“Come on, Iz,” Bryn says. “This is fun.”
We clearly have different definitions of fun.
“Plus, I’m getting married in four weeks. There’s a chance if you order a dress online, it won’t make it on time or it won’t fit. And then what are you going to do?”
“Wear joggers,” I offer, wishing I had some on now. Lila and Kelsey are up on short platforms next to me, each wearing the same dark, almost midnight, blue dress. The top is okay, just a bit lower of a V than I would like, but the bottom is a hard pass on me. Not on the other two, of course. It’s supposed to sit just above the knee, but as someone whose height comes primarily from the torso, it’s short on me. Borderline indecent.
“Do it,” Bryn dares me. “You won’t.”
“You’re going to feel like a real ass when I ruin all your pictures in my athleisure.”
“You know I give approximately zero fucks about my wedding pictures. I love Jameson. I just want to marry him and start our lives together,” she says, a look of love softening her features.
“Then why are we here again?” I ask.
“Because you have to wear something,” Bryn says. She scans the three of us again. Lila and Kelsey both have their phones out, thumbs flying over the screens. “I like this one. I think it’s the winner.”
“No,” I say seriously. “I can’t pull this off.”
“You look great, Izzy,” Bryn says, gathering her things off the couch. “Really.”
I don’t. And standing up at the wedding next to these two pocket-sized runners is not going to help.
“Kelsey?” I ask, knowing she’ll tell me the truth.
Her eyes lift from her phone screen, giving me a full-body perusal. “It looks good. The color is great on you.”
“My ass is hanging out the back,” I say on a sigh as I walk back to change. The only option at this point is to admit defeat and buy a pair of spandex to wear underneath it. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror as I walk into the training room. On second thought, maybe some shorts shapewear.
“Your ass isn’t hanging out,” Kelsey says from behind me.
“Honestly, you look great,” Lila says, the final one into the changing room.
Kelsey may not lie to me, but Lila most certainly would. She’s a kind soul. She’s also not my sister and so is far less likely to tell me the truth.
“I bet I know one famous musician who’d like it,” Lila continues. “I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that you’re dating Jaxon Steele.”
I roll my eyes before realizing I’d better control those reactions, even if no one can see me this time.
“We’re not dating,” I say, trying to work through what I’d say if this whole thing wasn’t fake. I’m sure, at this point, I’d still be denying it. “And it’s shocking how excited you are about this considering you’ve worked with the man for the last year.”
“Oh, I control myself around him,” Lila replies. “But secretly I still think his music is the best thing that’s ever happened to society. If I ever get married, I’m definitely walking down the aisle to his song.”
I snort. “Ifyou ever get married? You live with your boyfriend of two years who is also your brother’s best friend. If you’re not engaged by the end of the year, I’d be shocked.”
“I agree with Izzy,” Kelsey chimes in.
“You should bring Jaxon with you to the wedding!” Lila says.
Well, isn’t that convenient? I’d planned to wait a week or two and ask Bryn if there was any way to sneak him in last minute, but this might work better.
“Why?” I ask as I walk out of the dressing room.
“Because you two hung out at least three times this week outside of his morning coffee deliveries,” Lila says with a grin. “Obviously you are doing more than just catching up.”
We join Bryn in the main room of the dress shop just as Kelsey says, “Oh, is that what the youths are calling it these days?”
Lila laughs. “No. I millennial’d that for you old ladies. I didn’t think you’d understand if I said, ‘So, about your situationship. Are we talking sneaky link, smashing, or have you DTR’d?’”
