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“Yes, Kate’s upstairs waiting. Austin just got to our room, and I saw Grant headed there now.” The mention of Grant sends knots to my stomach. I wish I didn’t feel so guilty about how that ended and how happy I am now.
“Let me grab my dress.” I walk over to the small hotel room closet and grab my dress off the hanger, a few things from my suitcase, and my makeup bag. Kate and Grace will have anything else I need.
Which only leaves the awkward moment of do I kiss Dakota goodbye? It isn’t like we won’t see each other again, but it also raises the questions of what are we. Hookups don’t kiss goodbye, I never did with Grant. Nor did I want to. But it feels different with Dakota.
“I’ll see you at the chapel?” It comes out like more of a question than a statement.
“No, I’m actually coming up soon to take photos of you all getting ready.” She smiles and winks when Grace turns around. I kind of wish there is more from her but I also love it being our little secret, for now.
“That hotel room looks like you didn’t get much sleep,” Grace gushes the moment we are out of earshot.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say as we step into the elevator. My smile giving away everything as it’s mirrored back at me.
“It’s nice to see you so happy.” She smiles.
“Where’s Dakota?” Kate asks when we open the door. Her suite is huge compared to ours, with a beautiful view of the strip.
“She’s coming, she had to get ready first,” Grace reassures her.
“Okay.” She nods. “Is that my dress?”
“Yes.” Grace smiles and hands her the garment bag.
“Let me see!” Kate ordered it online and insisted on being surprised. It gave me too much anxiety so I had Grace hold the dress so I wasn’t tempted to peek.
Grace pulls down the zipper to expose a beautiful white wedding dress. A thin white, off the shoulder dress with a slit that will run down Kate’s left thigh. It is elegant and definitelyKate. We all gush at the dress as Grace and I carefully lay it across the bed.
“It’s perfect.” Kate collapses to examine it fully. Grace and I are relieved she likes it or we’d both be on a hunt to find the perfect dress somewhere in the next few hours.
“Someone order a photographer?” Dakota knocks on the door.
“Thank you so much for doing this, it really means a lot.” Kate smiles and offers Dakota a hug. It’s a little awkward but I can tell they’re both actively trying to make an effort.
“So tell me exactly what you’d like photo wise and I’ll see what I can do.”
Kate and Dakota get into what they want with photos so I start getting ready. Kate will be the last to get ready so her makeup is the freshest. I take a seat and let Grace start to work her magic on my face. I can do a cat eye or two but Grace is a professional. Millions of hours of YouTube tutorials will do that for a person. Dakota and Kate are still talking, Kates hands moving a million miles a minute as she explains what she wants, but I can feel Dakota’s eyes on me. A blush falls over my cheeks and Grace catches my not so secret glances.
“You got it baddddd,” she teases and boops my nose with the blush brush.
“Shut it,” I grumble. I don’t need Dakota to hear her. The room is big but not that big.
“Okay, so do your thing and pretend I’m not here,” Dakota says and I laugh. Audibly. Causing everyone to look at me.
So I fake a cough and avoid eye contact with everyone. “Nice one,” Grace whispers.
“Just makeup me, please.” I sigh and stare at my feet. Kate and Dakota have gone quiet but I can feel their presence. There is something off about Grace too, I can’t quite put my finger on it but she seems off. Maybe there is something going on with Harry and her? Weddings seem to bring out all kinds of feelings for people. I also know she wouldn’t feel comfortable talking about it with Dakota around, who is basically a stranger to her, so I don’t ask.
“Is this what you wanted?” Grace asks Kate, she had said light makeup and I still looked like myself so I was happy when Kate agreed.
“She looks great.” She smiles. Dakota starts taking photos of me getting my hair done next and I can’t help but smile. I feel so on display for once.
“So, how was your night?” Kate asks innocently, and I choke on the iced coffee I’m sipping.
“Yes, how was your night?” Grace echoes.
“Pretend I’m not even here,” Dakota says with a chuckle.
“My night was…fine.” I stumble on the last word. Dakota feigns a shot to the heart and I shake my head as Kate looks on confused.
