I step out of the mirrored fitting room in a column of crepe with a plunging neckline. The seamstress tugs the hem into place.
“I’m all for your not marrying Keith, especially after he cheated on you, and then dumped you,” Raya says slowly.
“Better he shows his colors now than after the wedding.” Harper nods.
“But Brody Davenport? Your boss?” Raya sighs. “You’re marrying a man you’ve known for a few weeks?”
“Two and a half weeks, actually,” I say slowly.
I’m marrying a man I’ve just met. I can only imagine how it looks from the outside.
I’m going to have to sell her and Harper on why Brody is the one for me.
I study my reflection. The dress is elegant, but it’s not me. Too severe. I decided to try on a few backups beforethedress because, let’s be honest, once I wearthat one, nothing else will compare.
And where’s the fun in ending the search so soon?
Rachel appears, bright and brisk. “This one isn’t you, Lark. Too sharp for your frame. Let’s try the off-the-shoulder silk organza.”
The next dress is softer, with layered skirts that shimmer as I step out.
Harper sets her cappuccino on the gilt table, eyes scanning me critically. "Not bad. What do you think about it?"
I shake my head. "Not sure it’s me." I survey myself in the mirror.
“I’ve seen, firsthand, how magnetic the Davenport men are.” Harper folds one leg over the other. “I’ve seen friends get swept up in their charm. Their suits should come with fine print warning women to beware.”
Her tone is only half joking.
Raya flicks a glance at me in the mirror. “I’m all for falling in love and making spontaneous decisions, but you?” She shakes her head. “I didn’t think you’d be the kind to do so.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
“You’re so careful. You plan; you never rush. And now? From Keith to your boss in less than a month? It’s not like you.” Raya lifts a shoulder.
She’s not wrong. I’ve always been so cautious, always prioritizing my career. It’s why I took a scholarship from the London School of Economics and traveled to another continent to study, even though it terrified me.
Now, here I am, in an upscale boutique, pretending this wedding is about love and happily ever after, when really, it’s a marriage of convenience.Maybe, deep down, it’s also about the thrill of sleeping with my very hot boss.I shut the thought down.
Rachel circles me, tugging at the waistline. “Better. But not the one. Let’s try the lace.”
Harper leans back in her seat. “I’m happy for you. But the change in bridegrooms is… You must admit, not a normal occurrence. And I say it as someone who’s seen others fold under the charm of a Davenport man.”
“You’re right about the effect of the Davenport charm.” I flash her what I hope is a dreamy smile. “It was love at first sight. I saw him and knew he was the one.”
Raya’s eyes widen. “I’m happy you’re living in the moment, Sis, but this is big." As I step back behind the curtain, she adds, "Are you sure this is not a rebound?”
Back behind the curtain, the seamstress zips me into another gown. The fabric sighs against my skin, soft, fluid, and shamelessly flattering, the kind that remembers every curve it touches.
Delicate lace hugs my arms all the way to my wrists, the modest neckline hints at my cleavage, yet it’s high enough to lend an air of grace that contrasts beautifully with the shape of the skirt.
The mermaid cut hugs my hips and thighs before flaring out around my legs in a sweep of silk, elegant and dramatic, as if the dress itself was made to celebrate me.
I look at myself in the mirror and my breath catches.
I look good. I look different.I look like a bride.But inside, I feel uncertain.
Am I doing the right thing?
