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“Perfect timing,” Gina said, patting the seat beside me. “You’re next.”

Jody sat and Gina started on her while Christy finished me up. Siani already had her soft glam look done and was pouring Jody a glass of prosecco.

“So did I miss anything?” Jody asked, eyes closed as Gina blended her foundation.

“Your cousin’s pregnant,” Mama announced.

“Bitch—” Jody’s eyes flew open.

“Mama—”

“Don’t move,” Gina warned, steering her face back.

“What? She’s family. She should know.”

“Pregnant? How?”

“Fucking, probably,” Siani called from behind the change screen.

“Siani, please,” I laughed. Christy frowned at me again and I gave her a sheepish smile. “I’m about ten weeks. Dez knows, we’re good.”

“Well shit,” Jody muttered.

Christy finished my makeup and spun me toward the mirror. I looked flawless.

“Christy, you did that!” Siani said, coming up behind me. She helped me take my hair down and fixed it the way Destiny instructed.

At 3:00 p.m., I squeezed in a quick snack before Siani and Jody helped me into my gown. Siani adjusted the tulle as I stepped in, and Jody pulled it up and zipped the back.

“Oh, La’Belle.” Mama’s hand went to her mouth, lip quivering. I don’t think I’d ever seen her show this much emotion.

She crossed the room and straightened the skirt, even though it didn’t need it. “You’re the best thing I ever did, La’Belle. And no matter how it happened, that man out there loves you.”

I looked up, feeling my chest tighten. “Mama, I can’t cry right before our pictures.” ⁠1

She hugged me, careful not to smudge my makeup right as Lorelei poked her head in.

“Belle, Cardez is in the east hallway whenever you’re ready for the first look.”

We’d decided at the last minute that we didn’t want any family photos, except for just the two of us. I wanted one moment that was ours before we walked into a room full of people.

“How do I look?” I asked my girls.

“Like you about to be somebody’s wife,” Jody smiled.

“Exactly that,” Siani said, grinning.

I took a deep breath and walked out.

The east hallway was separated from the main room by a set of closed doors. Lorelei led me down a back set of stairs so that the arriving guests wouldn’t see me.

Cardez stood at the other end of the hall with his back to me. His black tux was tailored so perfectly it might as well have been painted on. He was talking to Marco and Priest with his hands in his pockets. Priest saw me first. He tapped Dez’s arm and stepped back.

I stopped walking as Dez turned around.

He stood there looking at me with his lips parted like he was seeing me for the first time. That composure he wore like armor was cracking.

I swallowed and started walking again. When I got to him, he didn’t reach out for me right away. He just looked, his eyes moving slowly over me.