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“Dad, stop avoiding the question. How bad does your knee hurt today? On a scale of one to ten?”
Jamal shrugged. “Eh. Just a one.”
“Liar. But I’ll let it slide this one time.Ifyou throw me a hundred grounders when you get out of the shower.”
“I guess I’d rather you play softball than be a-” Jamal paused dramatically, “Cheerleader?!”
“That was low, dad. Cheerleader, really? Please don’t insult my athletic ability.”
“That’s my girl! But you better not let Callie hear you say that! She might take away your flower girl status.” Giving his daughter’s curls a tussle, he tried not to grimace as he turned to go take a shower.
“I’ll make ya a pop tart, daddy-o! You gotta keep your energy up for throwing me all those balls!”
“As long as you make me a chocolate one, kiddo, you have a deal.”
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CHAPTER TWO
“I look utterly ridiculous in this dress, Aria! There is nowayI am going to wear this in achurch! My nana would bust out of her grave and haunt me until the day I die!” Callie went on a rant after staring at herself in the three-way mirror for a few seconds in stunned silence. The trio was in the fourth bridal shop of the day and had found zilch in the way of wedding dresses. Cassie and Aria had finally started taking turns randomly pulling dresses off the rack and shoving them at Callie through the dressing room curtains. This dress was obviously Aria’s pick.
“What? I don’t see anything wrong with it.” Aria was lounging on one of the shop’s settees outside of the dressing room, one leg hanging over one arm as she lounged in the other one. A Charms sucker stick was sticking out of her mouth and her hair was pulled into a haphazard bun. She still managed to look gorgeous. “It’s sexy.”
“I don’t want to besexyon my wedding day!” Callie shrieked. “My dad can’t see me in this…this…monstrosity!I can’t evenwalk!I’d have to shuffle like a penguin down the aisle!”
“Now, Cal, it’s not that bad,” Cassie said, trying to diplomatically make peace between her two friends. Aria and Callie’s styles couldn’t differ more from each other. While Callie preferred sweats and baggy t-shirts, Aria leaned more toward the…uh…risqué side of the spectrum.
Aria had the body of a professional basketball cheerleader and didn’t mind wearing clothing that showcased it. Hell, Cassie thought, Aria was so used to wearing practically nothing at all when she danced for the team and bartended at her dad’s bar that her skin-tight leggings and tight t-shirt that highlighted her ample cleavage and legs that went on for miles probably was a lot of clothing for her. Still, Cassie knew she had to diffuse the situation before it turned nasty. Callie was already stressed as it was after four failed shop attempts.
Cassie looked at the dress Callie was staring at in shock in the mirror. Long, strapless, and skin-tight, the dress dipped low in the front, highlighting Callie’s tall stature and creamy skin. Rhinestones outlined the top of the bodice, slanting down diagonally from the right to the left hip. The tight material ended at Callie’s mid-thigh and then fanned out into a round tulle drape to the floor. It really was gorgeous. Unfortunately, it was flashy Aria gorgeous, not simple Callie gorgeousat all.
Before Callie could argue with her, Cassie continued in a quick breath. “It would actually be something Aria would look amazing in inherwedding, but Aria,” Cassie said, turning to her other friend, “this isCallie’swedding and you know that’s not something she would wear.”
Aria rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll try to find something plain and boring.” With a sigh, Aria drew herself off the couch, stretching and arching her back like a cat waking from a nap and walked off to the racks of dresses to find something else.
“I could never wear something likethis!”Callie whispered to Cassie. “Can you see me in something like this?!”
“No,” Cassie told her friend with a smile. “But I think monstrosity is a bit much.” Aria came back with a dress in her hand and held it out to Callie. “Try this one on.”
“But it’s Cassie’s turn to pick,” Callie questioned. “It isn’t a see-through bikini, is it?”
“No,” Aria said with another eye roll. “Trust me, it is totallyyourstyle. A girl can’t help but try to sexify you up.”
Callie took the dress from Aria’s hand and shuffled into the dressing room.
“I don’t know what her deal is,” Aria said, turning to Cassie with a smirk. “I’m just trying to liven things up for Kyle.”
Cassie glared at her friend. “Once again, it’s notyourwedding.”
Aria sighed. “I know, I know. But she will like this one, I swear.”
The girls heard a small shriek coming from behind the curtain. “Aria!” Cassie said. But before she could berate her friend properly, Cassie saw Callie come out of the dressing room and gasped in shock. The dress had small cap sleeves that angled in a sharp v down Callie’s back to her waist. It was covered in a lace overlay with scalloped edges. The lace stopped at Callie’s waist and draped to her feet in beautiful, soft chiffon pleats.
“It’s. So. Gorgeous,” Callie sighed. “Aria, it isperfect.”
Aria’s grin rivaled the Cheshire cat’s. “Yep. I know how to pick ‘em.”
Callie was too busy smiling at herself in the mirror to even respond.
