hold you with two fingers. He laughed again and looked forward. - By the way: You look wonderful. I could not answer, since my throat seemed to tighten more every second, but he did not seem to be waiting for a word from me. As he began to walk, I did all I could do at that moment: I followed him, toward what was waiting for me. As Chris was leading me, things were vaguely coming into focus, but not much. I was not really paying attention to my back, and all I had a clue were some tables a little away from us, rows of long, white benches that were approaching as we walked and some people, probably looking at me. In front of those benches and those people in the center, standing like a perfect dream and beautiful in a disturbing way, Lauren faced us with a wonderful white dress, looked like a princess, my princess. She lavished class and beauty, and even though my eyes did not work right away, I knew she was smiling. I just knew. I squeezed the cloth on Chris's arm, breathing with a little more difficulty. He stared at me disguisedly, not letting our entrance be shaken. - It's all right? He spoke, bending down a little and talking close to me. We do not stop walking at any moment. I nodded, unable to speak. Maybe what was leaving me in that state was the anticipation, the anticipation, the delay in getting to Lauren's side and hearing "you're married."Maybe it was my fear that something went wrong, or perhaps my fear of waking up with a stupid smile on my face and facing the dirty walls of my apartment, returning to the reality that none of this could be real. I closed my eyes and continued my course, thinking and asking fervently in silence: May I not wake up now ... Not now ... Not yet. I felt Chris stop walking beside me and my heart jumped again. When I could muster up the courage to open my eyes, Lauren was already right in front of me, with a breathtaking smile, her hair messed up in a hypnotic way, staring at me with those desperately beautiful green eyes. "Take care of my daughter, or I'll go after you and kill you." Chris said cheekily, and Lauren let out a low laugh. I undid the knot that held our arms together and held her hand out to me. I did not know exactly why, but I was being overwhelmed by a sudden urge to laugh, cry, scream and grab her, all at the same time. Her hand was warm close to mine, though it seemed to shake a little. I closed my fingers to hers too hard, and she pretended to feel pain in a subtle grimace. Lauren turned around still staring at me, and suddenly I noticed there was someone else nearby. The middle-aged man, separated from us by a small glass table, smiled sympathetically, and when he simply began to speak aloud, I noticed that he would be the person to make the marriage. He spoke a lot of things, and I wished I could pay attention to them. Lauren stood there, heating the right side of my body, and I wondered if she was hearing a word. I do not know if everything was just an impression, but the ceremony seemed very fast. Perhaps because someone had even asked for it, claiming that all that expectation to the "accepted" probably would not do very well to a pregnant woman's nerves. However, time seemed to elongate - or rather stop - at some point. "If anyone goes against this marriage, let him come forward and explain his motives." My breath lingered for a few seconds, waiting and praying for that dark silence to pass. I always thought that this part of "talk now or shut up forever" was no longer used. Apparently, everything they did summed up changing the words a little, but keeping that harrowing moment present. Maybe I was paranoid, but I could not stop my fertile imagination from working: A man calling the attention of the guests, screaming at the top of his lungs that I could not enter that family because my past was too dirty. Beatrice, appearing in the distance and telling anyone who wanted to hear that she was expecting a son from my fiancée. And that he still loved her. He was about to jump on the neck of the justice of the peace and shout for him to continue, but the next second he spoke again.And I felt many tons lighter, feeling Lauren's hand tighten mine gently. She was facing me, and, instinctively, I did the same. Chris appeared suddenly delivering a box to Lauren, so she opened it, revealing two rings there that would be perfectly alike if they were the same size. Lauren took the smallest ring and looked deeply into my eyes, promising me that she would be faithful, that she would love me and that she would make me happy in the repeated formal words of the justice of the peace. When she gently wedged the rim on my finger, I felt a good, half-hot tingle starting from the ring's tip and going up the rest of my arm. She looked at me again and gave that fucking crooked smile, making me nervous, almost losing control and grabbing her right there. I repeated the same words that Lauren had just said without really paying attention to them, because everything they swore was promised long ago by my heart. As I slid the larger wedding ring on her finger, I stared at the ring for a moment, as if it were proof that everything that was happening was real. The justice of the peace said something that resulted in Chris and Ally coming over to sign some papers. I figured they should be the wedding witnesses. It was then the turn of the two of us to sign some papers