Ali whistles. “Mrs. Lawson, you wouldn’t think you just gave birth to your fourth baby a few months ago. Look at you.”
Ria spins in front of the mirror, and her cheeks pinken. “Are you sure it looks okay? This dress feels like I’m wearing a second skin.” The black strapless satin dress fits perfectly like a glove.
“It’s perfect, Ria. You look beautiful,” I add.
“Gabriella, get your perky ass out here.” Ali hollers behind the curtain so we can see her dress.
Gabby’s mom pokes her head out and gives Ali a scolding look. “Alice, must we yell? There are a lot of buttons on this dress. She won’t be a moment.”
“Sorry. Mrs. Monroe,” Ali says, and curtseys like she’s greeting the queen, and I have to fight back a laugh. I am quickly learning that Gabby’s mom is intense and very opinionated.
If she had her way, Gabby and Brad would have been married back in New York in an elaborate affair, but they have made some compromises along the way.
A faint cry of a baby can be heard somewhere in the bridal store.
“Who on earth brings a baby to a bridal boutique?” Gabby’s mom says with disdain.
Ria slowly raises her hand. “That would be me. I’m so sorry. She’s due a feed, and Jack said she won’t take her bottle, so I need to feed her.”
Mrs Monroe’s face falls. “In that dress. It’s silk,” she practically screeches.
“I’ll take it off, Mrs. Monroe. Don’t worry,” Ria reassures her.
As if on cue, Jack appears with a screaming baby in a carrier, followed by Harry, Brad, and Noah, who all look a little exhausted.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, I tried, but she wants the boob,” Jack says, looking defeated.
“Boob’s do fix a lot of problems,” Harry jokes, and everyone looks at him with a ‘shut-up, Harry’ expression.
Jack and Ria disappear, leaving the other guys with us.
Harry wolf whistles. “Damn, my wife is looking hot.” He pulls Ali into an embrace.
Gabby’s mom’s face falls in horror, “Harry, don’t crease her dress, and you,” she points at Brad, “get out.”
Brad looks at her deadpan. “It’s lovely to see you too, Catherine.”
I cover my mouth to stop a laugh escaping.
“I don’t mean to be rude, Bradley, but you can’t see her in her wedding dress. It’s bad luck. It’s bad enough you and my daughter have been living in sin for the past year, so please, can we stick to some traditions?”
Brad salutes her mockingly but ignores her request.
Noah comes over, and I do just about everything to avoid looking at him. I smooth my dress, I tuck my hair behind my ear, I fluff the cushion on the seat.
“Are you avoiding me?”
“Ha ha. What? No. I’m good, so good, are you?” I babble.
Yeah, real cool, Tor.
He gives me a megawatt grin that makes me wilt. “I’m good now,” he says with a grin that could remove my panties all by themselves.
Why is he so damn handsome?
“Are you all done with your Tux fitting?” I ask, trying to make light conversation.
“Yep, but then Aubrey started screaming and wouldn’t take the bottle, so we had to wrap it up.”
