Page 101 of The Monster and the Masochist

It also felt a little over the top for our tiny, intimate wedding in Fairview Funeral’s Garden.

“Why don’t we try another silhouette?” Gnomes suggested, waving over our bridal attendant.

I nodded, still staring at myself in the mirror, swishing the massive skirt around the podium as I tried to imagine what Theo would think if she saw me in something like this.

I knew she always thought I looked good, but I wanted her jaw on the fucking floor when I walked in, and this just wasn’t going to cut it.

“She’s coming back with some more options,” Gnomes chirped happily, and I glanced back and smiled at her.

“Thanks, Gnomes.”

“You got it.”

Stepping down off the podium, I wandered over to one of the mannequins in our private viewing room.

This one was wearing a bridesmaid dress. It was beautiful. The pattern was bright and perfect for an outdoor garden wedding.

It would look great on Naomi.

Not for our wedding. Ours would be too casual for something like this.

But for Cal and Ryan’s?

It would be perfect.

I glanced back at her to find she was staring at the bubbles in her drink, looking uncharacteristically down.

“Hey, have you thought about what you’re going to wear for Cal and Ryan’s big day? I’m helping Ryan plan, and I think florals and lilies are going to be the theme. Look at this.”

Naomi glanced up at the bright dress and her expression tightened. I watched her throat roll, and she shook her head.

“Nah. Not for me.”

I frowned. “What do you mean, not for you? You used to love florals. I know you’re doing this all-black artsy thing now, but you still wouldn’t want to wear something like this? Not even for a wedding?

Naomi opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, she was interrupted by a commotion outside our viewing room.

“Sir! Sir! You can’t go in there! That room is privately booked! Oh my god; Maria, what should I do? He’s not listening!”

We both stared as the door swung open to reveal none other than Vox Moretti.

He was standing in the doorway of the bright white bridal space, and it looked like the prince of freaking darkness had taken a wrong turn on the way to hell.

He ran a hand through his bleached white hair, and his silver eyes took stock of his new surroundings like he was searching them for potential threats.

Both Naomi and I rolled our eyes.

Our attendant rushed in, telling him that if he didn’t leave, she would have to call the police, but Vox just ignored her and stepped deeper into the space.

His heavy combat boots were somehow silent on the rustic wooden floors, and his worn-out shredded black jeans looked like they shouldn’t even exist on the same planet as the bright white couch he helped himself to.

He fell with almost supernatural grace onto the opposite end of the couch Naomi was perched on, and she glared at him as he threw his arms over the back of it, making himself comfortable.

“Ms. Walker, I’m so sorry!” Stella, our attendant, was yammering, but I waved her off.

“It’s okay. We know him. Gnomes, you didn’t tell me you were inviting Vox. Thought this was supposed to be girl time.”

Naomi narrowed her eyes at the silent assassin, and her expression told me that she hadn’t invited him.