as well, and after the signatures, when both Chris and Ally had already returned to their seats, the man spoke a few more short words and was silent. I felt Lauren's warm hand firmly grip the back of my neck and turned. She was facing me, and at that moment all I wanted was to drown in those hypnotizing green eyes. I wanted to get lost in it, in every possible way, and I did not even know what those thoughts meant after all. She smiled again, and again I felt weaker, more delivered, happier. Lauren leaned toward me with a lot of class, and those fractions of seconds were beyond a shadow of a doubt the most precious fractions of seconds in my life until then. Not yet ... That I do not wake up now, not yet ... Please ... She kissed me, and the kiss was so equal to so many others that we had already changed, and at the same time, so different ... It was an act that sealed any doubt, any problem in which my troubled mind insisted on thinking. And even if I did not have the right to take possession of someone, that truth now blinked in neon lights inside my head. She is mine. It's really mine. - I love you. I said in a whisper, still with my eyes closed, as she moved away from my lips. - I love you too. She replied simply, giggling softly against my mouth. It was only then that the sound of applause slowly came to my ears, pulling me out of our bubble and making me fully aware, for the first time, of all the people watching us there. It is true. We were not alone. *** The carpet I passed was not red, but white. The path was limited by arrangements of hollow bamboo of medium height, which served as rustic vases for white flowers. They stood next to each seat, and by the quick math I did mentally, there were six or seven rows of them. On the other side of the garden, near the fountain, some large and round tables were scattered, while the guests - almost all of them unfamiliar to me - were talking animatedly, some standing, others sitting and some dancing to the sound of a band of three or four men in a corner. It was beginning to dusk, and the garden was already lit by the various points of light scattered here and there.I recognized Chris and Julia by dancing together, as if they were the same size. Marcel was accompanying Ally with Emily on her lap while her wife was talking to Mike. Clara was talking to some women and Taylor was eating something sitting at one of the tables, with Oliver at her side. And Lauren was gone. It was when I faced my ring with a silly smile on my face that I felt a fluffy white coat over my shoulders and a hug wrapped around my waist. "You're a dream." She whispered close to my ear, breathing hard against her to make me shiver - A very smelly dream. "My wife left a hickey on my neck." I had to pass a cream. "Your wife was drunk, I'm sure she did not mean it." Besides, it must be very difficult to control yourself. "Well, I hope she's at least able to control herself in public." I said, turning to her and making it clear that the volume on her dress had not gone unnoticed. "I think I married a 16-year-old. She continued to stare at me in silence, pinning the white coat on my shoulders. "I think you're really the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." She said in a sexy voice, running the gauge through the line of my chin. "I do not think you've looked in the mirror yet." She laughed out loud, as if I'd just told a really good joke. - You are funny. She finally said, helping me put on my coat. When I was finally wrapped up, I pinned my fingers to the threads of the back of her neck and kissed her without warning. It was not a sensual kiss, but gentle, gentle. Or, at least, that was my intention before Lauren started picking me up in a slightly inappropriate way. "It will be really beautiful if one of the photographers records this moment. I debated against his mouth, trying to hold his arms. "I'm glad it was not the mother who called you here." - Chris said, coming out from behind a bush and laughing like a child - She would be embarrassed. "Chris, are you always going to be my fuck-tie?" Lauren said half a whore. - Hey, I just came to get you some pictures. You can come back in no time. "We will not be back." "I do not want my wedding night to happen in the backyard of your parents' garden." Let's go. I pulled her by the hand, but she stood still. - I need some time here. She explained, pointing at his cock. - Come on, Camilita. My sister has to disarm the tent. After a while, Lauren joined us again. We received more wishes of happiness from more people, all praising me and congratulating us for the "luck of marrying such a beautiful girl." I figured a lot of those people were executives she already knew because they were friends with her father, and others just had to be friends for a long time. We took pictures with just about everyone there, even though there were not so many guests there, and when they announced the time to cut the cake, I was surprised again. On top of the second frosty layer, I saw an incredibly well-made miniature of myself with Lauren. Our features were perfect, and I might even have appreciated the whim of personalization of the notices if everyone was not laughing now. The bride was pregnant and had her eyes turned, and the other bride was effusively clinging to her belly, kneeling on the floor and panic-stricken. - You did very well, Chris! Taylor laughed. - I know. He concluded. - Fuck you. Lauren said coldly, though she was laughing too. After the cake was sliced and served, I began to feel a little exhausted. The whole load of emotions I'd been through that day was getting me tired. It was as if I had been swimming for hours without stopping. More photos, more people cheering, more people drinking and more questions about my gestation. I was glad everyone was right there, but I did not really want to pay any special attention to anyone but Lauren. It was not uneducated, but I was exhausted and a bit in a trance yet.