There was a makeshift tent to change in and I could see Dante checking his phone as he worries about the time.

I wasn’t selfish.

Today was an important day for him and he hadn’t expected the photoshoot that our parents had informed us of last second. I had seen it in his face when he had tried to get me to sign the permits how much he wanted his business to succeed.

I wanted him to be happy.

I always wanted to make everyone happy.

“We have one more outfit change. I also had your suit dry cleaned and dropped off at your office at Inferno so you can walk there right after this. I’ll take a car there around 4:30 to avoid the crowds and we can make an entrance together.” Having a plan always made me feel better and I was hoping it would help him too.

When my mother got sick my friends and I had come up with schedules. Maddie had been in charge of them. We made sure someone was always with her at appointments, that we all were in class, and that everything ran smoothly as she went through treatment.

Having something to do made me feel useful and helped me a lot when my world was spiraling.

The way he looked at me, surprised I had thought of his opening and was aware of his time surprised me.

I was used to managing my father and could work with a time limit. Knew the way men like to show up on time for business dealings and how it was a sign of disrespect when they were late to things.

“Go in your tent.” I pointed to him as I slipped into mine.

The final outfit was more casual.

A pair of jeans and white sneakers, a white camisole with a Red Sox hat that I had gotten in high school. It had faded from years of constant wear but I liked that it was broken in.

Stepping out, I saw Dante in his matching outfit, except he had a white v-neck that showed off his tattoos and a flat brimmed white Bruins hat with the old bear logo on it that I had picked out from his closet. The way that the jeans hugged his thighs made me bite my lip, taking a second before I could meet his eyes.

Casual Dante was very attractive.

Now that I thought of it, all forms of Dante were attractive to me. Which could be a problem going forward if I kept looking at him with goo-goo eyes.

I didn’t think twice, just took a few steps forward, and threw my arms around him. Without even thinking because I knew he would catch me.

His arms wrap around my waist, his lips pressing against mine in a quick kiss. We were getting used to the kissing, fast learners and eager to practice with each other.

Dante eases me down on my feet, his hands holding mine as we joke around in these pictures, since they’re less formal. It’s surprisingly easy to laugh with someone who I don’t know.

The photographer suggests a few softer ones but these were more of me running and him catching me by the waist and twirling me around instead of just laughs.

There was one with me on his back, Dante looking back at me as I threw my head back laughing as he made a joke.

One where I’m between his legs, laying on the grass, looking out towards the highway seeming lost in the moment and maybe I was a little lost in him as well.

We had a crash course in being a couple but I feel like we’ve aced it.

“I have time before I have to go.” Dante says it softly like he thinks I’m going to tell him I’m too busy for him. “I can buy you lunch or do you just drink two coffees for that meal too?” I laugh as he says this, standing up as the photographer walks over to us.

“Two cups a day keeps my Demon away.” He smirks at the way I joke about him, embracing his nickname but he doesn’t get a chance to respond.

“I can send pictures to you in a couple hours for the engagement announcement. But do you want me to text you some pictures to post now?”

It takes me a second to think about it but it makes sense if we start laying the ground work. There is going to have to be some social media presence from us with this engagement.

I don’t have a huge following but I do know a lot of people.

If Becca reposts some of these pictures a quick million people will see it. And of course my best friend will do that for me.

I’m sure Dante has an aesthetically pleasing Instagram account, with all the pictures placed and taken strategically. Maybe all black and white shots to make him seem more man and less mafia heir.

Suddenly, I’m yearning to creep all his socials to find out more about this man I’m going to marry.

I exchange numbers with the photographer, thanking her and telling her I’ll be in touch with her about the wedding in a couple weeks. A couple weeks feeling like a shorter timeline than I imagined.

Everything feels more real now.

“We should probably add each other on social media.” I’m opening the photo sharing app, surprised to see not only did Dante already add me to social media but he had tagged me in several stories he posted.

The first one is from last night.

He took it as I walked towards Justin’s building. It’s taken at an angle and my face doesn’t show but you can see my outfit and the inky Atlantic moving in silent fury behind me.

He had captioned it ‘she walks on water’.

Something about it feels romantic and I take a second to appreciate it.

The next picture, I’m tagged in is of a tray of coffee in his story as he walks back to the penthouse.

A third picture of me at brunch, sipping my coffee, with half my face showing, my eyes locked ahead of me at whoever is talking to me, unaware of him snapping it.

A fourth photo of me shopping with my back to him, Dante’s legs in the photo with bags around him captioned ‘For her I’ll spend Saturday’s shopping’.

It’s such a typical guy picture.

The last picture was from when we had been walking on the cobblestone and my shoe had come off, I was turning to look for it and thought Dante had been texting. Instead he had posted the picture of me as ‘Cinderella’.

I scan my eyes over him, trying to make sense of all of this.

What is he playing at?

No one had ever cared about me enough to make anything public and for some reason Dante doing it almost hurts.

Was he doing this to just make sure that he covered his ass with the engagement or was he doing it for another reason?

I didn’t think I could handle the idea of him having feelings for me but I wasn’t sure I could handle him not having feelings either. The way he looks at me complicates everything.

“I think I actually rather go back to the penthouse and lay down. You’re close to Inferno. Go check in on everything.” I push him away softly, needing some space so that I can freak out in peace.

Trying to give him a reassuring smile but he’s looking at me like he wants to transplant himself into my mind and it makes me uneasy as I try to step away from him. I’m trying to retreat into my own mind to process everything.