Page 1 of Reckless With the Rookie
1
Blair
My sister steps out of the fitting room looking like she’s modeling the wedding dress she’s wearing for a magazine shoot.Again.
“Another ten, right?”Suki says, looking at me.
“Like it was designed just for her.”
“Your boobs are ...magical.”Mara stares at Jules’s chest like a man with unlimited audacity.
Jules smiles at her.“Thank you.But you guys, I need critical opinions, too.”
The three of us study the sleeveless ivory gown, which has pink flowers embroidered on the bottom.Suki and Mara are newish friends Jules met through her job with the Cleveland Crush, which is also how she met her fiancé Noel, who coaches the pro hockey team.They quickly brought me into their group and it feels like we’ve all been friends forever.
“Well, it does draw attention to your shoulders.”
I flick my gaze to Lorraine, our fiftysomething stylist at the upscale wedding boutique.She’s looking at Jules over the rim of her glasses on a chain, and she seriously just said that.
“Her shoulders are beautiful,” I snap.“And she wasn’t asking you.”
My sister’s smile fades as she looks at her reflection in the floor-length mirrors surrounding the pedestal she’s standing on.Lorraine walks over to the pedestal, her attention focused on Jules.
“An empire cut would help disguise your tummy,” she says, her tone gentle.
My brows hit my hairline.“She’s a style influencer and you look like you’ve been haunting a creepy mansion for the last two hundred years.”
Jules turns to look at me.“Blair.”
“No, she’s right,” Mara says.“Nothing on your body needs to be disguised.”
“I apologize,” Lorraine says.
“Well, Lorraine,” Suki says.“This is the first store we’ve been to, but we have others in mind, too.”
Lorraine winces.Inwardly, I’m celebrating harder than a shirtless guy chugging beers at a snowy football game.Suki and Mara are protective of Jules, just like I am.Just because she radiates joy and confidence, that doesn’t mean shitty comments don’t hurt her.
“Is Jana here today?”Suki asks Lorraine.
“No, but I assure you, I c?—”
What little color our sales associate had in her face is gone now.Suki looks at Jules, who looks down before raising her chin and squaring her shoulders.
“I think we’re done here, Lorraine,” she says.“If I decide to come back, I’ll work directly with Jana.”
Lorraine pastes on a smile.“As the owner, Jana doesn’t usually handle fittings.”
“That’s too bad.”Jules gathers the dress’s skirt so she can step down from the pedestal.“The boutique is a major sponsor of the Crush.I wanted to support her with my business.”
“The ...Crush?”Lorraine looks like she may be sick.
“The Cleveland Crush?Pro hockey team?I’m the social media manager.That’s how I met Jana.”
“Really?”Suki furrows her brow.“I figured you knew her through Noel.”
“NoelTurner.”Mara gives Lorraine a fake smile.“He’s the head coach of the Crush.”
I stand from my seat.“That man is crazy in love with my sister.The last thing he would want is for any part of her to bedisguisedon her wedding day.”