- It's a beautiful party. Taylor said, sitting down next to me in one of the free chairs. "Yes, and the merit is all yours." Thanks for everything. She smiled and took my hand. "I hope you and my sister are happy." She deserves this, and so do you. - Let's be. I said, feeling sure in my own words. It was very simple: We would be happy because we were tailor-made for each other. There was no chance we would not be. There simply was not. The guests began to walk away, and by that time I had a slight desire to take Lauren by the hand and go home on foot. I did not know what time it was, but I figured it was not too late. And in the end, when I looked around and just saw Taylor by my side (eating her fourth piece of cake), Chris, Oliver, Lauren and Ally talking excitedly and Mike talking to the musicians with Clara, I concluded that the party had come to end. And I was still a little sedated by all that. I drank what was probably my tenth glass of passion fruit juice, feeling a fresh and quite pleasant wind running down my face. I closed my eyes and sat there, silent, doing nothing but breathe the whole mixture of perfumes in that garden. For a long time. - Hi ... I smiled without opening my eyes. Few things were as good as hearing his voice suddenly at the foot of my ear. - Hi. - Let's go home or would you rather stay here? She asked wryly, infiltrating her fingers under my braid and nuzzling the back of my neck. My head went limp. "If you do not stop, I'd rather stay." "I can do that in our house, too." Under the duvet. - Let's go. - I concluded, getting up immediately and already walking to say goodbye to the people. Oliver and Chris made themselves available to drive us, but Lauren said she did not have to, claiming that she was driving one of her borrowed father's cars, and then I understood that she had not drunk that night. Luckily the whole route was two blocks away. I was sure she would fall asleep if she'd been sitting on the soft seat of that car for five minutes. When we reached the magical garden of our house, I hurried to open the car door, but was prevented by Lauren's cry. "Do not scream, fuck!" I said scared, punching her shoulder. She just laughed. "Do not you know one of the major traditions of marriage?" The groom bears the bride! - In the house. "I said, skeptical." "If you did not notice, we have not come in yet. "The house is within the limits of that iron gate through which we passed with the cart. "So you did it wrong anyway." Because I already entered and I am not in your lap. - Oh, shut up! She pretended to be annoyed and left, walking around in front of the car. It was my turn to laugh at her face. Lauren opened the hitchhiker's door and carried me on her lap without much difficulty. I clung to her neck, using sleep as a pretext, and as we crossed the threshold, she did not let me go. "If you step on the hem of my dress, it will be so funny," I said, laughing at myself as she carried me into the bedroom. "You're spoiling romance, damn it!" I did not know if it was the sleep or the lightness that I felt, but everything seemed much funnier than normal. If I were not pregnant, I'd consider Taylor having put some hallucinogen in my juice. Lauren seemed to think it funny, and she laughed with me about nothing in particular. She put me on the bed with a half-exaggerated care, asking me to stand there and wait for her to come back. "All the doors were open and the lights were on. I will not be long. And saying that, he kissed me so softly I could barely feel his lips touch mine. When I opened my eyes again, she was gone. I took off my sneakers, earrings, and choker, then lay down and stared at the ceiling. I remembered everything that had happened that night: In my perfect marriage, in my perfect bride, in my perfect new family. And as the seconds passed by and Lauren did not return to the bedroom, I realized that I was anxious again. But this time for another reason.I had sex with Lauren on the first day we met. Clear. Besides, she was so used to doing it to her that it was something as natural as bathing or something. So that teenage anxiety that was making the ends of my fingers freeze could be considered, at the very least, idiotic. It was not fear. Nor was it insecurity. I knew very well what I had to do and how to do it. But somehow, it was as if that sense of anticipation for a first approximation was taking me slowly. It was almost the same feeling as when I realized for the first time that I was in love with her. The difference was that, unlike the first time, I was allowing myself to enjoy that feeling. It was the good nervousness of a new passion. Only I was in love for some time, so it did not make sense. "You're very strange," I said aloud to myself, smiling anyway lying on the bed. I