CHAPTER 22—Olivia

We’re still holding hands when we step into the apartment and that’s the first thing Jake notices.

His eyes move from me to Sharlene and back again then rest on our joined hands. His eyes twitch, that’s the only reaction from him.

There are no signs of the girls from last night, he must have asked them to leave after Sharlene walked in.

For that I was grateful, that way Sharlene would not be able to see the humiliation Jake is putting me through.

With a final glance at Jake I let my hand slip from Sharlene’s and go to my room. They could stay there and do whatever it is that siblings do.

As for me, I was going to treat this wedding like it was a real one because after everything that has happened, I had a feeling that I would never have the courage to get married again. Or at least for real.

So I was going this one as much as I could and not even Jake was going to ruin it for me.

Just before I shut my door I hear Jake and Sharlene talking, more like arguing because their voices were raised. It was no surprise it was about me. I slammed the door.

I head straight for the shower and let the hot water soothe my muscles. I’m not sure how long I stand under the shower but by the time I’m out my skin already looks too soft.

I dry off before walking into the room. I’m putting on my underwear when I catch a glimpse of red hair on my bed. I’m startled.

“What are you doing here?” I ask her as I pull the rest of my pant on. I take out a graphic tee and jeans from the closet.

“You were taking so long so I thought I’d better make myself comfortable” she says and truly she looks at home.

Her beautiful red hair spread across my pillow makes my hand itch to touch her and run my fingers through her hair.

I clear my throat, “Can you leave? I’d be out in a second” I say, gesturing towards the door.

“What a shame” she says but makes no move to get up, “I love the view.”

I cross my arms across my bare chest “Are you flirting with your brother’s wife right now?” I ask with a raised brow.

Sharlene cocks her head to the side silently challenging me, “And what if I am? You’re not married yet anyway.”

“Besides…if my brother is too stupid to appreciate what’s in front of him then we’re nothing alike” she adds, locking me in a trance with her eyes.

Does that mean she likes me? No, it couldn’t be.

“I don’t like…”

Her eyes grow wide like saucers, “Were you about to say you don’t like me?” she asks, like it was the vilest thing to think of.

“That’s not what…” she doesn’t even give me time to explain myself.

“Don’t lie to yourself darling…” she gets up from the bed “Don’t keep me waiting” she winks at me before leaving.

I stand there, bare, and with a pounding chest. What was that I just felt right now? It is a minute before I put on my tees and boots before leaving.

Jake is standing in the kitchen with Sharlene when I walk in. He freezes up when his gaze lands on me.

“I’ll be taking your wife here for a spin, I’ll be sure to bring her back early” Sharlene announces as she comes to stand by my side, taking my hand.

“What do you mean a spin? Where are you taking her?” his angry, but he has no right to be.

“Wow, calm down Bruno, we’re going to shop for her wedding gown, but we might have lots of fun while we’re at it” Sharlene says all this with a smirk.

I can tell Jake is uncomfortable. Does he think I’ll run away?

“Mother didn’t say anything…”

Sharlene doesn’t give him a chance to finish explaining, “Must mother run through everything with you? Relax…I’m not kidnapping your wife; I’ll have her back in one piece” her eyes are blazing hot as she stares at him…challenging him.

“Just…” he looks at me with a scowl, “I don’t know why I bother, just do whatever the hell you want. It’s fine if you don’t want to come back here.”

I make sure not to look away, not to give him the satisfaction that he still had some power over me.

“Let’s just get out of here” I say, taking Sharlene’s hand in mine as I lead her out of the apartment, and we go down to her car.

When we’re in the safety of her black sports car I let out a deep breath.

Sharlene squeezes my hand “Now that we’re done with him…let’s get this shopping fun started.” She reaches under her seat and brings out a bottle of vodka.

In her glove compartment are small glasses for shot.

“Do you carry alcohol everywhere you go and convince helpless girls to take shots in your car with you?” I tease as I grab one of the glasses.

