by Vivien Vale
“Ryan’s interested in art,” I start, then stop. I can’t recall what exactly Ryan is interested in. “Ryan’s interested in sports and cars.” I take a stab in the dark. Most men are into sports and cars.
“Blah, blah, blah. If I didn’t know better, I’d say the man’s got you under some spell or given you a love potion.”
I give her a little smack on the shoulder.
“Ryan lets me drive his sport car if I ask him. And he took me to that picnic in the park.”
“Nic, that’s peanuts for a guy like Ryan. He should be carrying you on a silver platter. What am I talking about? It should be a gold platter. Your wish should be his every command.”
At her words, I gnaw on my bottom lip.
“I’m not like that, Ally,” I protest.
“You should be.”
After this, we sit in silence for a while.
I sip my coffee, lost in thought. At the same time, I gaze around the room. I’m surrounded by so much history. I feel like I need to pinch myself to make sure this isn’t all some dream I’m having.
Eventually, Allison pulls out her phone.
“What are you doing?”
She shoots me a sideways glance.
“I’m sending Dante a message asking if he wants to join us for drinks.”
“You what?” I shriek and feel my heartbeat quicken. I’m not sure I approve of Allison’s actions.
“He rescued you. We should ask him out for a thank you drink.”
Before I can protest further, she’s already sent her text.
It takes less than a minute for his reply.
Allison claps her hands together and leaps off the couch.
“Let me guess, he said no,” I say dryly.
“You wish. Anyway, if you’re not interested, you won’t mind if I make him mine.”
“Be my guest,” I reply a little too quickly.
“Well, let’s go and get ready. I said we’d be down in ten.”
“What’s the hurry?” I protest, but get up and follow my friend.
As we walk out the door, I decide to send Ryan one more text.
Hey, Ryan.
We’ve arrived and checked in. The Aman is gorgeous. I can’t wait for you to get here. Any idea when you’re arriving?
Love, N x
I press send and watch the screen again. As with every other time, the screen tells me it’s been delivered, but it does not change to the much anticipated read status.
And as much as I stare at the device and will it to deliver me a response, it stays silent.
With the silence, the doubt returns.
What was Ryan’s motto? No news is good news.
But that’s not always true, is it? No news might just mean the person is unable to contact you.
Was Ryan unable to contact me? And if so, why?
The morgue images come back to me a little too vividly.
Dante
My eyes keep scanning the email, refusing to believe what I’m reading.
Hey, bud, Nicole’s due to arrive in Venice today. Could you please make sure she gets there and settled into the hotel alright? I’ll be there as soon as I can, kinda got held up (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). Thanks, bud.
Held up, my ass. Does that prick even realize that he FaceTimed me earlier? That he put his ugly fucking hairy ass on display and that I can’t ever unsee that? You want to talk about a travesty…
He invites me to Venice to attend his fucking wedding and then has the audacity to prance around with another chick in Rome while his gorgeous bride-to-be is here, unsuspecting?
There’s low and there’s low.
And then there’s Ryan. Right at the bottom of the fucking cesspool.
That fucking asshole.
I’m in the right frame of mind to email him back and tell him to come handle this shit himself. This isn’t what I signed up for, and I don’t want any part of—
My thoughts are cut short as the door jingles. Allison and Nicole walk into the bar, and my heart damn near stops in my chest.
Nicole is a vision of fucking perfection. Her long legs are on display in a tight black mini dress that ought to be outlawed. Her perky tits sit high and proud, and her hourglass shape is the stuff that dreams are made of.
I’m more convinced than ever that the moment I lay eyes on Ryan, I’m gonna lay him flat out. Best friend or no, you don’t fucking do this shit. There’s a limit to how much of a sleazebag you can truly be, and he’s reached the max level.
The angst is eating me up inside, and as the girls make their way over, I keep debating whether or not I should tell Nicole.
On one hand, I really want her to know what type of person Ryan is. The type that will lie to your fucking face and bang a chick in a city mere hours away instead of being by his fiancé’s side.
I mean, she should know, shouldn’t she? If you marry someone, you should know what sort of asshole they are before you sign the contract.
On the other hand, though, I want nothing more than to protect this blazing brunette in front of me, to make her mine…maybe even my bride.
Woaaah, wait a minute there, stud. My bride? Just how much have I had to drink?
I wave to the beauties, flagging them over to the counter before we find a high-top to sit at.
“How’s it going, ladies? What are we drinking?”
“Sex on the Beach,” Allison winks in my direction.
I can’t help but chuckle. Anyone with eyes could tell she’s interested in me.
If I had met her under different circumstances, I might have—no, I definitely wouldn’t have taken her to bed. She pales into insignificance against Nicole.
Either way, I’ve got other things on my mind.
Namely, Nicole and how fucking amazing she looks.
“And for you, my lady?”
“Champagne. After all, we do have a lot to celebrate. And I can’t believe how beautiful Venice is!”
Nicole’s excitement is clearly getting the best of her, and Allison is obviously at a loss because she smiles at me apologetically.
“First time, you know…”
I smile back. I get it.
