“It’s perfect.”
She smiles wider, seeming to have stumbled upon what seems like a potential bride about to have herSay Yes to the Dressmoment. “Do you want to try it on?”
“Oh, I . . . I’m actually a bridesmaid. I’m not in the market right now. But if I were, this would be my dream dress.”
“I know peach isn’t the right color, but I don’t think white is on the table,” Kate says as she comes to a stop next to me.She tilts her head to look at the dress. “Why does this look familiar?”
“Because I doodled this in a notebook when I was younger and we played wedding planner.”
She snaps her fingers. “Oh yeah. Your dream dress. Hey, look at that, it exists!”
“Oh, Kate, this is pretty,” Elise says as she walks over, completely oblivious to what’s actually happening. Elise gently touches the ivory skirt, holding it out to look at the lace trim on the train.
Jessica snorts. “Yeah, like Kate would ever wear that matronly potato sack.”
“It’s a fit-and-flare. How is it a potato sack?” I combat, suddenly defensive over my dream dress.
“Because of the way the lace lays over it, which looks incredibly cheap by the way. It looks like a thousand doilies.”
Kate lifts her shoulder and starts to turn. “You can have it, Jane. Save it for your turn. Whenever that is.”
With another wistful look at my dream wedding dress, I turn on my heel and walk sullenly back to the bridesmaids dresses in search of something that actually is flattering on me. Elise comes over and starts perusing the rack beside me.
“Is Jessica always so awful?” she asks quietly.
I don’t lift my gaze from the dresses, afraid the sadness is plain on my face from the way my sisters talk to me with Jessica around. “Probably since the day she learned how to talk.”
The bell chimes and I let out a groan as Jason and his groomsmen enter the building, Reid front and center in the group.
As if this afternoon couldn’t get any worse.
“The groomsmen?” I hiss to Elise. She lifts her head and follows my glare to the door. “What are they doing here?”
“I would imagine they’re here for their suits.”
Of course they are. It’s at that moment that I realize I’m still wearing the awful peach dress, and before I can run back into the dressing room and change or hide, Reid spots me, a smile curving over his lips. He immediately breaks off from the group of men and strolls toward me, casually sliding his hands in the pockets of his dark jeans as he looks me up and down.
“Wow, you look . . .” his mouth quirks. “Adorable.”
I glare at him, even though adorable is a hefty compliment for this dress.
“Do me a favor and convince Kate that peach is a terrible color.”
“I don’t think Kate thinks that highly of my opinion for this wedding.”
“I think you have the power of persuasion and I desperately need you to use it.”
Because no matter how much he gets under my skin, for whatever reason people listen to him. Jason listens to him.Katelistens to him. And right now I need to call in that favor. Reid arches a dark brow and takes a step closer to me.
“What do I get in return?” His voice is a low purr that causes goosebumps on my skin. I brush my hands down my bare arms to dismiss them before he can notice.
“You get a high five and a heartfelt thank you.”
He shakes his head. “You need to do better than that.”
I rub my hands on my skin harder, hoping the friction helps.
It doesn’t.
