23. Hadley
Hadley
I wake up with a smile on my face and a heart overflowing.
Bryce loves me.
I touch my lips. They’re still slightly puffy from last night’s goodnight kiss when he dropped me off at home after celebrating with his teammates and friends.
I’m in love with a professional hockey player.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that scenario for my life.
As a kid, I always thought it was funny when the princesses in the movies would fall in love and float around singing songs to themselves and smiling at nothing. I remember giggling and thinking that couldn’t ever happen in real life.
Except, it’s exactly how I feel as I move around my apartment getting ready for brunch and shopping with the girls today.
Another thing I didn’t see coming.
The wives and girlfriends welcomed me into their little group so easily that it feels like I was always meant to know these women. Growing up, I was always the girl standing on the sidelines. It’s nice to feel like I belong. Like I’m wanted.
The sound of a key in my lock rushes me along.
“Hey, it’s me!” Paige calls, letting herself into my apartment. “Are you ready to go?”
“Almost,” I shout from my bedroom. I spritz on a bit of body mist and check my reflection one more time before heading to the living room to grab my purse. “Now I’m ready.”
Paige grins. “Good, because I’m starving!”
Twenty minutes later, we’re walking into Juniper House, a trendy brunch spot located near the high-end shops Taylor wants to check out.
The restaurant is bright and spacious. White marble tables are decorated with single-stem pink roses.
Hanging plants are draped elegantly around the room.
Sunlight pours through large windows that face the street, giving diners the perfect opportunity to people-watch as they eat.
It smells heavenly. The scent of coffee and bacon fills the air and makes my mouth water.
I glance around the room, and I already know it’s expensive. My credit card is going to hate me by tonight, but I have a feeling it will be worth the hit to my budget.
“There they are!” Taylor says, waving us over to the table where she is sitting with the women I was introduced to last night.
“Hi,” I say, pulling out a plush green velvet chair and sinking down into it. “Sorry we’re late.”
“You’re not,” Penny, I think her name was, says. “We just sat down.”
“Thank you for inviting us,” Paige says. “I’m so excited to shop!”
The other woman, Lauren I believe, chuckles. “Me too. I haven’t been shopping in DC in forever. I’m excited to see what the options are!”
I glance down at the menu and scan the options. I should’ve had a protein shake this morning to hold me over. Now I’m over hungry and want to order one of everything. How does one decide between brioche French toast with fresh berries and lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberry compote?
The server arrives dressed in a white button-up with smart black pants and an apron that has the Juniper House logo on the front. I wonder if they bring extra shirts to work because there’s no way I’d still be that clean after working all morning.
“Hadley?” Paige says, nudging me. “What are you going to have?”
“Oh,” I look at the menu again. “I’ll have a vanilla cappuccino, and I think I’m going to try the brioche French toast.”
“Oh, I almost got that,” Lauren says. “It looked so good!”
I wasn’t paying attention when everyone else ordered, so I have no idea what she went with instead.
“If there's pancakes,” Paige says. “That’s what I’m getting. Every time.”
“So,” Penny says, pulling out a sheet of paper. “I was looking at the dress store options around here, and I made a list of the ones I think we should try first.” She passes the list around, and Lauren, Taylor, and Paige debate which one to start with.
“What do you think, Hadley?” Taylor asks, taking a bite of her eggs benedict that just arrived.
“I don’t really have an opinion,” I say truthfully. “I usually just shop at the mall or online.”
Taylor grins. “Me too, so this is a treat! Especially since King’s parents have the baby today. I can’t remember the last time I had a girls’ day. This is going to be so much fun!”
As we eat our brunch, which is absolutely delicious, the conversation turns to the guys and their obligatory exit interviews.
“Xavier doesn’t love giving interviews,” Penny says. “Hopefully, it’s not too terrible.”
Lauren chuckles. “They won the tournament. I’m sure they will be bombarded with questions, but it’s part of the job, right?”
