“Nice,” Grace said with a smile.
Haley snorted beside me. “Mr. Money Bags.”
I glanced at her with a small smile. “Am I wrong?”
“No, no,” she said with a chuckle.
“Oh, speaking of the trip, and since you’re here,” I said to Haley. “The painters will be at the beach house while we’re gone. So, once we get back, it will be ready for the furniture.”
Haley nodded. “I’ll let my mom know.”
“How’s that looking?” Grace asked.
“Amazing,” Haley answered with a grin. “My mom is more than impressed.”
Grace offered a proud smile as she patted my leg.
Just then, Callie emerged from around the corner with one of the ladies from the dress shop carrying the train of her gown. Grace and Haley jumped up with soft squeals and compliments while I sat there with wide eyes.
My best friend was going to make the most beautiful bride.
The woman fanned out the train as Callie stepped onto the small pedestal, and Grace and Haley were oohing and aahing. I slowly rose from my seat, looking her over from head to toe.
“What do you think, Mo?” My eyes lifted to Callie, and her brows rose as a smile tugged on the corner of her lips. “Don’t cry!”
“I…” I let out a breath. I wasn’t a crier, but I’d been more emotional than usual lately—I didn’t have to wonder why. “You look…” My trembling voice trailed off as I shook my head.
“Nowthat’sthe reaction you want,” the dress shop employee said with a grin.
I let out a tearful chuckle. “You look amazing.”
“Everything looks okay?” she asked as I started to circle her.
“Morethan okay.” I stopped in front of her, my eyes still glistening as I smiled. “It’s perfect. You look perfect.”
Callie took her gown with her when we left, and we said our goodbyes to Grace and Haley before heading to my apartment—she was keeping her gown there so Lucas wouldn’t see it.
I hung the heavy garment bag over the closet door of my spare room before we walked back down the hall. “Do you want a drink before you go?”
“No, thank you, though. I have to meet Luke for dinner.” I nodded. “You were a little emotional today,” she said with a small smile. “You doing okay?”
“Yeah,” I replied, waving her off. “I’ll probably cry again on the big day when I see you all done up in it with the veil and everything.”
Callie smiled softly. “Are you sure that’s all it was?”
I blew out a breath. “Yeah…I’m fine. I’ve just been a little all over the place the last couple of weeks…”
“From running into Wes that night?” I nodded—I’d told her about it the next day. “I think he really misses having you around,” she said quietly. “Every Tuesday and Saturday, he asks if you’re coming.”
“Why? Why does he care?”
“Well, Mo, I mean…you two obviously formedsomekind of connection in those two years you were sneaking around. You actually becamefriends, at the least. Then, you suddenly stop showing up for our regular outings. He’s bound to ask questions.” She let out a breath. “Maybe it’ll do you some good to sit down and talk to him. I know you don’t want to because you don’t think it’s your place to tell him about your feelings because of his situation with Lorelei, which I completely understand. But you can still talk to him without putting that out there.”
Maybe she was right. Maybe talking to him would be for the best. I didn’t know how to do that without telling him the truthabout why I stopped coming around, but I was sure I could figure something out. Because I did miss going out with everyone. And I would have to get used to seeing him withherat some point.
“Yeah, maybe you’re right…”
“You can talk to him when we’re in Monaco next week,” Callie suggested.