The Floating City is enough to take anyone’s breath away the first time you see it. Hell, this isn’t the first time I’ve been here, and I’m still amazed by all it has to offer.
“Oh, stop, just because you’ve seen it all before, Allison, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it again and again,” Nicole pushes Allison’s shoulder, laughing.
“That’s what she said!”
The animated chatter between the girls continues as I head to the bar to place our drink orders and arrange for them to be delivered to the table.
“So, have you decided on your costumes yet?” I ask the girls, sitting back down at the table.
Nicole must be a bit chilly because her nipples are standing at attention.
They’ve certainly got mine—that’s for damn sure.
I wonder what kind of face she’d make if I ripped her dress down and took her nipples in my mouth. The image is so clear in my mind that my cock is beginning to stir.
Down, boy—she’s Ryan’s.
Ugh, Ryan. That fucking douchebag.
“No, we haven’t.” Nicole and Allison shake their heads.
“Well, you definitely need to get married in a costume and mask, that’s how it’s done. There’s a really good shop at Calle del Scaleter, top-notch stuff.”
I give them directions before deciding it’s safer if I go with them. “Come to think of it, I better go with you. Tourist crime is up, after all, and I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you beautiful ladies.”
A pensive look crosses Nicole’s face.
“If you’re worried about the cost, don’t. I’ve got it covered. Consider it my wedding gift to you two.”
“No, it’s not that,” Nicole states, chewing on her bottom lip.
Could she be any sexier?
“I doubt Ryan would agree to the w
hole costume idea. He was never keen on it when I mentioned it.”
I watch her fingers entwine. How would they feel around my—stop it.
I rouse on myself again. This woman is bewitching me.
Sounds like typical selfish Ryan, alright. Would it kill him to do something to make his bride happy?
“Leave Ryan to me. I’ve already changed his mind; he’ll be there decked out in full costume, you better believe it.”
She still looks skeptical, but I can tell she’s coming around.
As the afternoon wears on, we’re all chatting away and doing a damn good job of getting tipsy.
Nicole is certainly more than what I expected. She’s beautiful, yes, but she’s smart, too. Her laugh sounds like angels singing and the way her tits bounce each time she giggles is almost more than I can bear.
I’m still wracking my brain to figure out just how to approach this situation.
Do I tell her what an ass Ryan is, or do I let her find out for herself?
This should be a question for an ethics class, I decide. It’s too late to get a second opinion, and there’s no way I can phone a friend. The only friend I could phone would be asshole Ryan, and I know what he’d say.
Fucking moral dilemma the bastard has put me into. I swear next time someone asks me to be best man at their wedding, I’ll flat out refuse.
My eyes are drawn to Nicole. Again.
The one thing I can honestly say, though, just from this brief encounter, is that Nicole is far too good for Ryan. He doesn’t deserve a minute of her time.
The only thing he’s good at is hurting women, and unfortunately, I don’t see any other ending than him hurting Nicole.
I’ll be damned if I let that fucking happen.
She’d be much better off with someone else.
Someone like me, perhaps.
Nicole
The three of us decide to leave the bar in favor of hitting the city to explore. I’m giddy with excitement—and honestly, a little bit buzzed—but at the same time, I can’t help but wish that Ryan was here with us.
He is my fiancé after all, and this city is filled with romance at every turn. Love practically bounces off the pavement, walls, and water. It’s everywhere.
Of course, if he were here, he’d likely spend the entire time complaining and insisting that I go on my own. It’s just one of his quirks, so it’s better that I do it now while he’s not around.
We’ll have the rest of our lives to sightsee like this in cities around the world, right?
At the same time, the disappointment is eating me up from the inside out.
I know that he’s been here before, and this is old news to him, much like Allison, but I can’t help but wonder why he has no interest in exploring with me.
Even more than that, I’ve been here for the better part of a day and still haven’t heard from him.
“There are a few things you must see when you visit Venice,” Dante’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. “You’ve already taken a gondola—and a dip in the canals,” he snickers.
“Ugh, don’t remind me,” I groan, rubbing my forehead.
That definitely wasn’t one of my finest moments, and I’m pretty sure I’ll never live it down. At least Ryan wasn’t here to see that, because he’d have probably told me that I was being childish, and the last thing I want to do is look childish in front of him.
“Well, don’t worry. I’ll hold onto you when we get to Ponte di Rialto.” A smile plays on his lips, and I find myself eyeing them a little longer than I should.
He has a very dashing smile and full, sensuous-looking lips. Part of me wonders what it would feel like to kiss them.
I gasp, a little louder than intended.
What the hell has gotten into me? Why am I thinking about kissing Dante when I’m getting married to Ryan tomorrow?
The streets are just so beautiful.
I’m overcome with romanticism. I must be missing Ryan.
Yeah, that’s it. That’s all it is.
“Have you been to Piazza San Marco yet?” Dante asks, and it’s all I can do to thank goodness that he can’t read my mind.
I shake my head.
“Well then, that’s where we’re headed!”
When we arrive, I gasp again at the sheer marvelousness of the architecture surrounding me, and my excitement bubbles up, for perhaps the hundredth time today.