heard her steps up the stairs again and my heart began to pound. I smiled again, amused by what she made me feel. - Happy? She asked when she saw my silly smile, closing the door and going to sit next to me on the bed. "What stupid question is that?" I asked without ceasing to smile - Obviously I am! "You've been busy with my sister. You're starting to talk like her. She smiled back, flipping the index finger at the line of my jaw. My heart gave another two or three deaf beats. "You ask stupid questions, and it's your sister's fault?" I asked, getting up and sitting across from her. I knew shortening the space between us would make me more nervous, but the feel was so good that I did it on purpose. She kept staring at me for so long that I thought she wanted to say something. But at the end of a long silence, Lauren simply held my neck very gently and as slowly as a wonderful torture, leaned forward and kissed me. It was a perfect kiss. Absolutely perfect, at all. Good enough to keep me in a state of torpor for a long time, even after it was over. "You were the first woman I kissed ..." I blurted out, still with my eyes closed, feeling her face close to mine. I did not know why I said that at the time, but I also had no idea why this was the first time I'd made that confession to her. But now that the silence had settled in the bedroom, I was starting to feel kind of ... stupid. "Was I the first woman you kissed?" She asked, looking surprised. - It was ... - Is that serious? "No. I thought it would be nice to tell a lie and then break the mood." - I said debauchery. "Why did not you ever ... Have not you ever had a boyfriend or girlfriend besides me?" "No," I replied, staring at her mouth and coming closer to her instinctively. "I can not believe I had to wait all this time to know this ..." She punctuated a smile on her face, infiltrating her fingers under my braid again and pulling me closer. "Why did not you ever tell me that?" "I guess I forgot ..." I spoke a little disoriented by the proximity, and the next second, as if we were not in the middle of a conversation, I kissed her absently.The kiss started slow, but it did not take long to become something more. Lauren lifted her mouth to my neck and left with her tongue a wet trail near my ear. My body shook involuntarily, and again I smiled. - Are you cold? She asked, and I noticed that this was not a provocative question, but a truly naive one. "No," I replied, kissing her again as I worked on the zipper of her dress. When I stripped her completely off the top, leaving her in my underwear, Lauren walked a path of kisses down my neck to the back of my neck, going to sit behind me. Her heavy breathing struck the sensitive skin of my neck, and it was very hard to stop shaking. When I felt her fingers slowly unzip my dress, my muscles contracted all at once, and she noticed. - Are you alright? - Yup. "You seem a bit tense." She said, punctuating the kissing phrase on the skin of my back that was now exposed. I felt every hair on my body bristle, and she noticed it too. Lauren smiled against my skin and took off her gown as gently and elegantly as she could. When, in the end, all I wore was a white panties (because I did not have time to choose something more appropriately vulgar for the occasion, since that day had begun by leaps and bounds), she smiled again and She hugged me from behind. Just because they had grown accustomed, their hands migrated to my belly. - What are you laughing about? "I tried to speak in a firm voice and shamefully failed. - You are nervous. "And what about that?" "I've never seen you so nervous." She spoke quietly, kissing my neck again and purring there like a cat full of morning. - What's wrong with you? - Do not know. "I answered the truth. "Do you want to leave for another day?" - NOT! I spoke emphatically and then blushed. "Good," she concluded, whispering at the foot of my ear as she raised her hands. "I do not want to either. Her hands ran over my body and touched me the same way I had always, and it was funny how, this time, everything seemed more intense. My skin just kept creeping all the time, as if her touch were unfamiliar. Even though I felt a little inhibited-something that had never happened before-I let my head rest on his shoulder, gaining access to his mouth, and kissed her passionately. Her hands seemed to touch at strategic points, which used to be so normal but at that moment they looked like bare wires. When she turned to face me again, all she did was stare at me for a long time as she played with her fingers on the back of my neck. We were both silent, as if we did not know what to do from there, or as if we did not have to do anything at all. "You're absurdly beautiful." She spoke suddenly, pulling some strands from my face."I'll take off my makeup tomorrow." I played, kissing her again. "You're going to look absurdly beautiful tomorrow." She smiled, taking my left hand and kissing my ring with the ring. "Her beauty is not limited to makeup. It is not limited to its appearance. You've always been beautiful, especially when it comes to what no one sees. I stared back at her, watching her curl up against the palm of my hand. I wanted to respond, but I did not do it for two reasons: First, I did not know what to say. Second: Nothing I said would be worth so much to the point of interrupting it. "I