“Anytime, babygirl,” he says, a small smile tugging at his mouth. “How’s the dress coming along?”
“Almost finished,” I admit. “Eli seems to think I need a go-between because I tried to talk my client into paying me less than what she offered.”
Tank huffs softly. “Eli’s a smart man.”
“He is,” I agree.
“He knows your worth,” Tank continues. “One day, you will too.”
“Maybe,” I say. “Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to, Abby,” he says, finishing his water and going for a second bottle. “Besides, had I not sent Eli with food, you’d still be working and not taking a break.”
“True,” I admit. “Anyway, I’m going to go finish the dress. I have some new orders that came in that I need to fill.”
Tank nods, and I take that as my cue to leave. He doesn’t stop me, and I don’t know if that makes me happy that he’s respecting my space or mad that he’s not.
***
“We’re having a cookout,” Lila says. “Cody’s coming over. He says he misses your face.”
“He was just here yesterday,” I laugh.
“Yeah, but not for very long,” she counters. “And you worked the entire time.”
“But I finished the dress,” I say, smiling broadly.
“That you did,” she grins. “And it isfreaking stunning.”
“Yeah,” I sigh, equal parts proud and relieved. “It really is. Her assistant is coming to pick it up at three.”
“She’s not coming herself?” Lila asks. “Doesn’t she want to make sure everything fits before taking it home?”
“She already tried it on after I finished the bodice,” I explain. “But she hasn’t seen it since I added all the details. The crystals. The final touches.”
I hesitate.
“I wish I could see her face when she sees it for the first time,” I admit. “But this isn’t about me or my needs.”
Lila gives me a look. Theyou’re ridiculouskind.
“Maybe not,” she says. “But you’re going to get that recognition whether you want it or not. Her wedding is going to be everywhere. News outlets, blogs, social media. And when they talk about the dress?”
She smiles knowingly.
“They’ll talk aboutyou. Designers. Stylists. Brides who want something made just for them.”
She’s not wrong.
My client is a major Hollywood star, and the fact that she reached out to me still feels unreal.
I tried turning her down. I told her I was new, inexperienced, not ready for something this big.
She refused to hear it.
And now, standing here with the finished dress behind me, I’m grateful she didn’t.
“Anyway,” Lila says, breaking the moment. “Cookout in the center. Now that the Christmas tree is down, there’s room for a fire pit. So s’mores are very much in our near future.”
