28. Chapter 28
Sadie
I’d tried. All these feelings I wasn’t sure how to deal with, I’d wanted to explain them to Cole, but I hadn’t done so well. And now I had more guilt. Cole needed my help for his dreams. I owed him. I hated his dreams. Not for him. For me.
It was fine. After this dress fitting, I was going to go buy a whole new wardrobe for myself and for Alyssa. Whatever she wanted. Deep down, who didn’t want all new clothing?
Of course, there was the possibility that this dress fitting would never end. We’d been here for over two hours. Two painful hours. We had three people assisting us, and Tiffany wasn’t happy with anything they did. We’d all tried on more dresses than should even exist in the world.
Tiffany should have picked out the dresses she wanted and then had us come try them on. Between the Hart sisters, in-laws, and Alyssa, there were eight of us sitting there as Tiffany’s patience grew thinner.
I sat on a cushy chair, still surprised stores like this existed. Nayvee sat next to me.
“I don’t know why I’m even here,” she said. “I’m not going to fit anything. And I’m hoping this baby decides to come before the wedding.”
“When are you due?”
“Three days after the wedding.”
“Ooh, that’s close.”
“Too close. But yay for them, I guess? I mean, I’m happy my parents are getting married. It’s about time. Not that Haskell feels like my dad at all. It will be weird to have him around the family home.”
“He’s your dad?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I think so.”
“You don’t know for sure?”
She shook her head. “No. But Mom doesn’t know either, and I look a whole lot like Haskell’s sister. I’d bet on it. Not that I’m ever going to call him dad. The dad who raised me was my dad as far as I’m concerned, and I’m sad that he had to be married to my mom. Sorry. Family drama dump.”
I smiled. “I think we all have a little family drama.”
“Probably.”
“Does he treat you differently?”
“We have a long, weird history. I used to work for him, and he was so bossy. Then I bought the museum, so he worked for me. He didn’t love that.
Then I found out he might be my dad. I confronted him, and he was shocked.
It had never crossed his mind. He’s nice to me now.
We have a fine relationship. Not cuddly or anything. ”
My family was messy, but thankfully not with things like that.
Tiffany came out of the dressing room. “I think we’ve found it!”
“Finally,” Rylee mumbled.
Lainee came out of the dressing room in a light blue dress and spun in a circle. My stomach dropped. It was too low in the front for me to feel comfortable in and not much better in the back. And Alyssa? I definitely didn’t want her in that.
“Nooo,” Rylee groaned. “Not unless you add three inches to the front and ten to the back.”
“Seriously,” Nayvee mumbled.
Lainee spun again. “I like it.”
“You would,” Brynlee said.
“Come on,” Tiffany said. “It’s elegant and flattering.”
My heart had picked up an irregular beat. I’d never worn anything like that, and I would spend all day feeling self-conscious in it.
Eliza, at least I think it was Eliza, looked ready to bolt, and Taya’s eyes were wide.
“What do you think, Alyssa?” Tiffany asked.
Alyssa smiled. “I love it!”
Tiffany beamed. “And Sadie? What do you think?”
“Uh…” I pushed a curl behind my ear. “I don’t think I can… uh… keep something like that up.”
Nayvee snorted.
“Not to insult anyone,” Rylee said, “but I don’t think most of us are built to pull that off.”
Tiffany rolled her eyes. “It’s nothing a little padding and underwire won’t fix.”
I wondered if my face was as red as Taya’s.
Tiffany texted someone, then looked up. “Cole and Dax are in the city. I’m having them come over to give their opinions.”
“Why are they here?” I asked.
“Dax is getting a new motorcycle,” Taya said. “He sold his old one for me, but I decided I might be able to handle it if he gets a new one and only rides it on empty roads.” She gave a small smile. “I know, I’m the bossy wife.”
Lainee laughed. “Hardly, Taya.”
A half-hour later, Tiffany had me stuffed in the dress. I glared at myself in the mirror. There was no way I was going out in public in this thing, but I had no idea how to tell Tiffany no.
“Come out,” Tiffany commanded.
I took a deep breath and walked out. Dax and Cole were there. My hand automatically went across my chest to my shoulder, trying to hide everything I didn’t want to show.
Cole grinned at me, and I frowned.
“Put your hand down,” Tiffany said. “We need the full effect.”
I told my hand to go to my side; it refused. “I… can’t.”
Tiffany’s brows touched. “What do you mean?”
I swallowed. “I’m sorry, I’m really uncomfortable in this.”
“It’s because you aren’t used to it. It will be fine.”
I rubbed my lips together. Backbone, where are you?
“No, she’s not wearing it,” Cole said.
Tiffany turned to him. “She looks great.”
“That doesn’t matter. She doesn’t need to go through an entire day worrying about a wardrobe malfunction.”
“Cole…”
He came over to me and turned me back toward the dressing room. “Go change,” he whispered. “I’ve got your back.”
I was glad someone did, since I obviously didn’t.
Tiffany studied me for a moment, then lifted her chin.
“Fine. We’ll find something else.”
“Hallelujah,” Rylee muttered.
I went and changed. When I came out, everyone was gone except Cole.
“Where did they go?”
“Mom decided to go with a dress that was tolerable. I guess you all tried it on about an hour ago. I told them I’d take you home.”
I rubbed my arm. “I feel guilty.”
“Why?”
“It’s your mom’s big day.”
“Sadie.” He stepped closer. “She bulldozed half of ours. And even if she hadn’t… you don’t owe anyone your comfort.”
He was right. In a way. I definitely owed him my comfort. I just had to make sure he never knew that I hated the gym and pep club. I needed to change my attitude. If I managed the gym, it might be fun. I’d never tried working here; I wouldn’t have to sit at the desk getting hit on by losers.
We walked out to his car and got in. “Does the gym have security?” I asked.
“It has cameras.” He pulled onto the road. “Why?”
“No security guard?”
“No.”
“Hm.”
“Hm, what?” he asked, glancing over.
“The worst thing about working at our old gym was the creeps who tried to flirt. Can we make a no flirting with the staff policy?”
“Sure. That’s probably a good idea.”
“I hated getting hit on at the gym.”
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “You and me both.”
I smiled at him. “People hit on you?”
“Yep. Especially this one hot receptionist.”
“Angela?”
He gave me a fake glare. “Not Angela.”
I laughed. “I never hit on you. If anything, you hit on me.”
He winked. “But not in a creepy way, right?”
“Not too bad.”
“I thought I kept it professional?”
I raised an eyebrow. “I’m sure it was really professional the way you put your arms around me to help me lift the weights.”
He groaned. “Man. Sorry. I told myself to absolutely not do that, but my arms disagreed. You have to admit, you fit perfectly into my arms.”
I smiled at my slight reflection in the window. “I love your arms.”
“Oh yeah?”
“And I love being in them.” Wow. Why didn’t I just admit to everything right here and now?
“Good,” he said. “Because I love having you in them.”
We were quiet for a few minutes.
Relationships were awkward. I hoped we could get over all the weird parts fast. We probably could if I jumped in wholeheartedly. I didn’t know that Cole loved me, but I thought he might.
I could blurt it out right here and now. That I loved him. That my stupid friends first was just a way to protect myself. I could. But I wouldn’t. Too many things could go wrong, and I wasn’t ready for that.
Something swirled in my stomach. But if I said it, we might be able to move on to something better.
I opened my mouth. The words were right there.
He glanced over, one hand loose on the steering wheel, looking so sure of everything.
I swallowed them.