Penny nods. “Yeah, just not the part he loves.”
“Kingston has gotten used to it over the years,” Taylor says. “Sometimes I think he messes with them just for fun.”
Lauren pokes her. “And he never misses a chance to thank his mindset coach.”
They all giggle, and Taylor rolls her eyes as she points to herself. “And that.”
Paige chuckles. “I’m sure Colt is living it up and having the time of his life. It seems like he enjoys the spotlight.”
“Bryce didn’t seem to mind,” I add. Though now I wonder if he doesn’t really like the attention either. I’ll have to ask.
Lunch passes quickly and effortlessly, and I’m surprised at how fast the time went by when the server clears our plates.
After spending time with these ladies, I’m sad that they’ll head back to Colorado and my time with them will be reduced to the group chat we started.
“Let’s go!” Taylor says after insisting she pay for brunch. “I’m ready to try on some dresses I’ll probably never be able to wear again.” She pats her stomach and waggles her eyebrows, causing us all to laugh.
Gosh, her energy is endless!
We file out of Juniper House and head down the sidewalk to the first little boutique on Penny’s list. It’s a short walk, thankfully, because I definitely ate every bite of my French toast and am paying for it now.
When we step inside, I’m reminded of prom dress shopping in high school.
Elegant gowns dress over mannequins that are stick-thin and more regal than I could ever dream of being.
Red drapes cover what I imagine are the dressing room stalls.
A cream-colored settee with gold throw pillows is situated in the center of the store, facing a raised platform in front of a trifold mirror.
“Welcome, ladies,” a woman dressed impeccably in a dress suit and heels greets us. “Are you shopping for anything special today?”
“We’re looking for dresses to wear to a gala,” Penny offers. “Your boutique was listed as having a wide selection of styles and sizes?”
The woman nods. “We pride ourselves on carrying dresses for every body. Here, let me show you some things that would be perfect for a gala.”
She leads us to a rack of gowns in vibrant colors. “These dresses are the newest to arrive, and they are stunning.”
“Thank you,” Lauren says, reaching out and touching a soft blue shimmery design.
“You’re welcome,” the woman says. “Feel free to take your time looking. Dressing rooms are on that wall, and I’d be happy to help you find your sizes.” With that, she walks away to greet another customer.
“This is so exciting,” Paige says, looking around at all the options and turning to me. “What style do you think you’re looking for?”
“Oh!” Taylor exclaims holding up an emerald green dress. “This one would look stunning on you!”
“Let me see,” Paige says, taking the dress from Taylor and holding it out in front of me. “She’s right, Hads. You have to try this one!”
The color is beautiful, and the fitted bodice with the flowing A-line skirt would flatter my shape. “Okay,” I agree, draping the dress over my arm. “What about for you guys?”
We spend the next half hour looking through the dresses, debating over styles and colors, and giggling at some of the more risque options.
Once everyone has at least one dress to try on, we head to the dressing rooms. There are only two, so we decide to take turns, leaving the second stall open for others who may want to try things on.
Taylor goes first. When she steps out in a cobalt blue sequined gown, everyone is speechless. Even the other customers stop and stare. She’s stunning. The gown fits her perfectly, and the sequins catch the light, causing her to sparkle.
“You’ll be the most beautiful woman there,” I say, in awe. “It’s gorgeous!”
Taylor turns this way and that, examining her reflection in the three mirrors. “It is so pretty. I feel like a princess.”
“You look like the queen,” Paige says, grinning. “I think that dress is perfect!”
Taylor slips back into the dressing room to change out of the dress. “Your turn,” she says to Penny when she comes out.
A few minutes later, Penny emerges in a flowing ivory gown with corseted bodice and flowing off-the-shoulder straps. With her waist-length wavy hair, she looks like a woodland nymph or elven noble.
“That’s a keeper,” Lauren says. “And great for your next Ren Fair harp gig, too.”
