Love Made in Italy

by Ava Danielle

  – ### –

  After walking off some of the food we devoured, we end up in the casino and decide to play some slots. Daniel is in the seat sliding his money into the slot machine. I’m behind him watching his every move. He keeps telling me to come around and also play, but knowing my luck. I’d lose everything we own.

  “Come on, just sit down and try it,” he taps his legs.

  “If you want to be a true Las Vegan, you have to play at least once,” Trevor adds as all their eyes settle in on me.

  “Fine,” I mumble as I sit in Daniel’s lap and wait for him to insert the money, “here goes nothing.”

  Everyone is watching the machine like a hawk and I close my eyes. Queue the disappointment.

  “Holy Fuck,” Daniel screams.

  “What?” I open my eyes when suddenly the machine makes one wacky noise after the other.

  “No fucking way,” Trevor is shocked and Olivia is bouncing around like she won a beauty contest of some sort.

  “What is going on?” I get off of Daniel’s lap as he grabs me.

  “You won, babe, you won,” he is excited.

  “What, twenty bucks, or something?” I joke.

  “Try more like two hundred… thousand!” He hugs me tight.

  “Say what?” I could swear I just heard him say I won two hundred thousand dollars.

  “I said you won! You won the jackpot! You won! Babe, you won!” He yells.

  “I get it, I get it. Geez!” I have no idea what to do next.

  “Wanna try again?” Daniel asks.

  “Are you crazy? We’re not going to risk it, go deposit that paper!” They all laugh at me.

  I find myself overwhelmed by this luck, by this excitement. It’s been forever since I’ve been this happy, this content. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, right now. With these three people… in Las Vegas, I have found new hope, new friendships, and true love. I hope this lasts. This is my forever!

  It’s been three blissful months since Sophia and I began our new careers. We’ve moved into a new house. It’s in a neighborhood not too far from the Bellagio hotel, which turns out to be Sophia’s favorite hotel in all of Las Vegas. I’m pretty sure it’s the fountain out front. She always wants to spend time there. You would think it would take her years to get used to this area, but once she started working with Olivia, at the boutique, you’d think she never lived anywhere else. I have gone back to work and we are settled into our house Sophia is over the moon living here, learning every little shop in every little alley. She is a local, already.

  She blossomed. She opened up to me more now than she ever has. We’re still getting to know each other, in the most magical way. Every day is an adventure with her. She’s my wild child, and I love that about her. We’re perfect for each other. At least, I believe that. If I had to go back in time, I would do it all over again. All the heartache, the heartbreaks, the sleepless nights, the threats, the loneliness… If I had to do it all over again to be with her, I would. I would do anything to be with her, but, luckily, she’s mine.

  I’m sitting at my desk at work thinking of the perfect way to do it… to marry the love of my life. I have a few surprises up my sleeve, but I’m going to need lots of help. Trevor might be the right guy, let’s just hope he knows some wizardly ways to get that one thing that would mean the world to her, one thing that would connect us forever. She won’t expect it. As a matter of fact, she’s not expecting any of this.

  “Hey man.” Trevor announces his entry into my office.

  “Hey, I need a few favors.” I get straight to it.

  “Am I gonna need a notepad for this?”

  “Nah, you should remember this. Did you talk to Olivia?”

  “Yep, and she’s more than excited.” He assures me.

  “Perfect. I need you to make a couple calls to your old connections and some of our old buddies overseas. Here’s the list and a news article to get to him,” I slide the papers across the desk into his direction.

  “How fucking awesome would it be, if it actually worked out?”

  “I know, she would flip.” Imagining her reaction thrills me.

  “She will. We’re going to make this happen. It’s about time she gets to smile more again and have good memories.” Trevor smiles. “You two are lucky. Do you have the venue booked?”

  “I called over there this morning, there’s a wedding coordinator that will take care of it all.”

  “Sweet. Well let me make these phone calls and get back to you,” Trevor walks out the door.

