Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 124077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Taurex stood behind them, drawing the usual collection of startled looks from passing humans because there really was no way for an eight-foot-tall Minotaur Monstrum with a five-foot horn span to go unnoticed anywhere, much less outside a bridal store on a Saturday afternoon.
Terra had tried telling him he didn’t need to come because traditionally the groom wasn’t supposed to see the dress before the wedding, but he had reminded her, with irritating logic, that there was technically no groom and no real wedding and therefore no supernatural reason for him to stay away.
“Besides,” he’d said. “I would like to see you in the ceremonial wedding dress. Even if it is for a fake ceremony.”
More and more, Terra hated hearing him call it fake. Maybe because during the process of pulling together their “fake” wedding, things between them had begun to seem so real.
Choosing the flowers and the cake together had been wonderful—none of it had felt fake while they were doing it. They had laughed together, held hands without thinking, and occasionally looked at each other in ways that made Terra’s pulse race. And every time they parted, she found herself wishing afterwards that she had the courage to simply grab the enormous Monstrum by his shirt, drag him down to her level, and tell him that she didn’t want to pretend anymore.
Unfortunately, Taurex remained almost painfully careful with her.
He never assumed they were doing anything real—never pushed or took one inch more than what she offered. The qualities that had originally made Terra feel safest with him were now driving her absolutely insane.
Lucy looked up at the familiar blue-and-white David’s Bridal sign over the storefront and sighed happily.
“I got my dress here, you know,” she said, breaking Terra’s train of thought.
Terra turned toward her.
“You did? I didn’t know that.”
“Of course I did. David’s Bridal has been around forever. They’re a regular institution around here. Your grandmother came with me. I tried on seven dresses, and she hated every one of them until I found the one I wore when I married your daddy.”
Terra’s chest tightened with unexpected emotion.
“I didn’t know that.”
Her mom shrugged.
“I suppose it never came up. But it’s a happy memory.”
Lisa grabbed Terra’s hand.
“Can I help pick your dress, Mommy? Can I?”
Terra ruffled her hair.
“That’s why you’re here, baby.”
“I want you to wear a princess dress,” Lisa decided.
Cody groaned.
“Mom’s not a Disney Princess!”
Lisa jutted her chin stubbornly.
“Maybe not, but she can look as pretty as one!”
“Children,” Lucy said warningly. “If you want to come in here, you have to stay still and behave. This is a grownup place, and they won’t let you in if you fight or shout.”
Lisa hung her head.
“Okay, we’ll be good,” she promised, and Cody nodded in silent agreement.
“Now, we’re just looking at dresses—I’m not saying I’ll buy one,” Terra warned them. She didn’t want the two of them to get their hopes up. They were only there to add to the veracity of the scene. If Detective Ramirez or any other police officer ever questioned them, they could honestly say that they went wedding dress shopping with their mom and Taurex.
“Mom is still going to look like a princess, though,” Lisa said.
“She will not!” Cody muttered.
“Will too!” His sister put a hand on her hip, reminding Terra of herself.
Taurex, who had been listening quietly, leaned toward Cody, who was about to continue the argument.
“I have learned that arguing with your sister when she believes herself correct is rarely productive,” he rumbled.
Cody grinned.
“You figured that out already?”
The big Monstrum nodded.
“I am an experienced negotiator. Also, your sister reminds me very much of your mother.”
His words were so much like what she had just been thinking, Terra couldn’t help laughing.
Taurex was smiling back at her—God, she loved that smile! In fact, she loved him. All eight feet of him, golden eyes and horns included. He was the one she wanted to be with forever.
The realization came so easily and naturally it almost surprised her. She had probably loved him for longer than she wanted to admit, even before the Mother Ship and the terrible misunderstanding that drove them apart, she thought.
The problem wasn’t knowing how she felt. The problem was that she had become increasingly convinced Taurex had accepted her rejection so completely that he no longer believed there was any possibility of anything real between them.
Well, at least she had today. Even if she never had a real wedding, she was going to try on wedding dresses with her mother and children beside her and Taurex watching. That was something.
They entered the store and were soon greeted by a bridal consultant named Jenna, a friendly woman with dark curls, bright pink glasses and the kind of cheerful energy Terra assumed was probably required for someone whose job involved women crying over tulle and agonizing over the exact cut of the perfect dress for eight hours a day.