PRINCE CHARMING: A Stepbrother Secret Baby Romance(51)

“After she sees these pics, she’ll hate my dad for making her go on that family reunion trip of his,” she said as she pulled out her cell and started taking pics of everything. “Olivia, you need more coffee or what?”

The last few days leading up to the wedding had been the hardest. Olivia had told her mom she was returning to Nebraska the day after the wedding. There were things she had to take care of. Her mom understood but hoped she’d come back over her fall break so she could visit. Olivia had promised she would, but the trip would be impossible. By then, she’d be nearly six months pregnant and a blimp—a bit difficult to hide a pregnant belly like that.

It was the final day, the final act, and she would see Quincy for the last time. She’d avoided him whenever possible and only spoke to him if he asked her a question at dinner. Every time she heard his laugh, it hurt. When she saw Gigi touch him… that was even worse. She’d hidden away in her room, working on her paintings and listening to Helen gush over Edric.

The two had hit it off, and Edric was already working on getting a visa so he could visit over their winter break. Olivia was happy for her friend and made sure she knew it. The only person she wasn’t happy with was herself.

“No,” she finally said. “I’m fine, just hungry.”

“We just ate an hour ago,” Melinda said.

“Well, I didn’t eat much then,” she said quickly and put a bright smile on her face. “It’s your big day. I’m excited, is all.”

Melinda took her daughter’s hands as her ladies moved with her, trying to curl her hair. “I’m glad you are. I was worried all last night that I was doing something stupid again.”

“Mom, you’ve never done anything stupid. I just want you to be happy.”

“I am—very, very happy,” she said and hugged her daughter close. “Now, you have to start getting ready, too. The ceremony starts in a couple of hours, and we have to pose for pictures first.”

Allete hurried over and pointed Olivia to her dress and a low platform for her to stand on. The dress had been fitted a few weeks ago, but when Olivia stepped into it and Allete tried to zip it up, she muttered curses under her breath in French.

“What’s wrong… Did it rip?”

“No,” she said and tugged on it. Olivia gasped as she tried to suck it in, but it didn’t help. Allete leaned in close and whispered, “I think you maybe have gained a little weight, miss.”

Olivia blanched. She hadn’t even thought of that. “Are you sure it won’t go up?”

“What’s wrong?” Melinda asked from across the room. “It doesn’t fit?”

“Just snug. I must’ve gained some weight. Too much wine, I guess,” Olivia said as she tried to wave away her mom’s worry. “We’ll get it to zip, don’t worry.”

Allete frowned, but she raised her brow and told Olivia to take a deep breath and hold it. With Helen helping to pull the dress together, the two managed to get it zipped up. Olivia let out the breath and gasped. How much weight had she gained?

“Can you breathe?”

Olivia nodded at Helen and managed to breathe in tiny bursts. “Yeah… yeah, I’ll be fine.”

“Once the ceremony’s over you can change,” Melinda said. She looked at her daughter with narrowed eyes, and Olivia felt like she was a kid getting caught in a lie all over again. When she was little, she’d never gotten away with anything, and the way her mom kept eyeing her said she knew something was up.

“We must finish your hair or you’ll be late, miss,” one of the ladies said, and Melinda turned back around.

“Sorry, sorry. Can’t have me being late to my own wedding, now can we?”

Olivia held her stomach as the other women laughed. Helen was the only one who noticed and quickly grabbed her friend’s hand, holding it in her own. “One more night,” she whispered. “Then we’re in the homestretch.”

“One more night,” she repeated and prayed she could make it.

***

Quincy didn’t feel anything. Pascal fixed his tux jacket and bowtie, making sure he looked like the perfect prince, but he felt nothing. He tried that morning to be excited for his dad, but he didn’t see his dad getting married. He saw a glimpse of his future self in a month, getting married to the woman he didn’t love. The woman he loved was going to leave the isle and maybe never come back.

And if she did, what then? Would she be able to look him in the eye when he was married to another? Spending his time with another? Sleeping with another?

“Sir, you should probably put a smile on your face,” Pascal whispered. “You look as if you’re going to a funeral.”

“Sorry.”

“Are you not happy for your father, sir?”

“No… no, I am. Just something else on my mind, is all. I’ll try to smile for the ceremony, promise.”

“I hope so. You don’t want the people thinking you’re not happy for him and his new wife.”

“We don’t want that, now do we?” he replied sarcastically. “I’ll be fine, Pascal, really.”

His servant and friend of so many years stepped back and eyed Quincy. “Sir… Quincy, something troubles you, and I think it has to do with your impending wedding to Gigi. If you are that unhappy with your decision, there are other women. It does not have to be her.”