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“What?”
He shook his head. “It’s nothing. It’s just that I liked your hair better before. I know you always make it straight, but the curls suit you better.”
A lump caught in my throat. Had this man just complimented me? And why did I feel all warm and fluttery inside?
“Do you like your room?” I changed the subject because I wasn’t ready to address everything that was going on inside me.
“Yeah, it’s great.” He scratched the back of his neck. “I’m just going to chill out here for a bit while you’re out. Grayson might come over, and we might watch the game.”
I let out a soft chuckle. “You don’t have to report back to me, Marcus. This is your home, too. You can invite whoever you want here. I will see you later, okay?”
He nodded and headed in direction of his room. I turned away and headed in the opposite direction towards the stairs.
I didn’t like the way my body was reacting to him. I couldn’t develop feelings for Marcus. There was no way in hell. So what? We had sex once—more than once—but that didn’t matter. I was a grown woman. I could keep my feelings in check for a few months.
When I got downstairs, I said my goodbyes to Lily and Ethan and left my house. I was meeting Lara at Monique’s which was a little boutique in the town center. It was, apparently, the nicest store to buy dresses in.
I wasn’t about to spend five to six figures on a gown for my fake marriage, so I didn’t really care.
I pulled into the parking space by the store to find Danny holding a sleeping Axel and Lara by her side. When she saw me, her face immediately split into a huge grin that I was sure hurt her cheeks.
I stepped out of my car and made my way to where they stood.
“Sorry I’m late.” I hugged both of them but had to maneuver my way around Axel to hug Danny. “Shall we?”
We walked in and were greeted by the store owner.
“Hello, ladies.” She smiled. “I’m Monique. You must be Lara, the mother of the groom. I spoke to you a little while ago.”
“That’s me.” Lara beamed. “This is my daughter, Daniella, and my other daughter, Maddison. She is the blushing bride, and this little sleepy bear is my grandson, Axel.”
I was caught off guard by the way she chose to introduce me to the store owner. It astounded me how quickly she welcomed me into her home and life. That familiar pang of guilt hit me again. I had to force it down and make sure that it didn’t show on my face.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” Monique smiled at us. “Maddison, I can take you to the back. I have a few things already picked out for you. But Daniella and Lara you two can have a look around to see if you would like her to try some other dresses on.”
I nodded and followed her to the changing rooms. Once we were in the changing rooms, Monique showed me her first three options, and I knew, from first glance, I hated them all. They were all typical flowery and poofy and that was not my style of dress at all, but I didn’t say anything.
This day was for Lara more than anything else. She wanted to do the dress shopping just like how she had taken me and Marcus to cake tastings and flower arrangements. She was so excited about this big day, and I didn’t blame her.
She thought that her son had finally gotten over his dead ex-lover and was now moving on with another woman. I never asked about Sarah because everyone apart from Lara wanted to guard the secret.
When I walked in wearing the first option, Danny and Lara were sitting on the couch waiting. I knew from their faces that it was already a straight no.
“That is awful.” Lara pulled a face. “Next. Monique, this time bring her out in something a little more from this century, please.”
I had to hold back a laugh, as I returned to the changing room.
And that was how the rest of the appointment continued. Lara critiqued every option that was brought forward, and I just laughed silently with my future mother-in-law.