do not believe how fortunate I was to meet you, and I do not give in to you for almost letting you go." So if you have not figured it out yet, let me warn you. "She leaned forward and pressed her mouth to my ear." This is forever. And my "forever" is not like today, who decide to end up lazy. My "forever" is a little more boring, the one that does not give up. She turned to face me with those bright, gorgeous green eyes, giving me a sweeping smile a few inches away from my face. I stood still, and although I had nothing smart to talk about, I did anyway. Or I whispered. - I like boring forever. "So we really did. She said, and even though my eyes were already closed, I could "hear" her smile as she said it. Without waiting for my answer-perhaps because she noticed I could never speak shit-right-Lauren pulled me into her lap, and when she did, I felt her cock already stiff against my belly. And then, because things were not weird enough, my face started to boil. - You turned red! "Shut up ..." I said, blushing even more as I tried to pull his underpants under me. "Did I do that?" She asked, looking as amused as if she were at an amusement park. - Shut up! I repeated, lowering my face but unable to stop smiling. I was blushing like an inexperienced little girl, and watching her laugh at me was making me even more embarrassed. "You look even more beautiful red," she said as she lifted my face with one hand and with the other pulled me against her erection again. After a bit of gymnastics and a clutter of hands, we ended up with no clothes on. The night was cold, or maybe it was my anxiety. Lauren looked as calm as any other day, and I had to concentrate on the thought that the stranger in that situation was me. She kissed me again, and her kiss seemed deeper than ever. His mouth was pacing untroubled by my face, my neck, my shoulders and my breasts, comfortable enough not to stop for a second. I shivered slightly as I felt her hands lift me, but I did not let her notice. Lauren lined up perfectly at my entrance and waited for me to move, as was usual. As we were already more than accustomed to do. But I could not. She looked at me again, still smiling. That was enough to make me blush again. "I can not get into you." Lauren said against my neck, using her most conquering voice. "How about relaxing?" His mouth began to walk very gently from side to side of my neck, making me shiver in the places where her skin was in contact with mine.- I know what I have to do. I drew back coldly, trying to get any trace of naivety out of my voice. It just seemed to amuse her even more. "Then why do not you let me have fun here?" She asked in the middle of laughter, sliding one of her hands into the middle of my legs and rubbing not only my clit like the whole entrance. - Hmmm ... - I moaned against the skin of his face, trying to give a plausible answer but finding none. She clenched her cock again in the right place, and like the first time, barely started to come in and my body had already closed violently against the very little that was already almost inside. "Love, are you a virgin?" She laughed and I started to laugh. "Come here. I only realized that I was lying with my back on the mattress the next second. Of course, she knew very well what was the best way to leave me relaxed and bursting with excitement. She knew how to use that fucking tongue of her tongue very well, and after a few licks and blowjobs as good as paradise, any frigid virgin would be crazy to be beaten by that huge erection. And in this situation, taking advantage of everything her fingers and tongue alternately did to me, with closed eyes and heavy breathing, I was invaded without any preparation or warning. I took a deep breath, grabbing the pillow under my head and pulling hard not to moan loudly. Lauren waited a moment to move, glaring at me to make sure she had not hurt me. I did my best to inform her that I was well. Great, by the way. She then moved, rippling between my legs in that incredible way she knew how to do so well. As her hands came to rest on my waist and lifted my hips, I noticed the golden wedding ring that glowed in her ring and for some reason she looked ten times as fucking. And it was clear that the loose sluts out there would find that too. But there was no problem: I would go after them and cut them out if they mess with MY wife. My. As the thrusts grew faster and deeper, I grew tired of groaning and began to make real noise, not caring at all whether I was making a scandal. Even because Lauren seemed to be enjoying the noises I made, scandalous or not. After stepping into his lap again, I set the pace for the night. I managed to control our orgasms for a considerably long time, since the two of us reached our limits frequently. When we were allowed to climax together, for the second time, the sheets were so crumpled that they seemed to have served as the stage for a fight. I was tired, sweaty, probably disheveled, and her makeup blurred. Lauren was still a half-goddess, smelling and smelling beautiful as ever. I think I slept in her lap, sitting up, as I tried to catch my breath. Exhaustion had knocked me out, but just by knocking me in her arms, it was already good. She would take care of me, and I trusted it with all my soul. At least as long as that dream lasted, I would be fine. That I never wake up ... Never.
