Meant For Gabriel (Meant For #4)

Chapter 1

1

ZARA

T he car stops, and I look out the window to see the group of women all huddled in front of the glass window. “This is it,” my mother says from beside me. “Are you ready?” I look over at her, seeing her eyes mimicking mine. The same color and shape, the rest she says is all my father, but I’m a clear mix of them both.

“I don’t think anyone is ready for that.” I point over at the women who have now turned their attention toward the black Town Car that picked us up some thirty minutes ago. I think the squealing is heard on the moon, and the door is opened by one of them.

“Zara.” My cousin and best friend Zoey sticks her head into the car. “It’s time,” she sings like she’s Mariah Carey right before her Christmas song drops after Halloween, except she sounds like cats howling in heat. Her smile fills her whole face. “Also, why is it so fucking cold in New York?”

I roll my eyes at her and get out of the car. “Don’t pretend you didn’t live here all your life just because you live in LA now.” I look at my Aunt Zara, who I’m named after, with tears in her eyes. “No tears.” I point at her, trying to be stern. “We went over this. That’s the rule.” Before I agreed to let all of them come dress shopping with me, I had two rules. Rule number one was no crying. Rule number two was that we keep our opinions to ourselves until after I say how I feel. I know I’m going to have to reel them in with rule number two since everyone is so opinionated, but I figured I would at least try.

“I know, I know.” She holds up her hands. “But I didn’t get to do this with Zoey since she eloped and took it away from me. Ripped it out of my hands.” She puts her hand to her chest as if someone inflicted her with pain.

“Wow, and we wonder where the dramatics come from in the family,” I mumble as I’m pushed aside by my mother, who gets out of the car.

“Can we please get inside?” my sister-in-law, Sofia, whines, holding her jacket closed at the chest. “It’s arctic.” She smiles at me as she shivers. She really hates the cold since she grew up in the South.

“That’s a great idea,” my Aunt Allison chimes in, walking toward the glass door and pulling it open. I watch the women form a line walking into the door. I stand here for a second on the sidewalk, staring at the glass window with two wedding dresses on headless mannequins. One is a ball gown and the other is formfitting. White flowers drape from both sides of the window, making it seem even more bridal.

An arm slips into mine, and I look over to see Zoey. “This is going to be so amazing.”

On the other side, my arm is taken by Sofia. “And just saying, we could have done this down at my place.” She tilts her head to the side, mentioning the wedding planning event space she has in the South.

“It’s enough you are planning the whole wedding and not charging me,” I remind her. “I was not going to show up with fifty people and take over your space.”

She throws her head back and laughs, the steam from her breath filling the air. “You act like this didn’t happen when I got married. Imagine my family, which equals a million, plus Matty’s family, which equals a million plus one.”

“I don’t know how you did it,” Zoey states. “I was happy with one person while I was getting married.”

“Maybe I should elope,” I say, and they both gasp in shock.

“You have six months to go, and everything is booked. You are not fucking eloping now. The save-the-date cards just went out.” She slips her arm out of mine and shoves me toward the door. “Now get in there and try on all the dresses.”

“Good Lord,” I mumble to Zoey, “she’s really bossy.”

She looks at me and laughs. “And she looks so innocent while she says it.”

“It’s because she’s from the South. It’s a Southern thing to look all sweet, but at the same time, they’ve already plotted your murder.” I nod at her. “Unlike us, who can’t hide anything on our face if we’re coming for you. You better fucking run.” She walks with me arm in arm through the door.

“Oh my,” I gasp, looking around at all the dresses on display, as the sound of a bottle popping fills the room. There are walls and walls covered with hanging white dresses, and it looks like they go back three rooms.

My heels sink into the plush carpet as I take a step forward, and a woman wearing a black one-piece dress comes to me with a smile. “I’m assuming you are the bride,” she says to me, holding out her hand. “I’m Bianca, and I’ll be your stylist for the day.”

“How did you know?” I ask, holding out my own hand to shake hers. She points at the white sash I am wearing around my jacket that my mother slipped on me right as I stepped out of my door to meet her at the car, which has Bride-To-Be written in gold across it. “That would be me, then.” I hear the sound of glasses clinking and see that some of my cousins have taken their jackets off and are now toasting champagne. “Before we start, I think I have to apologize for my family,” I warn, laughing nervously. “They can be a lot.”

“We are used to it,” she replies politely with a smile on her face, and I have to wonder how used to it she is. “Now, let me take your jacket, and then we can start.” I hand my purse to Zoey, who grabs it, and then finally slip the Bride-To-Be sash off me, giving that to Zoey before handing my jacket to Bianca. I hold Zoey’s things as she takes off her own jacket and takes a step toward everyone.

“You don’t have to look like you’re walking toward the electric chair,” my cousin Gabriella teases, slipping her arm into her twin sister’s arm, Abigail. While her sister-in-law Ryleigh just looks around at everyone, drinking her glass of champagne. “Just pretend it’s another charity event we’re getting ready for.”

“Yes, but it’s just your wedding, and at the end of it, you’ll be married for the rest of your life, and all eyes will be on you.” Zoey sticks her head into the conversation, and our mothers gawk at her. “I’m just saying it’s the most important day of her life. The pictures will be forever.”

“Okay, enough motivational speaking for you,” Sofia says, turning to me. “It’s going to be fine.” She pretends with a fake smile. “But can someone get her a chair? She looks like she’s going to fall on her face.” I pick up my hand and notice it’s shaking as the back of my neck feels like it’s burning. This should be one of the happiest days of my life. I shouldn’t be this nervous choosing a wedding dress. Or dread it, for that matter.

