Page 76 of Born a Billionaire

TWENTY-FOUR

The moment Merritt stepped into her dress, Adelia and Skylar stared at her in awe. Her long, lace gown with cap sleeves was perfect for a winter wedding. It was straight and fitted just enough through her waist and hips to show off all of her curves. Her dark hair was down in waves, hanging just below her shoulders—the way Gus liked it, she’d said.

Merritt tugged at the sides of the dress, smoothing them down. “It feels a little snug.”

“Well, it looks amazing,” Adelia told her.

Merritt’s face lit up. “Can you zip me up?”

“Of course.” Adelia moved to stand behind her, and Skylar got her camera out to capture some candids of Merritt getting ready.

Adelia looked over Merritt’s shoulder at their reflection in the mirror before them. Seeing her friend in that dress, her own longings to be a bride surfaced, but she shoved them down and focused on Merritt.

“You’re stunning.”

Merritt smiled. “Thank you.”

Adelia took hold of the zipper and slid it upward halfway before it stopped.

“Is it all the way up?” Merritt glanced back over her shoulder.

Adelia tugged. “It won’t go up.”

“What?”

Skylar joined Adelia and took hold of the fabric on either side of the zipper. “Try it now.”

Adelia tried again, but it would not budge.

“Is it stuck or something?” The pitch of Merritt’s voice raised with her obvious worry.

“Didn’t you have a final dress fitting?” Adelia asked.

“I did. I’ve just been feeling so bloated this week.”

Tears threatened to ruin Merritt’s perfectly applied wedding day makeup, but Skylar rushed to grab a tissue and gently dabbed under Merritt’s eyes to keep that from happening.

“My time of the month is any day now,” Merritt said. “But I hope it waits until after our trip. I totally skipped the last two from all the stress.”

Adelia and Skylar exchanged looks.

“What?” Merritt took the tissue from Skylar and dabbed away a rogue tear before it fell.

“Merritt, you skipped two periods?” Adelia asked.

“Yeah. It’s no big deal. It’s happened before. Especially when I did my first Merritt Cosmetics launch. All the stress and everything. I skipped like three that time.”

“And your wedding dress is too tight,” Skylar noted.

“So?” Merritt stared at them until her eyes suddenly widened, and she shook her head, finally seeming to realize what they were hinting at. “Nooo!”

“Were you and Gus careful?” Adelia asked.

She turned her face away as her cheeks colored. “Not the first time. But we were every other time.”

“It only takes once,” Adelia told her.

“Oh my gosh. I can’t be.” Merritt started pacing. “Can I?” Her hands were shaking. “I can’t walk down that aisle, not knowing for sure.”

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