I shut it off.I need time.
Which is why I need to go dress shopping with Gemma.
I need space and time to think.And I can't do that with his voice in my ear, reminding me how good it felt to be his.
Trying to wash off the confusion, I take a long shower.It doesn't help.
I throw on a dress and head out.Gemma's wedding dress shopping appointment is today, and I can't cancel.She needs me.And I need something normal.
The boutique is beautiful.Soft music.Champagne in flutes.Rows and rows of white silk and lace that probably cost more than my entire student loan debt.
Gemma's glowing, Summer's excited, and I try to match their energy.
But as I run my fingers over the fabric of a dress that could have covered our rent for a year, I feel the weight of everything.
This life.This dream.This secret that's about to explode.
Gemma tries on a few dresses, which are gorgeous but clearly not her dress.
"Maybe we should book an appointment at the other dress shop you found," Gemma's dad says to Summer, his wife.
He's here because Gemma's mom died when she was young, and he never even dated until he and Summer met at Club Red by complete accident.
"We will see.She has a few more to try on.Let's wait and see," Summer says just as Gemma steps out in the next dress.
And whoa what a dress, there is no denying this is the dress.
"Wow, I'm going to be a bride," Gemma says.
"This is the dress."Summer says, and we all agree.
"Yes, this is the dress," Gemma says dreamily.
Her dad jumps up, hugs her, and then goes into action.
"What does she need to go with the dress?Does she need a veil?Choose a corset?I don't know, but get her whatever she needs to go with it," her dad tells the girl who is helping her get dressed, and she scampers off.
After Gemma has everything picked out and is about to go back and change, so we can grab an early dinner, I drop the bomb that I have been trying to hold in.
"I slept with my professor at Club Red," I say, covering my face.
Everyone is silent before Gemma speaks again.
"Let me get out of this dress, and then we'll talk," she says.
Thankfully, she changes quickly.
"Okay, I'm starving.Let's grab food, but I'm going to have questions," Gemma says."Carter is going to meet us at a place just down the street."
We walk down silently, not saying a word.When we walk in, Carter is already there.
"Hello, my love.Did you find your dress?"He greets Gemma.
"I did.But my dress is not the topic of this conversation.Skye dropped a bomb on us."
We all sit down, and everyone looks over at me.Gemma, who is sitting next to me, takes my hand and asks, "What happened?"
"I met this great guy at Club Red, and we had a few scenes together over the summer, and things were going great.Then school started, and in he walks, my professor."
