Chapter 35
Chapter thirty-five
Paisley
I never imagined how convenient it would be for a girl to marry a millionaire. But Stephanie sure found a keeper in Nash.
Even though Stephanie was a planner at heart, Nash had spearheaded most of the dress-shopping arrangements so she could relax. He flew Charmain Russo Addams (aka Nana), Ivy Carson, and Hailey into town for the dress shopping and offered to fly Juliet and me in, too.
But I hated flying. I’d done it before. I’d even dreamed about it one night.
And I had no desire to do it again. Just the thought had me cold and clammy.
Besides, Juliet was in no mood for turbulence.
So we drove—or more correctly, Myles drove us, since he had the time with it being the offseason.
Greyson would have come, too, but the shop was busier than usual and he couldn’t get away.
I’d always promised myself I wouldn’t be one of those clingy girlfriends (or wife, I guess in my case). But this was the first time since the accident I’d gone anywhere outside of Serenity Springs without Greyson, and I felt like I was missing a part of myself.
We’d fallen into an easy rhythm of living.
The kettle was boiled every morning when I woke up.
We chatted over breakfast, and he dropped me off at work.
I’d persuaded him to serenade me with the guitar a few times.
He left me love notes, too. Tucked in my lunch box or on my bathroom mirror.
Simple things like: Thinking of you today.
Or date night promises like: line dancing at Downto’n. Or simply, I love you.
He’d made me promises and kept them. He’d taken care of me gently. Messed up a few times but kept showing up.
The actions backed up the words.
Part of me screamed it was too soon to say we were bonding or that there were feelings involved, at least on my side. But he kissed me like he meant it. He showed up. He handled my heart with care.
Greyson was a steady presence. I knew where he stood. He didn’t make me guess his feelings or intentions, but he let me set the pace.
And despite this weird feeling of being away from him, I was excited to spend time with my friends and see Stephanie try on wedding dresses. It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
The first day was bridesmaids-dress shopping.
Stephanie’s colours were sage and gold, so we were on a mission to find six sage-green bridesmaids dresses—with varying levels of success.
When you carried a last name like Prescott in this city, as his fiancée, it got things done.
There were dozens of dresses in the colour Stephanie wanted.
What it came down to was picking a style.
“I can’t tell where the dress ends and Paisley begins,” Liz snorted, resting her hand on her cute baby bump, when I took my turn modeling one of the dress options.
Stephanie bit her lip, scanning me carefully. “Yeah, there is way too much fabric there for you, Pais.”
I didn’t disagree. There was such a thing as too much tulle.
It only took another three hours for Stephanie to narrow it down to the one she liked. Unlike some bridal trends, we would all be in matching dresses because Stephanie had a thing for order and symmetry.
Then it was time for the real dress shopping. The wedding gown.
I was scrunched on the chaise lounge between Hailey and Liz.
Even though Hailey Bishop, Stephanie’s cousin, was younger than us by about five years, she fit in well with our group.
The last time I remember her, she was still a teenager with a budding music career; now she was in her mid-twenties and America’s country music sweetheart.
Nash had flown her in from Tennessee where she lived in Nashville, like the singer-songwriter she was.
Nana smacked Hailey’s shoulder when a book tumbled out of Hailey’s purse. “A book on your cousin’s big day?” she tsked.
“Not my big day yet, Nana.” Stephanie winked at Hailey from where she stood on the small dais, critically eyeing the current dress she wore—a sleek mermaid gown with a lace overlay and a sweetheart neckline flowing into capped sleeves.
Hailey carefully shoved the book back into her purse. “Give me a good book and my favourite playlist, and I’m happy as a clam.”
“Have you ever seen a happy clam, Hails?” Stephanie teased. “They all seem clammy to me.”
Hailey rolled her eyes at the pun. “If you look them up in the dictionary, you’d see my picture.” She clasped her hands under her chin and smiled angelically, batting her lashes.
To know Hailey was to love her. She had a joie de vivre that was contagious.
“Not that I’d ever dream of reading in the middle of this historic event, though,” Hailey continued. “You’re beautiful, Stephie.”
Stephanie sighed and turned to face us fully. “Thanks, but I’m not feeling the lace.”
Juliet cocked her head. “Maybe only lace on top? It sort of swallows you otherwise.”
We all blinked at her.
“Hey, I know a thing or two about dress shopping. I’ve had to do enough of it,” Juliet protested.
Ivy laughed. “Let’s try the next one then,” and she followed Stephanie back into the curtained change room.
The next one was worse. It was a ball gown with glitter. Glitter.
Stephanie marched out, eyes blazing, and honestly, I was surprised she even put it on. “No, no, no,” she growled, hopping up on the dais and gripping the bodice to keep it from falling down her petite frame. “I’m going to have to shower to get all the sparkles off.”
“That is nothing like what you said you wanted,” Liz said, standing and scanning around for the service woman.
“Can we all agree ball gowns are not in my future?” Stephanie said, her eye twitching.