“What a gorgeous sight!” I exclaim, bobbing back and forth on my heels. I look up at Dante who’s smiling at me, and my heart does a little pitter patter.
The sun is beginning to set in these early evening hours, so the Piazza is starting to come alive. It’s illuminated with what seems like a thousand lights, and it’s simply awe-inspiring.
I know I look like a tourist, but at this moment, I can’t find it in me to even give a shit.
Now, I’m really missing Ryan. I imagine him and I walking arm in arm, taking in the charming atmosphere and talking about the history each of these buildings represents.
Of course, deep down, I know that’s not at all what we would be doing, but it’s okay to fantasize a bit, particularly the day before the most important day of your life, isn’t it?
We spend the next few hours touring Venice, walking and taking advantage of water taxis. Eventually, we arrive at the door of the costume shop that Dante recommended.
“Ladies first,” he says as he holds the door open for Allison and myself.
I find myself charmed at what a gentleman he’s being.
After all, Ryan has never opened a door for me the whole time we’ve been dating.
The difference between Ryan and Dante is like night and day. Ryan’s very stiff, while Dante just goes with the flow. Honestly, it’s a nice change, for once.
The inside of the shop simply blows my mind. Ornate masks with detailed designs adorn the walls, some with feathers, others with velvet, all equally stunning. Elegant outfits with chiffon, lace, and fringe sit on mannequins, beckoning me to try them on.
“Ooh, look at this one!” Allison squeals as she picks up a full face mask with scrolls and intricate metallic detailing.
“This one’s perfect for you,” Dante holds a half mask up to my face, nodding as he does. “Very fitting for a beautiful lady.”
For once, I’m glad my face is obscured behind this mask—I can feel the heat of a blush creeping up my face.
He’s such a charmer, and even if he’s only saying it to be nice, he certainly knows how to make a woman feel good about herself.
I nod, taking it from him. The white velvet mask is exquisite and graceful, and I immediately spot a dress that will go perfectly with it.
While Dante turns back to the masks, presumably picking one out for Ryan, I run my fingers over the soft satin. The dress is perfection in every way.
It’s white with a fitted design at the waist and flared skirt that goes all the way to the ankles and the most subtle of trains flowing behind that makes it the ideal dress for our ceremony.
The neckline plunges, leaving just enough to the imagination. The most perfect thing about it though, is that it has a red shimmer throughout. I couldn’t find a more perfect dress if I had one custom made.
I try it on in the changing room, confirming that this dress is indeed the dress. It hugs me in all the right places, and when I hold the mask up to my face, it blends seamlessly together.
I can feel the joy rising in my chest. Ryan is going to be blown away, I can just tell.
I change back into my original outfit, and see Dante picking out the final touches of Ryan’s ensemble. The mask he chose perfectly matches mine, though it’s black to contrast with my white one.
“What do you think?” He says holding the mask and costume up side by side.
“Perfect, right?”
I nod. They truly are perfect, but I still have my doubts about Ryan going along with this.
“They are, but Ryan…”
“I said it before, but trust me, I�
�ll handle Ryan.” He gives me a charming wink. “What are best men for if not for convincing the groom to wear the best outfit possible?”
His easy-going manner fills me with hope. If anyone can persuade Ryan, it’ll be Dante.
After finishing our shopping, the three of us head back towards the hotel.
“How about some dinner before you ladies call it a night? We can go dancing afterwards.”
Allison is chomping at the bit.
She’s been fussing and fawning over Dante all day. To be perfectly honest, I can’t blame her. He’s hot and knows how to treat a lady.
I can almost see the wheels turning in her head, figuring out a way to get Dante to invite her for a nightcap.
“I don’t think so,” I feign a yawn, fully intending to throw Allison a bone. All she needs is some alone time, and Dante’s sure to fall for her beguiling nature.
It doesn’t matter if she spends the night with him, because I have Ryan and—
“Oh, come on... look,” he holds up his phone, showing me a message from Ryan that asks him to look after me. “What kind of best friend would I be, if I let his fiancé end the night without some food and dancing? Trust me, it’ll be fun.”
He’s got me there. How many more times will I have the opportunity to go dancing? Every time I’ve asked Ryan to take me, he’s flatly refused. This may be the last time, other than the wedding, that I get to dance the night away in a beautiful city.
My eyes drift back to the message on the phone. Ryan got in touch with Dante, but hasn’t responded to any of my messages. The niggling doubt is settling in, and a night out might just be the welcome distraction I need.
“What the hell?” I shrug, smiling at Dante. “Nothing wrong with one last hurrah, right?”
Dante
The music is pulsing as we walk into Baciamo e L’amore, one of the hippest, most exclusive clubs in Venice. You have to have some real pull to get in here, especially with the long lines that extend around the street corners.
Fortunately, my name carries a bit of weight in the world of glitz and glamour, and I’m able to easily get us in.
The decor is swanky, with red, velvet booths, ornate chandeliers, and a chic bar setup with top-notch liquor and baristas that are easy on the eyes and come with a whole lot of tricks up their sleeves.