Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 69371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
"See, I told you it was fine." She rolls her eyes at me. "Now sit down and finish your hair." She points at the chair, and I sit back down and grab my glass of champagne.
"Can someone please go check and see what was just going to happen?" I ask, smiling, but inside, I'm freaking out.
"I'll go,” Shelby volunteers and then starts to walk past Ace, who stops her. "Oh, now you want to talk to me?" He laughs at her and grabs her hand. "No." She shakes her head, but she doesn't make any move to step away from him.
"Come here." He pulls her to him and slips his arms around her. "I missed you last night."
"You hung up on me!" she shrieks at him.
"You wanted me to show you my private area,” Ace reminds her, looking at my mother. "I didn't, obviously."
"I've seen your private area,” Shelby protests.
"So have we,” Presley says, holding up her hand, and I just shrug.
"I turned around," I admit, finishing my drink.
"I did not,” Presley says, giggling. "I'm not picking sides." She looks at Shelby and then at Travis. "But this is the best first wedding we've done."
"Mine doesn't count,” Travis declares. "The fucking place caught on fire."
"My ex was sleeping with his ex,” Shelby says, pointing from her to Ace.
"Well, when you're perfect, you're perfect," I say, holding up my empty glass. "Can someone top me up?"
"How about we stop the topping up and start drinking some water,” my mother suggests, and I look at her.
"It's my wedding day." I put my hand on my chest. "I'm allowed to drink."
"Just be happy it's champagne and not scotch,” Shelby announces, and I wink at her.
It takes me thirty more minutes until she places the crystal headpiece at the side of my head. "There," Shelby says, and my mouth gets dry. "Now it's perfect." She makes sure everything is tucked where it should be.
"I think I'm ready to get dressed." I turn and look at everyone. Travis and Ace share a look, and after kissing Shelby goodbye, Ace follows Travis out.
"Okay, here we go.” My mother walks into the room. My sisters' dresses are hanging in the middle of the room, right next to my dress that is fitted on a mannequin. "Let's get you in your dress,” my mother says to me, and my stomach literally lurches into my chest, and I think I'm going to be sick. I push down the feeling, telling myself that it's just nerves. It's all just nerves.
"We'll get dressed first,” Shelby states, looking over at Presley. "And then we are going to help you get into the dress." I just nod my head and look around for a glass of water.
"I need to drink some water," I mumble and avoid that all movement has stopped as they look over at me. "I'm fine. I'm just, it's dry in here." I turn, walking back to the room and grabbing a water bottle. I take a sip, letting the cold water hit the back of my throat, blinking away the stinging of tears as I try to bring my breathing down to normal.
"Okay," my mother says, and I turn to look at her. She is wearing a forest-green dress with a sheer cape that flows to the floor.
I walk into the room, seeing my sisters wearing their blush-pink dresses that mold to them. "Okay, time to get you into this monster of a dress,” Shelby informs me, and I nod, taking off my robe and stepping into the dress.
I hold the dress to my chest as my sisters button up the one hundred silk buttons all down the back. "And done,” Presley says, and I turn around to face all three of them.
"You look like a divine goddess,” Shelby compliments, blinking away tears.
"Even though I wanted you to go with something more traditional," my mother says, "this dress is you."
I look down at my dress, and I smile. "It's very me," I agree. "Guys"—I look at them—"can I have a minute?"
"You take all the time you need,” Shelby states, turning and walking out first.
"I'm going to go and make sure everything is ready,” Presley says, turning to follow Shelby out.
My mother is the last one in the room. "If you need me, all you have to do is call," she reassures me, and I laugh.
"Mom, don't pretend you aren't going to be lurking outside the door," I say, and she glares at me.
"No." She shakes her head. "I'm going to go mingle." She storms off, leaving me by myself.
I walk to the mirror and look at myself. The dress is really me. The front is a sweetheart neckline, but I had it plunge down a bit more than my mother liked. It's tight until my knees, and then it ruffles out in hundreds and hundreds of layers, something else I added. It's simple and clean and perfect. When I meet my gaze in the mirror, I try to calm myself down. “This is really happening." I put my hand to my stomach and wonder if maybe I did the dress too tight since breathing is starting to be hard. "You are going to be fine." I try to encourage myself. "It's all going to be fine."