CHAPTER 24 KAYLEE
I’m fuming with anger. It’s a Friday afternoon and the last kid just left my room after asking me who the man in the hotel was. It took me all of four seconds to find the latest Billy Peters video with images of me and Dane.
I don’t even question why he did it. He said he’s going to fight for me, and obviously this is his way. He’s trying to break Ben and me up by planting certain seeds, but he’s going to have to try a lot harder than that to come between us.
He has no idea I went straight to Ben’s place after I saw him at his hotel. He has no idea that I felt pulled to confess to my boyfriend that another man issued a wager to fight for my heart.
It was like I didn’t even have a choice. My car just navigated itself to his house so I could fill him in, and as he held me in his arms and Buddy nuzzled my hand, a new bond formed between us.
It was like I physically felt that initial layer of sexual tension between us morph into something raw and real. The sexual tension is still there—there’s no denying that—but now it’s paired with feelings. Real feelings that seem to dig their way deeper and deeper every day.
It’s my last week of school. Less than one week until summer. Less than one week until the rest of my life can begin.
And the more time I spend around the Big O, the more time I want that to include him.
So he’s old and he listens to Nickelback. Nobody’s perfect.
A text from Ellie comes through as I’m holding my phone in my hand after having just finished the video.
Ellie: I waited until school was over to send you the latest.
There’s a link to the video I just watched attached.
Me: I just saw it. A student asked me who the man at the hotel was. [eyeroll emoji]
Ellie: I’m on damage control. Can you meet Kate and me at Happily Ever After Bridal Boutique in an hour? I *might* have called in a few photographer friends of my own. [purple devil emoji]
She attaches an address to the text. I click it, and it’s only fifteen minutes from school.
Me: I’ll be there. [bride emoji]
I wrap up what I’m working on, run copies for next week which include final exams, and bring another box of binders to Ashley’s room. And then I navigate toward the address Ellie sent me.
When I arrive, I spot her car in the parking lot. I pull in next to her, and she smiles and waves frantically at me. I giggle, and I wave back to both her and Kate, who sits in the passenger seat.
The three of us get out of our cars at the same time and hug in the parking lot, taking our time to ensure the logo of the store is centered in the background of where we stand. Dane thought he could win this round, but he’s playing alone. I’ve got a team on my side.
We stand in the parking lot and make small talk for a few minutes to give the photographers Ellie tipped off plenty of time to get our photos, and then we head inside.
And it’s a freaking dreamland.
Wedding gowns in every shape, style, and size line rack after rack after rack. The side wall is entirely mirrored, so it looks like the dresses go on forever and ever. In the center of the mirrored wall is a circular platform with luxurious, pale pink couches pointed at it.
“Welcome in,” a woman greets us, and she nods toward the couches. “I’m Delinda and I’ll be taking care of you today. Come have a seat.”
We head toward the couches, and there’s a table set up in front of them with all sorts of magazines and binders on it. Delinda offers us champagne, which both Kate and Ellie decline since they have to get back to work after this little outing.
I decline, too, since I have to drive home.
It’s not like this is a real dress shopping appointment. I’d want my mom there for that, anyway.
“What styles do you like?” Delinda asks me.
I stare at her blankly.
“This is just our first stop,” Ellie explains, swooping in to save the day. “We haven’t really done a lot of research yet, so I think Kaylee was hoping you’d be able to guide her a little.”
“Of course.” She grabs a binder. “Let’s look at style first. Are you thinking more of a ball gown, an A-line, a mermaid, a sheath, or something else?” She points to images of each style as she talks, and I point to the ball gown.
“Perfect. Next is the neckline. Strapless, V-neck, scoop, sweetheart, halter?” She points to each one again, and I point to the V-neck.
“Train or no train?” she asks.
I shrug. “Maybe a little one?”
She nods. “Materials?”
“Any.”
“Sparkles?” she asks.
“Of course.” I say it like the answer is obvious, and both Kate and Ellie giggle.
“Let me pull you a few samples.” She eyes me as if she’s sizing me up, and then she takes off. Ellie picks up a magazine to flip through it, and Kate does the same while I blow out a breath.
I’ve never tried on wedding gowns before.
I’ve never been shopping for them—not even for a friend or relative.
Ellie and Luke’s wedding was a secret surprise, and Jack and Kate also got married for the first time in secret.
Ellie and Luke had a fun reception on their one-year anniversary last summer, and Kate and Jack are planning a celebration this summer, too, but the actual dress shopping has never been on my radar.
Even though I was having fun with Dane back when we were together and before I knew we wanted different things out of life, of course I imagined him proposing to me someday. What girl doesn’t dream of that when they find someone they’ve started to fall for?
But breaking up with him made me realize that I’m still young and that there doesn’t need to be some big rush to get down the aisle.
Still, though, given that I want a whole litter of kids—four or five, at least—I’m also not getting any younger.
I always dreamed of being a young mom. Some people are immature for their ages, and others are the opposite…
and maybe that’s what makes Ben my perfect match.
Except he doesn’t want four or five kids. He doesn’t even want one, and the thought of even a pretend marriage had him freaking terrified.
So even though every other signal seems to be telling me we’re perfect for each other, it’s the big ones telling me we’re not.
Delinda returns with a rack a moment later. Five or six hangers are on it, all hidden behind a black garment bag at the front of the rack. “Here’s what I found that looks to be around your size. Let me know if you see any you’d like to try on.” She pulls the first one out, and my jaw drops.
It’s gorgeous. It’s dreamy and elegant, romantic with its lace bodice and lace straps with a sparkly design on the torso that layers down along with the lace design. It’s a tiered design that will give the dress volume while still maintaining a contemporary style.
I love it.
I don’t even need to try it on. I don’t need to see the other ones.
This is the dress.
Except…I’m not getting married.
And for some reason, a dart of sadness pings my chest at the thought.
“Oh, that’s beautiful,” Kate murmurs. “You better grab it before I do.”
I laugh off that sad feeling. “It’s very pretty,” I say, downplaying my real feelings. “Can we see the others?”
She shows them off. They’re all beautiful, too, but they’re not the showstopping stunner that first one was.
“Want to take them into the fitting room?” Delinda asks, and I nod.
I don’t try the one on first…as silly as it sounds, I know there are photographers just outside the window, and I know they’ll be snapping photos through the window of every dress I try on.
I’m not hugely superstitious, but I don’t want them getting my photo in that one. I don’t want it splashed on the tabloids.
The groom isn’t supposed to see the dress before the big day, after all. Maybe it’s silly, but it’s a chance I just don’t want to take. Not when the odds are already stacked up against us.