  I’m so thankful to my best friend, if I didn’t have him, I’d be lost. This wouldn’t happen. And his girlfriend is the biggest lifesaver. She works in the perfect place to get the most important things. And sadly, all three of us are really good at keeping secrets. It works to our advantage of course, but sneaking behind Sophia’s back doesn’t make me proud. I only take solace knowing she’s going to be unequivocally thrilled by about this.

  We haven’t talked to her family since their big blowout. They never once came to see her in the hospital. They have had no contact, whatsoever. I assume she won’t want any of them at the wedding. She never mentions them. Olivia has introduced her to some of her friends and they’ve been doing lady’s night regularly. She’s really fitting in perfectly.

  “Dude, you won’t believe this.” Trevor walks in. “We got it.”

  Dress✓

  Venue✓

  Catering✓

  Photographer✓

  Rings✓

  The people that I need to be there✓

  I’m going to pull this off and I just hope she doesn’t to kill me. That would make one hell of a title in a news article – bride killed groom because she wasn’t aware she was getting married – not really the outcome I want, but I’m still going for it. I’m going to marry the girl and she’s not going to have any idea what’s hitting her.

  I’m having the dress that Olivia designed and made for me delivered to our house while I’m pretending to be at work. It’s Friday, supposedly a Friday like any other. Today is going to be our wedding day. Sophia’s still home and at any moment she should be receiving the dress. There are instructions for what to do after that. I have no idea what the dress will look like. That was all in Olivia’s hands. There will still be a surprise factor, for me, at the wedding, too. We don’t want to break all traditions now.

  I need to be at the Venetian Casino in a couple of hours. I have two separate rooms reserved for us to get ready. It will be a night ceremony; she’s always talking about all the pretty lights so I figured she would love to say, “I do” under all the Las Vegas lights. Until then, her room is filled with stylists and people to help her get dressed.

  “Hey fucker, your phone is ringing,” Trevor walks in bringing me out of my thoughts.

  “Oh shit, I totally didn’t hear it. Oh fuck! It’s Sophia,” I stare at the screen.

  “Answer it,” He commands me, sitting down in the chair across from my desk.

  “Hello?” I answer quietly.

  “Um, babe, I received a strange big box that says DO NOT OPEN. READ NOTE FIRST.” She stutters and I continue to listen to her, intently. “What should I do?” She sounds worried.

  “Read the note, I guess,” I smile.

  “Do you know anything about this?”

  “Read the note, I’m sure it’ll tell you what it’s about.” I really wasn’t expecting her to call so frantically.

  The line goes silent for a few minutes and I’m pretty sure I hear tears, if one can even hear tears.

  “Ummm… I… I don’t know what to say,” she stutters.

  “Follow the note and I’ll see you later, okay? Oh, and Sophia…”

  “Yes?”

  “I love you.” I hang up the phone before she can say anything else.

  It’s actually happening. Today I will marry my true love. This girl means the world to me. I would never leave her behind and don’t even want to move forward without he
r. Sophia will be my wife. I love the sound of that… wife… it sounds so final, so eternal.

  I drive down Las Vegas Boulevard; the radio station is playing some wild oldies. I see all the tourists enjoy each Casino along the famous strip. There are so many smiling faces. And, I can smile along with them, for other reasons of course. It’s a glorious day. The sun is bright, there’s no wind, and I’m the happiest man alive. I’m even singing along to with Stevie Wonder to one of my favorites, belting “Signed Sealed Delivered, I’m Yours,” at the top of my lungs. This song is perfect for today.

  Arriving in the hotel parking lot, I grab my suit out of the backseat and make my way to my room. Trevor is waiting on me. Knowing him, he’s probably already dressed and ready to go, but he’s going to have to have some patience, today.

  In the elevator, this beautiful brunette joins me. “Hello,” she says.

