It’s simple satin. It has a deep V neckline, and the back is open. I step into it, and the fabric skims over my body with a featherlight touch. The dress has sleeves that sort of remind me of bells, wider around my wrist. When I raise my arms, they drop down, kind of like angel wings.
An angel, I most certainly am not, but I can’t deny it’s a stunning look.
The satin falls straight to the floor. It’s a wrap dress, so I tie it around my waist, and I slide into the pair of heels I’vebeen using to, as Poppy says,get the full effect.The wrap style lends itself to a slit up my leg when I step forward. There’s a short train that pools around the backs of my feet when I’m standing still.
I stare at myself in the mirror. I look…pretty.
My cheeks flush.
I don’t deserve to look pretty. It’s all a lie. Me in white. This whole wedding.
My phone pings in my purse. I reach for it, and it’s a message from Collin with a photo attached.
Collin:Hope the shopping is going well. I’m patrolling the road leading into town, and it always reminds me of you. Think you’ll ever forgive me for pulling you over last year?
My cheeks start burning as I stare down at the photo of Collin in his uniform with the county road in the background. He’s smirking his usual smirk, and the trees are green instead of the golden color of fall they were when he pulled me over, but I can distinctly remember that day. My, oh my, how much has changed.
Noli:Jury’s out.
Without thinking, I snap a photo of my shoes and the bottom of the dress.
Noli:Dress shopping is exhausting, but I think we’re making progress. Mostly, I want to go home and eat pizza on my couch.
Bubbles pop up and disappear again. They return to the screen after a minute. I hold my breath.
Collin:You’ll be a beautiful bride.
I open my mouth on a gasp, blinking quickly and pressing my lips together. My heart rises in my chest.
Noli:Thanks for saying that.
Collin:It’s the truth.
I toss my phone on the pile of my clothes in the corner of the dressing room and look at myself in the mirror again. I’m imagining Collin seeing me in this dress, remembering the way his green eyes look when they’re locked on me. Like they’ve never seen something like me. Like they want to catalog every inch. Ifeel myself standing up straighter. Collin thinks I’ll be a beautiful bride. There’s something in that for me.
I shove the curtain open and step out. My thoughts are a million miles away. Actually, they’re about forty-five miles away. With Collin.
I blink, coming back to myself.
My sisters are staring at me with wide eyes. Poppy stands up, her hands at her heart. Rose covers her mouth with her middle three fingers.
“What?” I look down.Oh.“Do you like it?”
Rose snorts, and Poppy gives her a side-eyed glare.
“Before we say anything, doyoulike it?” Poppy asks, stepping toward me and walking around me in a circle, presumably to see the dress from all angles.
I shift, uncomfortable under her scrutiny. “Can you stop? You’re like a lion stalking its prey.”
“Sorry.” Poppy drops back down on the velvet-covered couch. “It’s…wow.”
“Tell us what you think, Noli,” Rose demands.
“I think…” I turn toward the full-length, three-sided mirror. I futz with the tie along the waist, making sure it lays flat. I press my hands against the smooth fabric. “I don’t know. I think this is the best option of the ones we’ve seen.” I shrug. “I guess.”
“You guess?” Poppy stands again, her hands flying to her hips. “I’m here to tell you that this is a showstopper. Show. Stop-per.” She snaps her fingers with each syllable, making a Z pattern in front of her.
I roll my eyes at her. “Okay, Tyra Banks.”
