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I watch as she sucks in a deep breath and lets out a dreamy sigh and a smile. “Yes. I seriously can’t wait to marry the man of my dreams. I’m going to be Mrs. Sophie Holt. Mason and Sophie Holt. Mr. and Mrs. Mason Holt.” I crack up at the way she’s trying her soon-to-be last name. “Do you think it sounds weird?”
“Not any weirder than Lennon Manning,” I snicker, and Sophie swats at me. “Be nice.”
“It’s just all the n’s. Makes me want to sing the Batman tune.”
Her eyes go wide. “I’m telling her you said that.”
“I already have! She thought it was adorable in the way Lennon thinks everything is adorable these days. I think it’s the mom in her,” I suggest.
Sophie parks the car and we see Lennon waiting in the front. Even after all these years, she’s still punctual as hell. As soon as we make it to her she gives us hugs. “You’re five minutes late.”
“Blame that one.” Sophie points at me.
“I had to shower! Unless you want me sweaty and dirty,” I exclaim.
“Is that a sex joke, Maddie?” Lennon asks and I nod, completely claiming it. Nothing about having sex with Liam embarrasses me. I want the whole world to know he’s all mine. I’ve only been waiting since I was seventeen. The thought causes a blush to hit my cheeks.
“Lord. I can’t take either of you anywhere.” Sophie grins and shoos us inside.
As soon as we’re at the counter, one of the workers walks up and introduces herself as Mel. She smiles as she types on a keyboard, then tells us she’ll grab our items. Mel walks us into a private area with mirrors and dressing rooms, then asks Sophie if she’d like help putting on her wedding gown. Sophie’s adamant she can do it herself so Mel hands us our garments and it takes no time for me and Lennon to slip into ours before Sophie begs for help.
“If it’s hard getting into it, don’t you think it’s going to be even more difficult to take off?” I ask with a cheeky grin as we step in and notice she’s frazzled, trying to reach the beautiful buttons that go up the back.
“Mason will find a way, trust me.” Sophie drops her arms, giving them a rest. “It’s almost worse than putting on a sports bra after taking a shower and being damp.”
“Let me help,” Lennon gently tells her, using her calming mom voice.
“The only thing worse than putting on a sports bra is taking it off after dancing for three hours. It literally rolls up my back and—”
“Almost done,” Lennon interrupts, changing the subject as she clasps each button.
Sophie looks at us with tears in her eyes. “I just noticed your dresses. They’re beautiful. You both look so good.”
I place a hand on my hip and give her a wink. “Because we take after you.”
“The red is perfect,” Lennon states, and I confirm with a nod.
“It’s going to be a Hallmark wedding, for sure!” I clap my hands, excited to celebrate Christmas soon. It brings back so many good memories from last year after I first moved into the house. Sophie and I would bake cookies and have all night watch-a-thons together. Eventually, after she and Mason get married, I know they’ll move, and I’m going to miss that special bonding time we had together.
“What?” Sophie notices my change in mood.
I shake my head. “Nothing. I’m just going to really miss you at home.”
“Don’t you dare start that. I’m already getting emotional.” Sophie fans her face as if that’s ever helped stop the tears.
“You two better stop,” Lennon chimes in. “Look at you, Soph. You’re gorgeous.”
We stare at her in awe. The cream-colored dress has a crystal beaded waistband, illusion sleeves, and a plunging neckline showing just enough skin to be sexy but not scandalous. “You look like a Disney princess,” I whisper.
“Because I am.” Sophie snickers, then looks back and forth between Lennon and me. “I wish Mom were here.”
“She would’ve come.” Lennon moves Sophie’s long brown her off her shoulder, really showing off the sheer sleeves.
“I know, it just seemed ridiculous to have her travel here for a wedding dress try-on and all that. Plus, I have you two.”
I’m smiling so big it nearly hurts. “You’ll always have us, Soph. Always. Now, let’s FaceTime Mom so she can see us all.” We move out of the dressing room where there are more space and mirrors, and I grab Sophie’s phone to call our parents. There are too many pictures to be taken with mine. After we say our hellos and I flip the camera around so they can see Sophie in her beautiful wedding gown, I hand the phone to Lennon and pull out mine. It’s such an important memory to capture, and I make sure to snag all the best angles. I swear any time my sisters have big life events, I become the family photographer, but I don’t mind. If for some reason dancing doesn’t work out, I may have found an alternative career.