Penny smiled. “I was thinking that, too.”
Paige is next. “You guys!” She calls from the dressing room. “Oh my gosh, this dress is amazing!”
“Let’s see!” Penny calls.
Paige steps out from behind the curtain in a sleek ice-blue satin gown that hugs her frame through her hips before falling into a straight floor-length skirt that flares at the bottom.
“Wow. You look amazing,” I say. She turns and reveals the back of the dress. Crisscross straps leave her back mostly exposed, showing off her tan while still being tasteful.
“Colt isn’t going to know what hit him,” Taylor says, nodding approvingly.
Paige blushes. “We’re just going as friends,” she says, though I can tell her crush on him has only grown since meeting him.
“We’ll see,” Taylor says, winking and causing Paige’s blush to deepen. “Your turn,” she says to me, opening the curtain to the second dressing room. “May as well get started since no one else seems to be waiting.”
I slip inside and say a little prayer that my dress fits. I slide it over my head, holding my breath as it falls into place. I open my eyes and peek in the mirror.
The dress is stunning. I almost don’t recognize myself.
The deep green color compliments the red tones in my hair perfectly without making me look ghostly.
The bodice is fitted, tucking in at the waist before flowing loosely around my hips and legs to gently brush the floor.
The sweetheart neckline dips just enough to feel elegant without being revealing.
The off-the-shoulder sleeves add a bit of coverage and elegance to the dress.
“Hadley,” Paige calls. “Do you need help?”
I open my mouth to answer, but nothing comes out.
“I’m coming in,” Paige says, pulling the curtain carefully aside to maintain privacy. “Do you need a different…” She stops talking. “Oh my gosh,” she squeals, pulling the curtain open. “This is amazing!”
Taylor stands and takes my hand, gently guiding me onto the platform in front of the mirrors. “Girl, that dress looks like it was custom-made for you.”
Penny nods. “You look gorgeous. Like you belong in a movie.”
“I think I love it,” I whisper, finally able to make my mouth cooperate with my brain.
“Good,” Lauren says, “because I think it’s perfect!”
“You’re up next,” Taylor says to Lauren. “Let’s see if our luck continues.”
Lauren’s dress is corseted to the waist and poufs out into a full bell, princess-style. She’s accessorized it with a glittery headband that pushed her short bobbed hair back to reveal drop-pearl earrings, and completed the look with long white gloves.
“Adorable!” Taylor claps.
“Yeah?” Lauren asks. “It’s not too much?”
Taylor shakes her head. “Nope. All those years of boring teacher skirts? You deserve all the glam!”
Lauren snorts. “Tell me what you really think!” They laugh and Paige and I smile at each other. It’s crazy, but it feels like we’ve always been friends.
“I didn’t think we’d all find something at the first shop,” Penny says when we step outside. “Thank goodness they agreed to hold our dresses until later so we don’t have to carry them around. Now what?”
“Shoes!” Paige says.
“And accessories,” Taylor adds. “Lauren, you need a killer necklace.”
“Sounds good to me,” she replies.
I glance at my phone, secretly hoping to have a message from Bryce. When his name shows up on my screen, my heart flutters in my chest.
I wonder if that feeling will ever go away. I hope not.
Bryce: Are you having fun? Did you find a dress?
The thought of Bryce seeing me in the dress I just purchased sends a flutter of nervous excitement through me.
Hadley: I’m having a lot of fun, thank you. How’s it going?
Bryce: Eh, it’s the usual. Though I did get all the guys to sign a hockey stick for Matti. He’s going to love that.
Bryce: Nice deflection by the way. Not going to tell me about the dress?
“Oh, he’s got it bad,” Taylor says, reading the text over my shoulder. “I vote for you to surprise him.”
Hadley: I guess you’ll just have to wait and see *winking emoji*
“You know,” I say, slipping the phone back into my purse and linking my arm through Taylor’s, “I think that’s a great idea.”