30. Chapter Thirty #2
“I think I have the perfect dress for you, Kaydence. Ali, do you want to help me?” Grace set down her basket and Ali came to sit beside her, sorting through the pile of dresses she’d brought along.
They were small—like Grace might’ve fit into them a decade ago—but they’d likely still hang off the girls’ tiny frames.
But as excited as they were, Ali didn’t think they’d mind if the dresses didn’t fit perfectly.
Julia and Kaydence oohed and aahed while Grace and Ali took turns holding up dresses. A pink one with a big poofy chiffon skirt. A pale blue one with thin straps and beaded detail. A yellow ombre one that faded into cream at the bottom. Each new dress elicited another excited squeal.
In the end, Kaydence settled on a pink dress with enough sparkles to make her shimmer in the light and Julia chose a more practical dress with casual blue cotton and pockets.
The girls were equally unique in their hairstyles.
Heather gave Kaydence a simple trim and Ali braided her brown hair, tying it off with a pink bow to match her dress.
Julia chose the short style that Heather had initially offered, chopping her blonde hair just above the shoulder.
She wanted a braid too, but with the shorter length, Ali had to do two braided pigtails instead.
Once they finished their makeovers, the girls paraded around the room, putting on a fashion show for the adults. Their joy and bright smiles tugged at Ali’s heartstrings in the best way. Instead of pain, she felt overwhelmed with delight.
“Your turn,” Julia shrieked. Ali watched while Julia ruffled through dresses, tossing aside those that she found unworthy of Ali.
“I’m not sure any of those will fit me,” Ali said. It seemed as though Grace had brought her smallest gowns to fit the girls, not the adults.
Grace kneeled beside Julia and searched through the discarded piles of dresses. “Actually, I think there is one or two that might be big enough for you. You’re pretty slender and a bit shorter than me. Maybe one of these from a few years ago.”
She held up a pale minty green dress that almost looked like it could fit Ali, but the waist was too structured and didn’t have any stretch to it. Grace threw it in the basket and continued her search until she suddenly pulled a mess of fabric and waved it over her head. “Found it!”
Seconds later, a white gown with embroidered flowers was thrust into Ali’s hands. Grace pulled Ali up from her seat before she had a chance to give the dress much scrutiny. Her body was flung forward from the force of Grace’s gentle push, causing her to stumble into the bathroom.
It was silly, dressing up like a child, but the fabric felt like heaven in her fingers. Soft and slippery, though she wasn’t quite certain of the material. Nothing like she’d ever tried before, that was for sure.
She stepped out of her clothes and pulled the dress over her head, shimmying to get it over her hips.
The top had loose straps that hung off her shoulders, like a string of flowers wrapped around her upper arms. The front was modest, while the back had a set of laces that she would need help tightening to fit her figure.
And the bottom half…
The bottom half took her breath away with the most intricate details she’d ever seen.
The flowers grew in number and size as they fell to the floor, and the bottom of the dress took up nearly half of the small bathroom.
She wondered how she’d even fit through the door with so much fabric gathered around her lower half.
Prying the door open, she made enough room to waddle through. Once inside the bedroom, she was met with silence. “What? Does it look silly?”
Of course it did. It was a gown made for a princess. Someone like Grace, who was used to dressing up for balls and other extravagant events. Not someone like Ali, who was better suited in a pair of jeans and an oversized T-shirt.
Grace spoke first. “You look like—”
“You look like a bride,” Kaydence said with rosy pink cheeks and a bright smile.
Julia nodded. “Can we come to the wedding?”
Ali snorted. “I’m not getting married.”
The girls exchanged a look of disappointment, and Ali almost wished she could tell them differently. Maybe one day.
“It does suit you, though,” Amaya said. “Like it was made for you.”
“An updo would be better, but I agree.” Heather pointed toward Ali’s head, and Ali stifled a laugh. She knew Heather well enough now to know that she meant no ill will with her statement. She just couldn’t help herself when it came to styling hair.
Ali looked back at the mirror visible through the bathroom door and pulled her hair up with one hand. Heather was right. An updo would better show off her shoulders and back.
“Let me,” Heather said, clearly unable to help herself. With a few quick movements, Ali’s hair was tucked up into an elegant bun low on her head. Then Heather tightened the straps on Ali’s back, which pushed her breasts up unexpectedly.
Ali clutched her chest as she settled into the new form fitted bust. “Well… how do I look?”
Before anyone else could answer, the front door opened and Nik walked in carrying a box that Ali could only imagine held sweets based on the cinnamon sugar scent wafting in her direction. He paused and his eyes slowly roved from her face all the way down to her toes.
He let out a short breath and licked his lips, bringing heat to Ali’s cheeks. “What did I interrupt?”
Behind her, Ali heard Julia and Kaydence giggling. “Ali is a bride.”
His eyes widened, but they stayed locked on Ali. “Is she?”
The smirk on his lips caused more than just her face to heat.
Her neck and chest turned warm, as did her stomach and the point between her thighs.
She’d almost forgotten the power he held over her.
She hadn’t felt a desire like that since before the accident.
Up until now, she hadn’t been sure she’d ever feel it again.
Nik placed the box of heavenly goods on the table before inching toward Ali. Her skin prickled from the intensity of his gaze. It was as though he was undressing her with his eyes, able to see straight through the white fabric to her pink skin.
“And who is the groom?” he asked.
Ali was unable to contain her smile. Of course, if she were actually getting married, Nik would be her other half. The way he played into the girls’ make-believe was amusing, and somehow sexy too. Or maybe that was the way he still hadn’t taken his eyes off her.
“You can be!” Julia exclaimed.
He playfully brought a hand to his heart. “Me?”
The girls cheered, and even Amaya and Heather stifled a laugh. Grace grinned, though she stayed silent, eyes bouncing between the two of them.
“If you want to be,” Kaydence told him.
He took a deep breath and another step closer to Ali, wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing his body into hers.
She tilted her head up to meet his gaze.
His smirk slowly faded, and he suddenly appeared very serious.
His eyes locked on hers as though they could express more than words ever could.
“I definitely want to be.”