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At lunchtime, Joi and I called an Uber to run over to the bridal shop for her last fitting. With the wedding two weeks away, the pressure was on, and she spent the better part of each day on the phone with caterers, florists, calligraphers, and a dozen other vendors who were playing a part in her big day.
And then there were the families.
I vowed to remain single. I had no interest in the bullshit drama Joi was going through, and besides, my company took all my time and energy. I’d be damned if I was going to waste that on some guy who would only let me down in the long run.
But that wasn’t to say I was not up for some fun…
“We’re here!” Joi squealed, practically jumping out of the Uber before it fully stopped. She ran for the bridal shop’s front door like she was greeting an old friend, leaving me behind to approach it with my usual scorn.
After all, I was several hundred bucks into this wedding thanks to this place.
Stop.
I had to buck the bad attitude, if not for Joi’s sake, then for mine. I didn’t have the spare energy to walk around with a chip on my shoulder. Her special day was coming up, and she deserved to be celebrated by someone who wasn’t wearing a resting bitch face.
I sat on one of the salon’s white, fluffy sofas and nibbled on Jordan almonds. My dress was ready, waiting for me to pay the balance at the front desk. Oh, there was nothing I wanted to do more than spend four hundred dollars on a dress I didn’t even like.
But hey, what were friends for?
Joi bounded out of the dressing room in her partially fitted gown, the back wide open, holding fluffy layers of tulle and other fabric.
“Well?” she said, twirling in front of me.
I had to admit, she made a pretty bride.
“They’re going to have me come in for one last fitting just a few days before the wedding, because I’m still losing weight. Can you believe it?” She skipped back to the dressing room with the saleslady running after her.
My phone buzzed. Brodie again.
i have an offer you can’t refuse. well, shouldn’t refuse
That made me laugh. And damn if I didn’t need a laugh just then. Even though I wanted nothing to do with dating.
if I can’t refuse it, do I get to know what it is?
Oh my god. Was I flirting?
nope.
Well, then.
what if I don’t trust you?
you would be smart. miss happy
Oh what the hell. The memory of him helping the homeless guy melted my cold heart.
you still there? he asked.
yes, sorry. at a bridal salon
you getting married ?
um, no. my friend is
whew. i’m not into married women
Note to self—don’t let this guy know I actually was married. Married to an asshole in a fake union, but married nonetheless. I continued the text-versation.
what kind of women are you into?
Joi came bounding out of the dressing room again, saleslady in tow.
“What do you think of this headpiece? I might get it instead of a veil.” She was breathless in her excitement. Bridal salons were her kryptonite. What she would do for fun after the wedding was over, I had no idea.
“Mmmm. I like the veil better.” Actually, I hated veils, but I knew Joi loved them. Her indecision was just last minute jitters.
She ran back into the dressing room with that poor woman on her heels.
I returned to my phone. Shit, had I really just asked Brodie what kind of women he liked? But before I could make a joke about it, his answer popped into my phone.
women like you
So. There it was. My heart pounded, because the ball was in my court. Well, my virtual court. He liked me. He was handsome and sexy.
What the hell was wrong with me?
But I needn’t have worried. Before I was able to come up with something clever to say, he let me off the hook.
so what do you say to my offer you shouldn’t refuse?
what’s the offer?
a date. with me
that’s all you’ll tell me?
that’s all you need
well then. okay. i accept
