Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
After I let her go, I jog up the stairs, and when I reach the top, I look back at Briar. Now she’s the one frozen in place, and I grin from ear to ear as I head to the shower.
THIRTEEN
BRIAR
“I think Briar should try one on.”
“What?” I glance up from my phone after responding to a message from wedding planner Rosy. The woman has been a godsend.
My sister holds up a wedding dress with a bottom that’s puffy and overdone. Obviously I love it.
“We’re here for you to try on dresses, Meadow. The wedding is days away. Focus.” How am I being the responsible one?
“It screams Briar, don’t you think?” my mom says as she walks over to inspect the dress.
Thankfully, the moms arrived before my sister could try and grill me about Mace. I know her questions are only on a momentary hold, but I’m still trying to catch up on what happened. Mace and I could be a terrible idea or the best I’ve ever had. I’m usually the first to jump off a cliff into the unknown, but this is different. The fallout of Mace and me could be devastating.
I think we all knew on some level Heath and Meadow were bound to happen. My sister might not jump off of a cliff at random, but she would if it was part of her plan. Meadow made it clear she was in love with Heath, and even when he went and messed it up, we knew it was only a matter of time.
Meadow would try to hide her jealousy when we’d see Heath at events and other women would talk to him. That’s all it ever was, though, and Heath was never with anyone else. He was waiting for her even when they weren’t together.
It makes me think of Mace’s words to me in the kitchen this morning and how he hadn’t ever been with anyone either. Why?
“I need to try on bridesmaid dresses,” I tell them as I tuck my phone into my back pocket.
I head over toward the rack of dresses that were pulled for me, and I avoid the beautiful dress my mom and sister are still fawning over on my behalf. Meadow would never wear that dress because it’s not her style. She’ll want something that’s understated with minimalist detailing.
“Come on. I’m the bride. You’re supposed to do what I ask.” Meadow can be bossy but not in this kind of way. She’s usually doing it to be responsible.
“How about we find a few for you and then I’ll try on one with you?” I offer it as a compromise and hope it gets the ball rolling.
Meadow is so unfazed by the fact that we are days away from her getting married and she doesn’t have a dress. What has Heath done to her? She’s going with the flow like it’s no big deal, and it’s weird.
“This one!” Meadow squeals and grabs a random dress. “Come on.” The ladies helping us take the dresses back into the changing room.
Mom and Julia, Mace and Heath’s mother, sit down on the sofa in front of a wall of mirrors. They both have been calm about this, but I know they’re bursting with excitement. Mom and Julia are so close, at times they reminded me of sisters. We’re all really going to be a family soon, and it’s crazy but so right at the same time.
“We can help each other,” Meadow tells the ladies, who nod and hang the dresses up for us.
“If you need anything, call out,” one says before they’re gone and leave the two of us alone.
“You lured me in here with a dress, didn’t you?” I say because I know Meadow doesn’t care about me trying on a wedding dress. She wants us to be alone so she can get me to talk.
“I could have grabbed a dress and asked for you to help me.”
Okay, she’s got a point. “You really want me to try on a dress?” I run my hand down the soft fluffy material, and being this close, I can see the beautiful stitchwork.
“Why not?” She shrugs like it’s no big deal. It might not have been a few months ago when Mace felt so out of reach. Now it’s going to put ideas into my mind. Ideas that I should not be having.
I know Mace said our conversation wasn’t over, but who knows what that means? Maybe I’m a safe place for him to try out sexual things with.
“Briar, don’t do what I did,” Meadow says and bursts right through my thoughts.
“What does that mean?”
“It means don’t deny what’s happening between you and Mace. I kind of already know.”
“Know what?” I gasp. “You know something I don’t? How could you? We know everything together.” She’s not married yet, and things are already changing.