Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(68)

Dylan smiles. “It’s like it was made for you.”

“You look gorgeous,” Sawyer exhales. “Stone is going to pass out when he sees you.”

A smile spreads across my lips as visions of me wearing this dress while walking down the aisle to meet Stone flash through my mind.

Suddenly, the room starts spinning and white-hot panic punches through my chest because it becomes impossible to get enough air into my lungs.

“Get it off me,” I scream, my hands flying to my throat as beads of sweat dot my forehead and spots form in front of my eyes.

When they don’t move fast enough, I start clawing at the dress, desperate to rip the fabric off because I can’t breathe.

I’m dying.

“Get it off,” I scream as loud as I can before gasping for air. “I need it off now.”

Sawyer wraps her arms around me as Dylan starts undoing the corset.

“It’s okay,” Sawyer whispers. “It’s gonna be okay.”

No, it won’t.

Sawyer tightens her hold as my body breaks out in a fit of uncontrollable shakes.

“What’s happening?” The salesgirl squawks. “Does she need something to eat? Does she have a medical condition?”

“No,” Dylan snaps. “Just give us a few minutes alone.”

After they both help me out of the dress, Dylan runs back to the fitting room to fetch my clothes.

I don’t even realize I’m crying until Sawyer starts wiping my tears away with a tissue before forcing me to drink some water.

“I’m sorry,” I croak, feeling so embarrassed I wish the ground would open up and swallow me whole.

She gives her head a shake. “You have nothing to be sorry for.” She places her palm on my forehead. “You still feel clammy, though. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I assure her. “It’s just cold feet. Happens to every bride, right?”

She cups my cheeks and the look she gives me is so full of concern my heart twists. “That didn’t look like cold feet or nerves. That was…I don’t know, it was almost like you were fighting for your life.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “Bianca, do you want to marry Stone?”

I place a hand to my aching chest as another tear streams down my cheek. “I care about him, Sawyer. So much.”

She hugs me so tight it almost hurts. “I know you do, honey. But if you’re having reservations about this, and it’s clear you are…you need to listen to your heart and do what’s best for you.”

She has a point.

“But my dad already paid for everything.”

“I get that,” Sawyer says. “But you and I both know your dad would never want you to spend the rest of your life with someone if you were having serious doubts about it.”

Again…she has a point.

“It just happened so fast, you know? One moment we were graduating high school, and the next he was getting down on one knee and—”

“You never had time to think if it was what you really wanted,” Dylan interjects.

“Exactly.”

She hands me my jeans and t-shirt. “Look, I’m not gonna tell you what to do, but I really think you owe it to yourself to take some time to think about it.”

As much as I hate to admit it because it’s a bitter pill to swallow …

They’re right.





Chapter 31





Bianca





“You seem off today?” Oakley notes.

Probably because I still haven’t ended my engagement with Stone.

One—because he’s so busy there hasn’t been any time.

And two—how do you look someone you care about in the eyes and tell them you want to downgrade them from your fiancé to your boyfriend?

Ugh, my life is one giant clusterfuck.

“I’m fine,” I grit through my teeth.

He eyes me with amusement. “If you say so.”

Agitated, I get off my bed and start pacing around my dorm room. “But even if I wasn’t, it’s not like I could talk to you about it.”

It’s clear I’ve insulted him because he crosses his arms over his chest. I instantly avert my gaze because the ropey muscles and thick veins running along his forearms are distracting as hell.

“You can tell me anything.”

Not this.

I quicken my pacing. “No, I can’t.” I pause. “You know why.”

I’m really hoping he fills in the blanks, so I don’t have to say it aloud.

Unfortunately, he doesn’t. “No, I don’t. Because you won’t fucking tell me.”

“That’s because I can’t,” I argue.

“Why?”

“Because I shouldn’t be talking about any of this with you since we used to be…you know, friends with benefits.” I wave a hand. “Fuck buddies who didn’t actually fuck…whatever you want to call it.”

Therefore, hearing me talk about my relationship problems with another man might make things…awkward.

Suddenly, he stands.

Before I can blink, he stalks toward me and doesn’t stop until my back is pressed against the wall and he’s bracing his arms on either side of my head.