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Me: “G’night, gorgeous.”
ChapterSix
Ursula
I zip myself into the knee-length, cape-sleeve sheath dress and examine myself in the mirror.
Is this too conservative, with my arms and chest completely covered? Yes. From the waist up, I look Amish. A sparkly Amish mother of the bride. Maybe this will work when I give Jasmine away at her wedding.
I stare down at the other options splayed out on my bed. The satin slip dress with its spaghetti straps shows too much skin for wintertime, and I don’t know what the other women at this ball will be wearing. But how cute would it be when I inevitably get cold, and Noah gives me his jacket? Too, too cute.
I try on the one-shoulder crepe midi instead, but then ditch that idea. The puffy sleeve panels make me look like a Disney villain.
Most everything else I have that’s formal looks like something a bridesmaid would wear. Sheesh, why do images of weddings keep popping into my head?
I’m being too hard on myself.
I need something sexy, sweet and festive, but also comfortable enough to dance in as well as sit in.
Finally, I decide to be bold with some sequins, and slip on a navy and silver knee-length dress. The twist in front tightens the fit around my waistline, which I like. It’s sleeveless, which will help me stay cool if the room gets too warm, but it has enough coverage that I shouldn’t freeze if it’s a cold night tonight.
Yes, even when I’m getting ready to be spontaneous and fun, I have to think everything through. It’s a curse.
I decide to pair it with some strappy open-toe heels, then sit down to do something with my hair and makeup. As I stare in the makeup mirror, I decide that now would be an awesome time for a girlfriend to come over.
I FaceTime my friend Jasmine in Nashville, who I haven’t spoken to in weeks, since we shopped for her wedding dress.
“Who is this?” Jasmine asks, instantly dispensing with formalities. “Because I know it’s not my friend Ursula. Ursula never calls, she never writes, she doesn’t remember to plan my bachelorette party…”
I gasp. “Oh my god! Did you change your mind?”
Jasmine wheezes into the camera. “I’m kidding! You know I’m not down for male strippers.”
Yeah, I deserved that.
“Sorry it’s been so long! But now that you mention it, I would like to do something before the wedding next week. Something fun for the two of us girls.”
Jasmine and Chris are getting married on New Year’s Eve, and the guest list is only a tight group of friends who all agreed there was no better way to celebrate the new year. Anyone who didn’t want to give up that night didn’t have to come. That is Jasmine in a nutshell: She does not make apologies for how she wants to live her life. I wish I were more like her. Chris’s parents in Seattle are unable to travel, and so they’re planning a family get-together with them later to celebrate at their winery.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m fine just to hang out and have a girls’ night at home before you give me away. By the way, you look hot, ho! Don’t tell me you’re finally going on a date?”
“I am,” I say, wincing.
Her eyes go wide, and she claps. “Congratulations! Are you about to get some D?”
“No! Maybe. No, I just need to know what to do with this mess,” I say, motioning in a circle around my face and hair. “We’re going to a fancy Christmas ball. I wear so little makeup, and I only ever wear my hair up in a headband.”
“Let me see the whole look so far.”
I set the camera on my vanity and walk back a few paces.
“Let me see the back. Hmm. Let’s go with sleek hair. Down, no updo. Small accessories since the dress is eye-catching. Medium glam makeup, full coverage, with a shimmery eye. Go with a port red lip so you can mark your territory.”
“My territory? God, why did I call you?”
“Because you love me and you feel guilty.”
She’s dead on there. “How’s the wedding planning going, by the way?” I ask as I sit down at my mirror with the phone propped up so she can watch and help me. Jasmine knows hair and makeup, and I know clothes. If we shared a brain, we’d be unstoppable.