  Why I mention she’s beautiful? Because we all are beautiful human beings! We all have special features that make us beautiful, so yes, she’s beautiful. Not my type, not the one I would ever love, but that’s because I found my one. She looks at me with sincerity in her eyes.

  “What floor?” I ask since she forgot to push the floor button.

  “Oh, sorry, totally slipped my mind, I guess fourth floor.”

  “You guess?” I’m confused.

  “Umm… I’m actually not sure. I’m here for a wedding and I’ve lost track of where to be, I waited in the lobby for my friend, but she hasn’t showed up and I’m looking for her in the hopes I might find her on one of the floors,” she sputters.

  “A wedding?” I can’t believe there would be another wedding besides my own today.

  “Yes, my best friend’s friend is getting married today and I’m here for support, she couldn’t find a date. How silly, huh?”

  “Oh, that’s not silly at all, I understand,” I smile.

  I need out of this elevator as soon as possible, this situation feels a bit awkward and I might have to have Trevor check this out.

  “What’s your friend’s name?”

  “Katherine.” she seems oblivious to the shock of horror on my face.

  It can’t be a coincidence, right? Is she here for revenge? Did she find us?

  “Well it was nice meeting you…” she says, obviously hoping for me to tell her my name. I can’t risk giving that out, now.

  “You too.” The elevator doors close and I’m off to the top floor.

  I rush down the hallway. Finally, I find my room number. I enter and close the door behind me, quickly.

  “Hey man,” Trevor tries to give me a handshake.

  “You won’t believe this.” I throw my bag on the bed.

  “What? You look a mess.” Thanks Captain Obvious.

  “Katherine is here.” I look out the window.

  “What the fuck? Where’d you get that idea from? Did you see her?”

  “I met a girl in the elevator. She’s here with her best friend Katherine for a wedding.

  “What?”

  “Tell me someone else is getting married and they know someone with the name Katherine,” I beg him.

  “Fuck. Not that I know of. My understanding was it was only your wedding. What do you need me to do?”

  “I don’t know what we should do. Wait it out? I don’t feel like freaking out and going all frantic right before we get married or having any of the surprises ruined for Sophia.”

  “I get that.”

  “What if it’s her? What if something happens to Sophia?”

  “Don’t think like that, it’s going to be okay, I promise,” he reassures me.

  There’s a knock at the door and I swear my heart just dropped. I’m leery about answering, but there’s no way around it. We have a wedding to coordinate. I open the door to find the wedding planner at the door. I let her in with the biggest relief.

  “Well, I’ve been to Sophia’s room…” she starts and before I let her finish I’m already interrupting her.

  “Is she okay?”

  Jamie – that’s her name, I always seem to forget – looks at me confused. “Yeah she’s okay, she’s just beside herself.”

  “Does she have any idea why she’s here?”

  “I was there when she unpacked the box and she had tears streaming down her face.”

  “What about Olivia, is she there with her?”

  “She’ll be here in a few. Sophia called her after she noticed the dress.”

  “Does she like it? Is it a pretty dress?”

  “Dude, chill with the fifty billion questions,” Trevor butts in.

  “Sorry.” I apologize to Jamie.

  “Everything is going according to plan. The hairdresser is doing her up right now. I came to ask about the flowers.” she looks a bit worried.

  “Tell me you found peonies?”

  “I did, but I’m at a loss of color choices,” she admits.

  “Oh that’s the least of the issues, she loves them all. It wouldn’t make a difference what color. But did you remember the single red rose?” I ask.

  “I didn’t forget,” she hands me the lavender notepad.

  My love; this single rose defines our love. It’s my devotion to you. My promise to love you forever. With this rose, I promise to be yours, always.

  I hand her the single sheet as she promises to make the bouquet as beautiful as my bride will be. Nerves are starting to kick in. It’s all real now. I might be nervous, though, of being afraid someone will hurt her. If Katherine is here, there’s no way of knowing what’s going to happen. And this is supposed to be Sophia’s beautiful day.