“Nah, you’re just the one I keep shots for, no need to get jealous” she winks and pours me a generous amount of vodka.

She raises her glass “To having fun no matter the shitty men in your life” she says, I have a feeling it’s not just about Jake, but I raise my glass instead of asking questions.

“To having fun” I say and tap my glass lightly against hers before throwing the burning liquid at the back of my throat.

It burns all the way down to my stomach. Sharlene pours another one and we repeat the process. I can already feel the buzz.

She’s about to pour another one when I hold up my hand “You need to be sober to drive” I remind her.

She snatches up my glass and fills it, “Don’t worry I’m not a light head.” With tip against my glass she takes her shot.

“Okay! It’s time to hit the road” she yells, and I laugh.

Alcohol does make everything better.

It’s a designer store and I don’t expect anything else.

There’s an attendant already waiting, and she guides us to the wedding gown display room.

I don’t know what to do so I let Sharlene grab a couple gown like each didn’t cost a fortune. When she’s done looking around, she puts the pile on my hand and pushes me to the dressing room.

I strip out of my clothes and try the gowns on.

The first one has a turtle neck design to it, with beads adorning the neck. I’m not even sure what I’m supposed to look in it.

When I trudge outside Sharlene is sitting on a couch and swiping over her phone.

The dismissive shake of her head is all I need to get back into the dressing room and try on another gown.

This one has a low-cut neck and short sleeves. I hate it.

Sharlene hates it too; she doesn’t even wait for me to walk out completely before sending me inside.

I’m already exhausted by the time I’m in the last gown. When I turn to show Sharlene she’s already standing there.

Her eyes glued to me and unmoving, the intensity of it all burns through me and I need her to quench that fire.

With slow deliberate steps she moves towards me, like a predator cornering its prey.

When she finally reaches me, her hands clamp around my shoulder and she turns me. I’m now facing the huge mirror and she is standing solidly behind me.

Our eyes remain locked through the mirror as her fingers brush my hair to the side exposing my right neck.

She places a gentle kiss there and it makes me suck in a sharp breath. The next kiss is fiercer, and it has my thighs writhing together.

She kisses behind my ear. I’m ready in this moment to through caution in the wind and grab her.

Her lips skim over my ear before she whispers, “This is the one.”

As if to elaborate, her hands trace the bodice of the gown, where it hugs my slim waist and up to the cups that hold my not so big boobs.

“This was made for you” she says again, “Do you like it?”

I find it hard to speak so I nod instead, and she smiles. She likes what she’s doing to me.

This is torture.

When I turn and face her, pressing my front to her…I blame it on the alcohol. The vodka surging in my veins make me hold her face with my hands and kiss her.

It starts out slow before it slowly starts to consume the two of us. I feel slightly cold fingers tug at my zip before releasing the gown from my body.

I step out of the gown, the chill air in the dressing room assaulting me, but I don’t mind…Sharlene’s body has all the warmth that I need.

Her hands cup my boobs and I sigh, when was the last time someone appreciated my babies?

Sharlene knows what she’s doing, from the way tongue invades my mouth to the way she expertly tweaks my nipples.

Her mouth steals my moans as I press further into her, I want to feel all of her. Her hands round up my ass and squeeze hard, just enough to hurt and cause pleasure at the same time.

My desperate fingers find their way to the front of her pants, and I zip it down before slipping in two fingers.

We are going too far but either of course can stop.

It takes the attendant poking her head and interrupting to give us enough time pull away from each other.

Sharlene helps me out of the gown completely and kisses the corner of my mouth before leaving the dressing room with it.

I find my clothes on the ground and put them on. By the time I’m out Sharlene already settled the bill and was making arrangements on when it would be delivered.

I stand to the side and take my time to study her.

It’s not until we just kissed that I realize we’re the same height. She’s just as slim as me but with curvier hips, sometime I myself lacked.

Her red hair tumbles down in waves past her shoulder, the sun putting a nice shine to it. I’m not sure how I didn’t notice before, but Sharlene is the sexiest woman alive.