Chapter 9
CHAPTER
NINE
Josie
The next day, I met Tess and Skye early in the afternoon. We headed to Soho, in Lower Manhattan.
Many people swore by Fifth Avenue, but I loved Soho more. It used to be full of galleries, but a lot have been replaced by shops. The city kept reinventing itself constantly, as if it was determined to keep the sense of wonder alive among its residents.
Soho boasted an old-world charm, with its narrow cobblestone streets—even though I had to be careful not to misstep with my heels. The buildings with wrought iron facades housed artsy cafes and shops ranging from mainstream brands to unique boutiques.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to this. Was it nerve-wracking? Sure. But I also felt an excitement I couldn’t even begin to describe.
Skye and Tess were waiting for me in front of the store. I’d never seen them more excited. I was so happy they were shopping with me, because they had excellent taste in clothing. They could get away with wearing anything.
Skye was curvy and tall. She’d been like that as a teenager too and often said that was why she wanted to go into the lingerie business. She wanted to create sexy things for curvy girls. She waved at me so enthusiastically that a few chocolate brown strands bounced around from her high ponytail.
Tess was tall too, but willowy. Her light brown hair was interspersed with blonde strands.
She didn’t follow trends. She knew what she liked and made no apologies for it.
I loved Tess and Skye to the moon and back.
I’d do anything for them. If they hurt, I hurt.
If they were happy, I was happy. Right now, I was feeling extra guilty for deceiving them.
The store had bridal gowns on the ground floor and evening wear on the top floor. Despite intending to head straight upstairs, I couldn’t tear my eyes off the white dresses. I loved bridal gowns in any shape.
My heart gave a mighty sigh as I glanced at a rack. Belatedly, I realized Tess was watching me. Shit. The cat was out of the bag.
“Andrea, what do you have on the rack in my friend’s size? She and my cousin have recently realized they’re the loves of each other’s lives and are getting married in two weeks.”
“That’s so romantic,” Andrea said. “And you’re so in love that you can’t wait to get married and are willing to let any silly childhood dreams slide by just to tie the knot. What’s your size?”
“Six.”
“You go upstairs and pick what you like. I’m going to check what I have ready-to-buy in your size in the bridal selection.”
Twenty minutes later, I entered the changing room with seven evening dresses. They were all to die for. How was I supposed to decide?
A few minutes later, my problem escalated, because Andrea told me she’d found ten wedding dresses in my size. She’d hung them on a rack in front of the changing room.
They were all absolutely stunning, and I knew before I’d even tried them that I was a goner.
One by one, I paraded the dresses in front of Tess and Skye. A mermaid-style one with a sweetheart neckline stole my heart. I looked like royalty wearing it.
“This is the one, isn’t it?” Tess asked.
Skye clapped her hands. “Look at her dopey smile. Of course, it is.”
Between their laughter and the beauty of the dress, for one moment I forgot altogether that this wasn’t real.
I was being silly.
“I still want to try the rest of the evening gowns,” I told them before taking refuge in the changing room.
I could easily tell Tess and Skye this wasn’t what I was looking for, that I’d had an image of my perfect dress in mind for years, and instead of settling on something that wasn’t what I’d envisioned, I preferred no bridal dress at all. They’d understand.
But we were getting married in one of the ballrooms. We had two hundred guests. I couldn’t show up in a cocktail dress. It would raise eyebrows.
I twirled in front of the mirror, grinning like a fool. I wouldn’t let this dress pass me by. I opened the curtains to the changing room again and announced, “You’re right. This is the one.”
They cheered and came to hug me. I felt overwhelmed with emotion and a little guilt but hugged them back just as hard.
“You just need shoes,” Andrea said. “I’ll be right back.”
“And keep Saturday before the wedding free,” Tess said.
“Why?”
“For the bachelorette party.”
I swallowed. “We need a whole day? I’d planned to move into the new house on Saturday.”
“Change your plans, girl. We’re kidnapping you and treating you to the whole bridal program.”
“Should I be afraid?”
Skye placed one hand on her hip. “Is the Arctic freezing? Yes.”
“Okay, then.”
“We’ll help you pack your stuff. I can’t believe you’ve agreed to marry Hunter before you’ve lived with him. What if he’s one of those guys who leaves his stuff everywhere?”
I gave a nervous laugh. This is the type of thing I should know.
“I’m pretty laid-back about everything.”
Tess raised an eyebrow. “Have you met yourself? You’re crazy exact about everything.”
“No, I’m not.”
“The shelves in your bookcase have labels with the first letter of the authors’ names.”
“Isn’t that normal?”
“It is if you’re a bookstore. You get my drift?”
“Well, it’s all about compromise,” I muttered, but I couldn’t quite meet Tess’s eyes.