I sigh. I can still remember the moment. Joel said the words exactly like that as if we were going to take the car in for an oil change or something.
Dylan exhales. “Okay. I get it now.”
“I meant it when I said I was never in love. Promise.”
He nods. “I believe you. I understand loneliness, too.”
I break into a laugh. “Despite all the obvious ‘run now’ signs, I had my wedding dress picked out.”
“Can I see it?”
“I never bought it.”
I did put down a fifty percent deposit, but I got the lady to refund me half the money. So I was only out some of my savings, and I worked extra that week to earn it back. “I returned it to a little bridal shop here in Santa Monica.”
“Well, we’re right in town. Let’s go to the store and you can show me the dress.”
I drop my chin onto his shoulder. “Are you nuts? We’re not engaged! And I don’t even know if I’d still like the dress.”
I’m lying about that part, though. I know I’d still love the dress. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever tried on. And it fit me. The saleswoman said it was very rare to try on a wedding dress and have it fit flawlessly, just like that. But this one did.
“The darn thing fit me. You know?” I say to Dylan. “And I don’t get that. I know Joel didn’t fit with me. So why the dress? Seemed like a cruel joke from God or something.”
“Right dress, wrong guy?” He stands up. “Let’s go see it.”
* * *
I’m scared to bring Dylan into Twin Sisters Bridal Shop. He and I have known each other for just over a week, and now we’re going wedding dress shopping?
I march into the shop, hardly holding the door for him behind me. As soon as we get inside, I walk straight to the rack where I remembered the dress was and point the gown out to him quickly.
“See, there it is. Pretty, huh?” I turn to leave before the saleswoman approaches.
“You want to try it on for me?” he asks.
I glance at his face, but he’s not revealing much. His expression is neutral, and if it weren’t for the way his piercing dark eyes are pinning me in place, I wouldn’t know he had any emotion at all about this whole weird shopping trip.
“You know we fly back to Tucson tomorrow right?” I say.
“Yes.”
“And you know our ‘thing’ together, whatever you want to call it, is scheduled to end the next day.”
“Yes.”
I sigh. “You’re crazy. You know that?”
“I’ve been told that before. My high school coach told me I was crazy to dream of playing football for a living, in fact.” He grins at me. “Guess he was wrong, huh?”
I glare at him as he calls out to the saleswoman.
This moment is quickly getting away from me, and I’m still not sure how. I used to be so good at standing my ground and staying hardened.
“You’re making me feel weak,” I say to Dylan.
“In the knees?” He kisses me.
“In the will.”
