“Wouldn’t have it any other way!” I said through a strained smile.
55
Avery
“Ican’t have my official photograph be in that dress,” I groaned the next day. The rest of the couples shower had been uneventful, though several of Blade’s brothers had pooled their money and bought two eight-foot-tall stuffed bunny rabbits dressed in wedding attire that were going to haunt my nightmares for the next few months.
“No one remembers the wedding photos,” Shirley insisted, rubbing my shoulders as if I was a prize fighter about to enter the ring.
I supposed I was. I was getting married in less than two weeks and nothing in my wedding was going according to plan. This reception dress had been my last shot at having decent pictures—or decent anything, really.
“I thought this was going to be at the Manhattan location,” I remarked to Edward, worried that the Harrogate boutique wasn’t going to have enough samples in my size to choose from.
“Beggars can’t be choosers,” he said. “It was supposed to be in Manhattan, but a Kardashian took our spot. José was nice enough to move us here. I might have to give him a blow job for the trouble.”
“I don’t want you to pimp yourself out for my wedding,” I said in concern.
Edward laughed. “I’m just kidding! I was going to sleep with him anyways.”
“Geez, can’t you at least try to fight the stereotype?”
Edward shrugged. “I’m planning on sending a threatening message to Blade about behaving himself during his bachelor party.”
“Ah, yes, because we don’t want him cheating on me and defiling our fake relationship.”
“Keep your voice down!” Shirley hissed and nudged me. My stepmom and stepsister were coming down the sidewalk with Dottie.
“I’m so excited to see you find a reception dress,” my grandmother gushed. I glared at my stepmother and stepsister.
“They’re family!” Dottie cried. “They had to come. Look, we even made signs. We’re your entourage.”
My family members had pink ping-pong paddles with SAY YES! written on one side and various versions of NO on the other. Cassie’s said GROSS. My stepmother’s said BURN IT DOWN.
Great.
Gunnar and Dana were already inside with their camera crew, setting up lights for filming. Penny was there with her photographer, because of course I couldn’t find one stupid dress without it being a big production.
That’s the point, I told myself, taking deep breaths.This is a fake marriage, all smoke and mirrors.Part of me did want to give up and elope with Blade. A chalet in the French countryside was sounding very appealing.
Edward’s hookup, José, was inside the boutique, waiting for us with champagne.
“For the bride,” he said, handing me a glass. “And for the eye candy.” He handed Edward another glass.
My family and friends settled on a curved white couch as José brought out several dresses.
“I hope you gave him an accurate size,” Cassie said, sipping her champagne. “She’s been stress eating.”
“We love brides of all shapes and sizes,” José said. “And weddings are stressful times, so we don’t judge. Now, because you have such a short timeline, we can only do minor alterations. We want to find a dress that fits pretty well. These are the three samples we have that are available to sell and that are in your size.”
“They’re all so beautiful,” I breathed. This was the wedding experience I had wanted—the pretty dress, the lace, the tasteful boutique.
I looked through the dresses. One was a long and lacy mermaid design, and the second was short, with a layered lacy skirt and a sleeveless, high-necked bodice. The third was an A-line with a long, full skirt of soft, ethereal lace and a spaghetti-strap top with a very deep V neckline. It was dusted with little crystals.
“Let’s try that one first!” I said. I was excited as I slipped it on. Admittedly, part of that excitement was imagining Blade taking it off of me.
“This neckline is a fan of husbands-to-be everywhere,” José said with a laugh.
The dress didn’t quite fit in the back though.
