AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nyx watches from his usual spot on his grandpa’s grave with a smirk on his face. “Just don’t do it. Or make it hideous so she goes elsewhere.”
“Cruella will fire me. She gave me a huge lecture about turning business away and said she’d cut my commission if I didn’t do it.”
“Then take a cut.”
“And who would pay the bills? Dad certainly won’t. Yah know, he told me this morning that he was gonna try harder. I got home and he was passed out with a bottle of Jack.”
“It’s an illness,” he mutters. “He can’t help it.”
“I’m getting sick of the excuses.”
Nyx pushes to his feet. “Give him a break, it’s not his fault. And design the dress, make it magical and everything Rebecca wants. She didn’t ask to be stuck in the middle of your love triangle. And chill a bit. Your negative energy scares the spirits away.” He kisses me on the head and walks away with his hands stuffed in his pockets and his cap pulled low over his eyes. I kneel beside Mum and Beckett.
“Am I scaring you all away?” I ask no one in particular. “Who else am I supposed to talk to?” The silence stretches out. “You’re right, maybe I should take a chill pill. Maybe Dad has the right idea.”
Idon’t hear from Nyx that night. I toss and turn because I’m used to having him here lately and I feel the loss. By sunrise, I’m irritable about not being able to sleep. I dress in my running gear and hit the pavement, loving the sound of my feet pounding hard. Whenever Beck was home, we’d go running together. Sometimes, Nathan joined us. I loved those times the best, but right now, I’d give anything to have my brother pushing me with words of encouragement. I do a full circuit and stop outside my house with my hands on my knees, trying to suck in enough air so I don’t pass out.
“Still running?” asks Nathan from his doorway.
“Looks that way,” I bite back.
He strolls over, holding a cup of coffee. “I miss it. I might take it up again if you fancy a running partner?”
I straighten, pulling my shirt loose to hide my bump. “I’m good, thanks. I prefer to run alone these days.”
A sad look passes over his face. “Rebecca is looking forward to her appointment later.”
“Great. Can’t wait.” I start to walk up my path.
“Bug, please, be nice.”
I roll my eyes, keeping my back to him. “I’m the queen of nice.”
Iget to work, and I’m relieved my first client is early. Maybe my day will run smoothly because of it. All the other girls are busy with their own clients, which means there’s no one to help out by running to fetch accessories. By my third client, my feet are burning. When I spot Rebecca, part of me is relieved. At least we’ll get to sit and talk about designs for a while.
She hands me a take-out latte. “Nathan said it was your favourite.”
I smile awkwardly. “Thanks.”Damn, why is she so nice?
We sit opposite each other at my desk, and I pull out my folder of sketches. “Have you set a date?”
“Yes, New Year’s Eve.”
“Wow, that’s four months away.” I know without checking because I’m having a January baby. “We’d better get to work.”
I watch as she flicks through my designs. She’s pretty, in an understated kind of way, and she doesn’t need makeup and perfectly styled hair to pull off a great look. She’s in jeans and an olive-coloured jumper, her hair pushed into a messy bun, and yet she looks radiant. I know I have so many designs that would suit her perfectly, and I begrudgingly take the folder back and turn to the winter collection.
“None of my brides have seen these,” I tell her. I leave out the part that I designed these for myself. My dream dresses. “And I think any of these will be perfect for your figure.”
She smiles wide, her eyes glistening. “Oh my god, I love them all,” she whispers in awe. “You’re an amazing designer.”
“Thanks.” I laugh. “If only Vera Wang would recognise me.”
“Forget her, these are incredible. You need your own shop!”
I laugh again. “That was the dream,” I trail off without addingbefore my life went to total shit.
“I love the style of this but with this detail,” she says, flicking between two pages. “This thin belt is gorgeous, and I like the way it breaks the dress up.” I nod, grabbing my pencil and adding the belt to the design she likes.