  Suddenly, I hear commotion outside the door, women arguing, instantly fear hits me. But if I go out there, and it’s Sophia, it’ll ruin the surprise, but I also don’t want to sit back and not stop what’s happening.

  “I’ll check it out,” Trevor says before I even get a chance to ask him.

  He leaves the room and lets the door close behind him. I still hear shouting. But I can’t make out any words. They are at the end of the hallway. I want to peek my head out so bad, but it’s a risk I shouldn’t take. For now, I have trust Trevor to handle the situation. I pace the room and go over my vows one more time.

  “For you are always my forever, you are always the girl,” I mumble the words, pacing back and forth. They have to be perfect. I plan to say these to my future wife.

  “Sounds good.” Trevor startles me.

  “Shit, I didn’t realize you were back already.” I await his answers.

  “You might want to sit down for this,” Trevor motions towards the chair.

  “I don’t want to sit down, what happened?”

  “Well, it really was Katherine.”

  “Fuck my life,” I push the chair out of the way.

  “That’s what Sophia said,” he laughs.

  “I’m sure she did. Is she okay?”

  “You should’ve seen her, she’s a feisty one.”

  “Who is? Katherine?” I’m confused.

  “No! Sophia!”

  “She punch her? Tell me she punched her!”

  “She wanted to, I think she actually spit into her face though,” he laughs.

  “Really?”

  “They got into it. Sophia called her a bitch. Katherine tried to apologize over and over, but Sophia wasn’t having it. She told her all the things she fucked up and how they could never go back to being friends. Katherine just stood there with her little friend by her side,” Trevor explains the situation, “They’ve left now. Sophia told them to get the fuck out.”

  “Do you think they actually left? Go check on them,” I still don’t trust those bitches.

  “I followed them, they got in some car and I told the security from the hotel to keep an eye out and explained why.”

  “Good, thanks man, I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I hug him.

  “Man, she looks smoking,” Trevor murmurs while pouring himself a glass of whiskey.

  “Who?”


  “Your lady.” he downs his drink.

  The biggest grin filled my face. I’m more than excited to see my bride. I’m more than ready to wait at the end of the isle for her. I’m ready for us to start the honeymoon. Fuck, I’m ready to just have her as mine. I’m so ready to marry this girl!

  As if receiving a box with a wedding dress isn’t enough; I’m, apparently, getting married on a day I initially thought I was just going to work. And, getting married at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas isn’t enough, either, so, I’m standing here in the most beautiful lace wedding dress, in front of a mirror with my makeup on and my hair curled looking prettier than I thought possible. I’m in awe of how he pulled this off. My new best friend, Olivia, is wearing this gorgeous blush, short, sleeveless, tulle over lace, dress, with her gathered skirt matching my bouquet perfectly. The blush peonies and one single red rose, wrapped with white roses and thistle, bring it all together. It still astounds me how much he remembers all the things I like.

  Nothing could make this day any more perfect if I had planned it myself. I know he had a lot of help from his friends. The fact he has friends that are willing to help pull something like this off, makes me extremely proud to have found such a wonderful man.

  “I still can’t believe she showed up here,” I say as I sit and wait for Jamie to give me the word on what to do next.

  “I know. That was crazy, but girl, you sure told her where to go. You definitely fit into Las Vegas,” Olivia laughs.

  “I’m just tired of her trying to ruin my life. I don’t want anything to do with her and her lies. She can go where Ryan is, for all I care.” I take a drink of my glass of wine.

  Jamie walks into the room. “Alright ladies, you about ready?” she smiles.

  Am I ready? I’m about to marry the man that danced in the streets with me in Italy. He’s the man that protected me and stood by my side through all horror, terror, and everything thrown our way. With all the obstacles that got in our way; he never gave up on me. He made me feel love when I thought all hope was gone. He made me who I am, and I am his.