“Definitely,” we agreed, and she practically bolted back behind the curtain to shed the dress.
A minute later, a muffled gasp emerged from the dressing room.
“Did you break something?” Juliet asked in a low tone, approaching the curtain. “I can negotiate while you make a run for it.”
Nana cackled, grinning at Juliet. “I knew I liked you.”
Ivy slipped out, eyes misty, and tugged the curtain open. Then we all gasped.
“Oh, Stephie Lou,” Hailey breathed, hand over her mouth, hazel eyes pooling.
Stephanie smiled softly. “I haven’t looked yet, but it feels like the one.”
And as far as I was concerned, it was.
The slight V-neck exposed the emerald pendant she wore, and the sheer long sleeves were elegant.
The dress itself was A-line, draped with a beautiful chiffon that flowed with Stephanie’s every step, making her movements flow with liquid grace.
The bodice was overlaid with the faintest lace pattern, adding that hint of sophisticated texture.
It was stunning. And Stephanie was glowing.
“Nash is going to lose his mind,” Liz said, grinning wickedly. “And look, it even has a zipper for easy access.”
Stephanie flushed beet red. “Hush up.” But the twinkle in her eye indicated she wasn’t opposed to the thought. She caught up the skirt in her hand and swiveled in the mirror. “It’s everything I wanted, down to the no train. I refuse to be tripping down the aisle.”
“You’re a vision, Steph,” I said through my choking emotions. There was just something about a wedding dress.
Nana stood up and hugged her. “Let’s get you married, baby girl.”
Hailey and I were staying at Stephanie’s that night since Liz and Ben had their own place and Myles and Juliet had grabbed a hotel room. It was late when we got in from dinner, which Nana insisted on paying for. I loved that woman; she was the grandma I always wanted.
“You’re simply gorgeous, Stephie!” Hailey sighed, moonily dropping onto the sofa in the bungalow’s living room. “I love love.”
In my opinion, Hailey had had too much sugar. She was usually gushy and happy, like a clam, as she said, but there was something else there. An almost forced cheeriness. Like she was getting left behind.
I knew the feeling.
Stephanie yawned. “I’m so glad y’all could make it.” Her smile, though tired, was soft. “Nash is gonna call. Do you mind if I head to bed?”
Hailey wagged her fingers. “Say good night to your man, but it’s girl time tomorrow.”
Stephanie laughed and, with a wave, disappeared down the hall to her room.
“Do you want the couch or the bed?” Hailey asked, sprawling like a jellyfish on the sofa.
“Either is good.”
“Then I’ll take the couch. I’m too tired to move.” She grinned up at me. “You don’t remember me all that well, do you?”
“Uh . . . I remember seventeen-year-old you. This new version is . . . new.” I picked at my fingernail.
Hailey cackled, then slapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, I’m not laughing at you. Promise. I was just thinking about teenage me, and I’m sorry that’s all the frame of reference you have because that girl was going through some stuff. Season One material, ya know. Rough pilot episodes.”
“As opposed to what, Season Seven?” I teased.
“See! You get me.” She yawned loudly. “Sorry. It’s official. I’m getting old.” She winked. “Good night, Pais.”
“Night.” I trudged down the hall. The bungalow was undergoing minor renovations, since Nash would be moving in after the wedding and there was no master bedroom yet.
Soft murmurs came from Stephanie’s room. I smiled as I passed her door. Once inside Liz’s old room, I settled down on the bed and slid open my phone. I was tired, but I wanted to debrief about the day, so I tapped Greyson’s number.
“Hey.” Greyson answered quickly.
“Were you waiting up for me to call?”
“I didn’t want to hover, but I was hoping to hear from you. Kinda pathetic.”
“No, it isn’t,” I whispered, tucking my feet under the covers and settling back against the pillow. “I miss you, too. How was your day?”
“Oh, you know, a couple banged fingers, whiny clients, and all that. How about you?”
“I tried on more dresses than I could wear in a lifetime.” I laughed. “But Steph found her dress, so we were successful.”
“Juliet sent me a picture.”
“Of Steph’s dress?”
Greyson laughed, low and rumbly. “No, of you in a dress. You looked good.” He cleared his throat. “Great actually.”
My face heated. “Please tell me it was not the ball gown monstrosity.”
“Uh . . . There was lace and it was . . . poofy?”
I snorted, covering my mouth, trying not to disturb Stephanie in the next room. “That describes about half of what I tried on. But I’m glad it wasn’t the ball gown. I looked ridiculous.”
Greyson hummed. “I doubt it.”
Flustered, I blurted out. “What happened to your fingers?”
“I was distracted by a picture of a pretty woman in a pretty dress. Hard to keep my mind on work with that image in my head.”
I giggled, and I could practically feel Greyson’s smug smile over the line. We chatted a little longer. I told him about the next day’s plans for the bridal shower. Then he told me about the shop and hanging out with Cal and Khia that evening until his soothing voice eased me right into dreamland.