Drova might have sent something totally inappropriate, like another recommendation for a steamy romance novel, or worse, included a picture of a cover with a bare-chested, hunky man.
It was too late to take it back, though, because Donya was already reading it.
"It says, and I quote, 'You better not be doing the fitting without me, you traitor.'"
"Oh no." Arezoo had completely forgotten. She'd promised to video call Drova during the fitting. "What time is it there?"
Donya did quick mental math. "Almost eleven at night. Not too late."
"Call her back and put it on video."
"Dominique will get mad at us."
"No, he won't." Arezoo looked at the designer hopefully. "You don't mind, do you? Drova is my best friend, and I promised to show her how I look in the dress."
Dominique emitted a long-suffering sigh. "Your sister can film as long as you keep still. Perhaps your friend is also interested in a custom wedding dress?"
Arezoo chuckled. "Not likely. I doubt she will ever wear one."
"Oh." Dominique's lips twisted in disgust. "One of those feminists who wants to get married in a pantsuit?"
"One of those who is not planning on ever getting married."
"Oh." This time, the 'oh' carried much more meaning even though Dominique didn't follow up with what he suspected.
Donya tapped the screen. "Hi, Drova. Give me a moment to point the camera at Arezoo." She rose to her feet and held up the phone so Arezoo could see the screen without having to move around.
As Drova's face appeared, Arezoo suddenly realized that her friend's enormous alien eyes could freak out Dominique, but he was crouched next to the train and not looking up.
"There you are," Drova said. "You'd forgotten about me."
"Sorry. I just got distracted by the dress." Arezoo gestured at herself.
"Let me see."
Donya took a couple of steps back and angled the phone to capture the full length of the dress. There was a pause.
"Well?" Arezoo asked. "What do you think?"
"I think..." Drova's voice went uncharacteristically soft. "I think you look beautiful. Like an actress in a movie."
"Which one?"
"The one with the singing and the dancing and the rain."
"That doesn't narrow it down."
"The one where the woman wears the white dress, and everyone cries."
"That doesn't narrow it down either."
Drova made an impatient sound. "The point is, you look incredible. Ruvon is going to faint."
"I hope he doesn't." Arezoo couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. "So, you approve?"
"Yes, a hundred percent. I'm so glad Amanda convinced you to go the designer route. You could never have found a dress this stunning in a store."
"I agree." Arezoo turned just her upper body so the light could catch the beading on her bodice. "Can you see the detail on the lace? Dominique did all of this by hand."
