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“Seven.”
He shook his head, but he was smiling. When his phone roused us, he brought in breakfast on the cookie sheet. There was granola in a bowl, and when he fed me a chunk with his fingers, I ate it. Eagerly. And opened my mouth for more.
Alexis emerged from the dressing room in a mermaid-style gown that hugged her figure and flared out at the bottom. Sequins caught the light. The stiff strapless bodice showed a tease of cleavage. She smiled for the pictures — I was getting to be a pro — then frowned at her reflection.
“I don’t think so,” she announced. The saleswoman nodded in agreement.
“Why not?” I circled her, adjusting the zipper in back. “It shows you off. It’s sexy.”
“Looking sexy is not the point. It’s mywedding.We’ll be kneeling in church.”
“And what are you going to be doing that night?” Her curves were so toned, I could cry. I snapped another picture, a rear-view close-up, and showed it to her. “Look, it’s your butt. Make that the background on your phone.”
The saleswoman glared at me.
Alexis laughed charmingly. “It’s way too tight.”
“That’s the point. Daniel will be dying to rip it off you.”
Alexis rolled her eyes and rustled back to the fitting room. I followed.
“Aren’t you excited?” I leaned close to whisper as she shut the door. “Are you still waiting for your wedding night?”
“Of course.” Her cheeks had a tinge of pink, probably from thinking of the thousands of guys who were in mourning that they’d never sleep with her. She tweaked my ponytail. “You’re so smiley. Don’t tell me…are you in love?”
“No!” I snorted.
The saleswoman brought her another dress, cream satin with a train a mile long. I carried the shining material as Alexis left the dressing room and let it pool around her in front of the mirrors.
“Don’t take any pictures yet.” Alexis turned from side to side, adjusting her dress.
Fine with me. I dropped into the armchair by the mirror. Here in the bridal shop, I couldn't stop smiling.
“I’m beautiful,” I whispered.
Patrick had been screwing with me. Messing with my head. But the smile kept breaking through. I buried my face in the crook of my elbow and giggled.
I was so fucked.
The saleswoman shot me a glance. She probably thought I was high. Setting a glimmering tiara on my sister’s hair, she patted it in place. A gauzy veil floated around her bare shoulders.
“Honey!” Alexis, in her cream satin dress, was waving her hand in front of my face. “Hello? It’s picture time.”
“Okay, okay, I got it.”
I groped through my purse for my phone. My fingers brushed bills. Patrick had slipped them in this morning while I threw my clothes on. I’d been in such a rush to drive home, such a rush to pretend they weren’t there, that I hadn’t moved them to my wallet.
Three feet away from my sister, surrounded by pristine white dresses, I took a peek.
You’re beautiful,the top bill said. In writing so small and precise, it didn’t seem human.
“Christina?” Alexis stared at me. “What are you doing with…” She inclined her head toward the twenty in my hand.
Jesus fucking Christ. I shoved the bills in my wallet and slid halfway down the armchair, giggling like I’d lost my mind.
“Are you okay?” The saleswoman gave me a strange look.
“I think she’s in love,” my sister informed her.
