Blake snorted. “Good luck with that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” Billie said gently, “that you’re already falling for him. And he’s already falling for you. Pretending it’s just temporary doesn’t make it true.”
I wanted to argue. To insist they were wrong, that this was just a summer fling, that I wasn’t falling for anyone and they had no way of knowing otherwise.
But the words stuck in my throat.
Because maybe they were right.
Maybe I was already in deeper than I wanted to admit. And it had only been one date. One night.
And even knowing that, I had no intention of stopping. How could I? Dex and I felt so right, and even if it hurt when it ended, even if it destroyed me, it would be worth it.Hewas worth it.
“Can we please just focus on finding Delaney the perfect dress?” I pleaded.
“Absolutely!” Delaney said cheerfully. “But just so you know, we’re bringing this back up later. Probably with mimosas.”
Everyone laughed, and the conversation shifted to safer topics, the wedding, the guest list, whether Trace was going to cry when he saw Delaney in her dress.
But I caught Reece watching me with a knowing look, and Blake kept turning around to grin at me, and I knew this conversation was far from over.
#
The bridal boutique in Riverside was exactly what I’d pictured. Elegant, bright, with racks of white dresses that seemed to glow in the natural light streaming through tall windows.
A consultant met us at the door with champagne flutes on a silver tray.
“For the bride and her party,” she said warmly. “Congratulations! Let’s find you the perfect dress.”
For the next hour, I got lost in the experience. Delaney tried on dress after dress. Some too simple, some too elaborate, some that were beautiful but just not quite right.
We sat on a plush couch, giving feedback, taking photos, laughing when Delaney emerged in one particularly ridiculous ball gown.
“I look like a meringue,” she declared.
“A beautiful meringue,” Blake assured her.
“I’m not wearing this.”
“Agreed. Next!”
I photographed it all. Delaney’s expressions, the women’s reactions, the way sunlight caught on beading and lace. These were the moments that mattered, the ones that would mean something years from now.
Then Delaney emerged in a dress that made everyone go quiet.
It was simple but stunning. Flowing, romantic, with delicate lace sleeves and a back that dipped just low enough to be interesting. It fit her perfectly, made her look like she was glowing.
“Oh,” Reece breathed. “That’s the one.”
“That’s definitely the one,” Billie agreed.
Blake’s eyes were shining. “Delaney. You look…”
“Like a bride,” I finished, my camera clicking. “You look like a bride.”
Delaney turned to look at herself in the three-way mirror, and her expression transformed. “This is it,” she said softly. “This is my dress.”
