Page 38 of The Wedding Situation Romance

I don’t know how I am going to survive two more of these.

Chapter 15

Quinn

“I can’t decideif I want something short and cute or something long and elegant,” Allegra says as she sifts through white dresses at Tie the Knot bridal parlor.

“What did you wear the first time?” I ask and it’s obviously as soon as the question leaves my mouth that I am distracted.

Allegra looks over at me. “Really?” she asks. “The Queen of Matrimony doesn’t remember what her best friend wore to her wedding? Myonlywedding, by the way.”

“I know, I know, I’m sorry,” I say, mentally kicking myself. She has only been married one time because Dustin was and is her soulmate. We are here, not because she is getting married again (that wouldn’t make any sense) but because she and Dustin are renewing their vows, even though it’s only been five years. Some people might find that frivolous, but honestly, in today’s day and age and with the current divorce rates considered, every passing year is a triumph and something to be celebrated. I am elated that they are doing a vow renewal, even if I am currently mentally somewhere else.

“This last wedding took it out of me,” I say, even though it’s a lousy excuse.

“I can’t imagine why. You’ve only signed a contract with Lucifer himself. I don’t care how good the hors d’oeuvres are, it can’t possibly be worth it,” she says as she pulls out a high-low.

“That’s cute,” I say.

“It is…but it’s a little fluffy for my taste,” Allegra says, putting it back.

“I do remember your wedding, Allegra,” I say. “Your gown was Vera Wang, if I remember right.”

“It was. And I think I was something simply this time. Something I don’t have to wear a bra with,” she says, pulling out a very understated yet elegant satin gown.

It’s gorgeous, though very much something I personally would wear a bra with. But Allegra has always been a freer spirit than me.

“Are you going to try anything on?” She asks, plucking another similar dress from the clearance rack.

She knows me too well. Despite the fact that I am not getting married (soon, anyway) or even in a relationship for that matter, I never pass up an opportunity to try on gowns. Because why not? I snag a very sparkly, very princess-like, very expensive dress off the New to the Floor rack and also a moss green and white floral bridesmaid’s dress because I need something to actually wear to Allegra’s renewal.

Once we are in the fitting room (a large one where we can help each other), we start stripping down, me to my bra and pantiesand her to just her panties. The girl is really planning on going natural.

“So what did he do this time?” she asks as she pulls the first of her gowns off the hanger.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Reid. What did he do to have you drifting off to space today?” she asks.

I let out a sigh. “The better question is what didn’t he do,” I say. “He’s just so…he didn’t follow the rules.”

“Rules?” she asks.

“I told him he needs to stop being so annoyingly grim at the weddings. For one, he wanted a date for appearances. And nobody likes a wet mop on their big day. Yet everything that comes out of his mouth is negative,” I say, starting with the green and white dress. It’s mid-length, whimsical, backless, and perfect, and I don’t even have to do more than one spin to know I’m buying it.

“Again, I’m not surprised. Can you zip me?” she asks, turning around. The dress is perfect, floating around her tall, thin frame like a halo, as if it hardly touches her skin. With her long, natural chestnut-brown hair, she looks like she walked straight out of Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings. The only thing she’s missing is a crown and maybe Aragorn.

Speaking of that…

“What are you doing?” I ask as she takes a screenshot of herself.

“Showing the dress to Dustin,” she says.

“You can’t do that!” I say, swiping her phone from her hand. “It’s bad luck!”

“Lordy, Quinn,” she laughs, gently reaching for the phone, which I do not give her. “It’s a wedding. It’s a renewal. It’s not like we can jinx it.”

“It’s still bad juju,” I tell her. “And anything can be jinxed. Let it be a surprise.”