Page 39 of Priceless

And it was better. This one was silky, with bell sleeves that flowed down nearly to the floor.

It was pretty, but it wasn’t the one. “Is it normal to just know?”

“Yeah,” she said. “I swear it’s a primal experience like nothing else. Because you just have this feeling in your bones, and once you have it, you can’t get the dress out of your mind.”

“Will you take a picture for my friends? They couldn’t come today.” I promised Rin and Isolde I’d include them, but even they didn’t get to see me in the snowman dress.

“Of course.”

I held up the train and made my way to the mirrors where Ashley and Geneva waited. My wedding planner looked me up and down. “That’s pretty.”

“But it’s not the one. The first one wasn’t it either.”

“Too form fitting anyway,” Laura said.

Closing my eyes for a moment, I turned and faced her. “Despite what you might like, I won’t be wearing a circus tent to my own wedding, Laura. I’m already allowing you to push the corset on me. But I am fat. No amount of fabric is going to make me not fat by Friday. So please, for once in your life, keep it to yourself.”

Her mouth dropped open in shock. Then she stood and approached. “You will watch how you speak to me.”

“Or what?”

Even Laura wouldn’t do something as brazen as hit me in front of witnesses. And it felt good to stare her down and let her feel a fucking shred of the helplessness I’d felt for years.

Rage flared in her eyes, and she settled back on the couch with her arms crossed, glaring. And I glared right the fuck back. For once. Ashley and Geneva hid their smiles as I stepped off the pedestal and went back to the dressing room for dress number three.

Number three wasn’t it either. A cinderella ballgown that flared out from my hips and made me feel like I was in some kind of film. But I felt awkward and couldn’t imagine staying in it for long, let alone sitting down. Or dancing.

Number four was strapless, satin, and simple. Whereas the abominable snowman dress was too much, this one was far too little. Next.

Number five had me wilting, because no one told you how exhausting trying on dresses like this was. Especially when it was hard to breathe. The corset in this dress was a touch sheer, the rest of the dress filmy and floating. It was gorgeous. Just not on me. Everyone agreed, even Trinity and Rin.

“I know I need to find something,” I said as I peeled off the dress and let Ashley help me. “But I don’t know how many more I have in me.”

She looked at me carefully, like she was analyzing me. “When I pull dresses for a bride, all I can do is guess based on preferences. But now that I’ve met you…” Her eyes suddenly sparkled. “I think I have the one for you.”

“Really?”

“Really.” She disappeared out of the dressing room, leaving me in nothing but my corset and underwear. I had no idea how long she would take, so I video chatted the girls.

“Did you find one?” Isolde asked.

“No, and I’m exhausted. But my girl just went to get one she thinks is it. Part of me wishes they just picked one and got it over with. It doesn’t really matter.”

Trinity made a low, growling noise. “The hell it doesn’t.”

I glanced behind me to make sure Ashley wasn’t about to come in. “It’s a dress for my fake marriage,” I whispered. “Other than the photos they need for the press, it doesn’t matter.”

“Respectfully, bullshit.” Isolde popped a piece of popcorn in her mouth. “You’re the one who pushed me forward when I was hesitant, O. And now you’re going to do the same. Now keep us on the phone so we can see the dress.”

“Fine.” I propped up the phone on a nearby chair.

Isolde ate more popcorn. “You look hot, by the way.”

I rolled my eyes. “Me and my too-tight corset.”

“Well, if you loosened it up so you felt good, I fully support this look. And I’m sure your soon-to-be husbands will as well.”

Would they? They said they wanted a real marriage, but it was hard to believe Alphas like them could ever want someone like me. Of course, having sex with the woman they were marrying was convenient, so it made sense. But the rest of it?

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