“I’m fine.” I pretend I’m fine, but I’m really not. If I’m honest, I don’t know when the last time I was actually fine was. “It’s going to be great.” I put my hand to my stomach to settle my nerves. It’s just nerves , my head tries to tell me. Every bride has them.

“Okay, if I can have everyone’s attention.” Bianca comes back, clapping her hands. “Thank you so much for joining us on this magical day.” She smiles at all of us as Sofia puts a glass of champagne in my hand, mumbling to me to drink it. “We’re going to start in just a bit.” She turns to everyone. “I will explain how things will go.”

“Good luck,” Zoey murmurs, bringing her glass to her lips and taking a sip. “It’s like herding cats with sheep.”

“Zoey,” her mother grinds out between clenched teeth, making everyone laugh, including me.

“So we have different rooms for different dresses,” she starts, and I tune it all out as I look around the room at all the women in my life. I don’t know how long she talks, but I’ve finished my glass of champagne by the time everyone moves away from us.

“Now,” Bianca says to me as Sofia fills my glass, along with Zoey’s, “while they are looking for dresses, I have to ask, what is your vision?”

“I’m not sure,” I answer her honestly. “All the magazines said not to have one style in mind and to be open to different types of styles.”

“They’re right.” She smiles. “So where is the venue?”

“It’s going to be in New York,” I answer. “It’s a chic and sophisticated event, plus my family,” I joke with her. “My fiancé works in banking, so there will be lots of?—”

“Stuffed shirts,” Zoey chimes in, “and then the cool people.” She holds up her glass.

Bianca laughs at her as we walk slowly into the room. “Now, do you think you want it strapless or with sleeves?”

“It’ll be June,” I finally say, “so strapless or straps is good.”

“Are you having one dress for the ceremony and one for the reception?”

“Yes,” Zoey interjects, and I look at her. “It’s your wedding. You should have two dresses, even three. One for the ceremony, one for the reception, and another one for the party after midnight.”

“We can certainly see if we have enough in our budget.” She smiles at us. “What is the budget?” she asks, and Zoey snorts.

“Whatever she wants, she gets,” Sofia states, and I look at her. “This isn’t just from your brother but also your father, your Uncle Evan, and Max and Matthew.”

“That sounds great. If you don’t mind,” Bianca offers, “I have a wedding dress in mind for you.”

“I’ll try on anything, and we can work our way through it,” I say as she steps away from me, going to one of the dresses and taking it off the rack. She walks with it over her head to the back of the room. I walk with Sofia, and Zoey goes to the rack of dresses on one side of the room, looking for what I like and what I don’t like. You would think, after having so many cousins getting married, I would know what type of dress I want. But there are just so many different options.

When we finally make it to the back of the room, I see everyone sitting on the plush couches facing the back wall where there is a silk-draped curtain. I can see five dresses hanging inside and then a step right in the middle of it with mirrors all the way around. There are also two silver champagne buckets holding two bottles of champagne in them, as everyone is drinking and having the best time. Gabriella stands in the corner of the room, taking pictures of everything. Something she said she is going to do for me and then give me a scrapbook of sorts. Whatever it is with her taking the pictures, I’m sure it’ll be breathtaking.

“Okay, folks, it’s time to try on dresses,” Bianca announces and I hand my glass to Zoey.

“Keep that close,” I tell her as I step forward toward Bianca, who guides me behind the silk drapes, closing us in.

“Now, your mother picked out this one with your aunt.” She points at the one that looks like it’s lace from top to bottom. “It’s a mermaid style.” She picks it up and turns it around. It has buttons all the way to the floor and a small train. “I love this one for the reception,” she suggests, “but I would like for you to try this one on.” She walks over to the ball gown that is hanging almost hidden. “It’s a full ball gown, but it’s got little silk flowers sewn into it with a corset top.” My feet move toward the dress as I look down at it. It has to be the prettiest dress I’ve ever seen. It’s not too puffy, and the silk flowers are draped all through the dress, starting at the top all the way to the bottom.

“It’s beautiful,” I say honestly. “Like, wow.”

“It hasn’t even been out on the floor yet, so no one has seen it. They think I want you to try on that one.” She points to one on the side that looks like it weighs a hundred pounds, while the other one looks like it’s light and fresh and beautiful. “Okay, let’s get you in it,” she urges, and I nod, undressing before stepping into it. I face the wall of mirrors as she pulls it together and zips it up. “It’s a perfect fit,” she states as I put my hand to my stomach, turning to the side to see how it flows and moves.

“Oh my.” That’s all I say, looking at the top that goes into a V, but it’s covered in embroidered flowers all the way up to the shoulders, where they hold it delicately. “I think this might be the one.”

“I think it was made for you.” She smiles. “Now, if you are ready, I’ll open the curtain.” I nod, smiling. She walks over to the end of the curtain, and I hear chattering from the other side as I turn around to face them. The silk curtain moves away to see me facing everyone.

Their mouths all stop at the same time as they take me in. “Holy,” Sofia gasps, sitting on the side right next to Zoey, whose eyes are as big as saucers.

I take a minute to look at each woman’s reaction as they see me for the first time. By the time I get to my mother’s, she is wiping a tear away from the corner of her eye. At the same time, the butterflies start in my stomach. “That’s the one.”