Page 51 of Everything But Mine

I go into the changing room, then whip around and point at Val. “And at this wedding you’ll leave Er⁠—”

“Yeah, yeah.” She cuts me off, shrugging. “You made it clear. Eric’s your person, not my patient.”

I shift inside the changing room, the curtain swaying closed behind me. The dress slips off easily and pools at my feet. Fifteen weeks and five days. I’m still the only one paying attention to the barely noticeable bump. Noticeable enough that I need something with room. I’m not ashamed I’m bigger, but I am realizing that, in its own way, my relationship with Daray was similar to this dress: a shield from something more lethal.

“You won’t do that again to him,” I raise my voice, and I unhook the next dress from the hangers. “You hear me?”

“Won’t do what?”

“Interrogate him. Throw trick questions at him, like you did at dinner. That’s not your job.”

“What’s my job at this wedding, Mandy? Because I find it insulting that you think I am not on your side.”

“You need to be my friend.” I pull the zipper open.

“Got it. Friend hat on.”

“So, speaking of your roommate.” Val’s voice is loud enough that half the store can hear her. “Has he figured out you’re having X-rated dreams of him yet? Because you don’t need a psych degree to figure out what that means.”

“You…” I peek around the curtain and wish that my flaming cheeks would set her on fire. “Shut up!”

She isn’t wrong, though. Dusting, mopping, doing dishes… I never knew chores could make a man look hot. But then we went on that hike, and he climbed that tree. His biceps rippled, veins stood out in his forearms, and when he swung over a branch, his shirt rode up just enough to show a trail of black, curly hair crawling up his stomach. And when he asked if I was hungry, I licked my lips and almost told him I was ravenous for him and everything I can’t have.

I made the mistake of telling Val. She won’t let me live it down.

I focus on the next dress. Green isn’t my usual color, but it has a high waist and enough fabric that I could pass for a person and not a chubby prune.

When I step out again, Val looks up from her phone and gives a single nod of approval. “Better.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Better like, wearable or better like, you might just make it through the day in it?”

She stands, walking around me with the slow scrutiny of someone who’s seen too many people unravel. “Both.” Her fingers tug on the back and adjust the shoulder seam. “It still isn’t right.”

Val walks away, and before I can complain, she brings back a faux wrap indigo-blue gown. It is on the longer side and has a pronounced V-neck. “Here. Try this.”

I slide back into the dressing room, and she speaks through the curtain. “You’ll be the second most-watched woman there, you know.”

I snort. “Cece, the girl Keith is marrying, is gorgeous.”

She stares at me, expressionless, before humming. “Keith’s the half brother, yes? Eric’s father will be there too?”

“Yes,” I respond. “But you know my stance on it. It’s Eric’s story. I won’t tell.”

“You think they’ll talk to him?”

“Daddy dearest might.” I still just slightly. “Keith will for sure. Keith… He’s not good to Eric.” I sigh.

“This sounds so dysfunctional. I honestly can’t wait.”

I step out again and stand barefoot in front of the mirror just in time to catch the excitement in Val’s eyes.

She taps my shoulder. “This one’s the right dress. You’ll do great slaying ex-boyfriends, jackass half brothers, and evil biological fathers alongside your parenting partner.”

I lift my chin, studying myself again. The indigo slims my torso. The faux wrap holds instead of clinging, skimming every place I don’t want attention drawn to. I like the way I look. It brings out my hair and my eyes. This feels right. If they come for Eric, my baby, or anybody else, I will be slaying some fuckers for sure.

“You really think so?” I ask.

Val doesn’t hesitate. “It’s the first one where you stopped holding your breath.”