Page 26 of SEAL Ever After

“I know,” Morgan said sympathetically. “I’m sorry. I’ve gone to her for years for regular cuts and highlights. Maybe Bree knows someone?” she said, referring to Sarah’s other bridesmaid.

“Ugh. I’ll text her and ask. Too bad she couldn’t get the day off.”

“We can keep looking for someone,” Morgan assured her.

“Yeah, we’re going to have to,” Sarah said, climbing down from the chair. “Unfortunately, my wedding is less than three weeks away, and no one is available on such short notice.” She looked in the mirror, running her fingers through her hair to tousle it a bit, then grabbed her purse. Pulling out some lip gloss, she swiped it across her lips.

“All right, should we leave and knock some of the other stuff off your to-do list?”

“Yeah. Let me just text Ryan back first,” Sarah said. She tapped at her phone and then shoved it back in her purse, slinging the hobo bag over her arm.

Morgan raised her eyebrows. “That’s it?”

Sarah shrugged. “He’s observing one of the team’s drills today and said he wouldn’t really be available. I was just letting him know we might actually have to run off to the courthouse and get married like he wanted.”

“No!” Morgan cried out, grabbing Sarah’s arm. “Don’t be so dramatic. And I’ll text my hairdresser and apologize later, but we’re leaving. Let’s go grab a late lunch and then call around to a few places and see if anyone can fit you in for a hair trial this week. And make sure they’re available on your actual wedding day of course.”

Sarah shook her head as the two women walked to the door. “I knew we should’ve had a long engagement. It’s way too stressful dealing with all of this nonsense.”

“Girl, you’re going to look amazing! You already ordered the dress, right?” she asked as they walked out into the sunshine. The salty breeze blew through Sarah’s hair, and she closed her eyes and looked up, letting the warm sun beam down on her face.

“I did,” she said, taking a deep breath. “I’ve got the dress coming in this weekend; the invitations are in the mail, and of course I’m marrying the man of my dreams.”

“And you got out of your lease, right?” Morgan asked encouragingly.

“I did,” Sarah said with a grin. “When we get back from our honeymoon, I’ll officially move all my stuff out and into Ryan’s place. Most of my clothes and personal stuff is already there. It’s just the furniture and things like that.”

“Are the guys helping?”

“Yep,” Sarah confirmed. “I wanted to hire movers, but of course Ryan and Patrick wouldn’t hear of it. The week after we get back, both teams will be hauling stuff into a U-Haul for us and moving it into Ryan’s house. Our house,” she corrected herself.

“Might as well make use of those burly SEALs,” Morgan teased. “So where should we eat?”

“Want to grab Mexican at the place over by the bridal shop? I want to pop in and maybe look at the lingerie section there.”

“Whoo-hoo!” Morgan whooped with a wink.

Sarah did a little shimmy in the middle of the sidewalk, laughing. “I was so into trying on wedding dresses the other day, I didn’t even get a chance to look at all the sexy little underpinnings.”

“You can’t leave out that detail,” Morgan said.

“No way,” Sarah agreed. “I’m thinking garters and stockings for our wedding night, and of course a knockout bra and panty set to wear under the dress. I’ll probably be barefoot for the ceremony since it’s a beach wedding, but I also want to get shoes somewhere for the reception.”

“Well thank God we took the afternoon off,” Morgan said. “That’s a long list to get through.”

Sarah giggled. “Yep. But it’ll all be worth it to see the expression on Ryan’s face on our wedding day.”

***

An hour later, the women were laughing over margaritas as they finished lunch. Sarah took the final sip of hers, setting the empty glass down on the table. Her vegetarian fajitas had been phenomenal, and she was ready to finish up her to-do list for the day.

“So where to next?” Morgan asked. “The bridal shop?”

“Yeah, let’s stop by there first. I want to check on when my dress will come in while we’re there. Supposedly this weekend, but I want to make sure. I have to schedule a fitting, too. The dress is so long, and I’m not wearing stilettos for a beach wedding, so I’m sure I’ll need it shortened.”

“Save the stilettos for the wedding night,” Morgan joked, dunking another chip into the salsa and taking a bite.

“For real. Some pretty new lingerie, sexy shoes—Ryan won’t know what hit him,” she said with a wink. “This restaurant is good. I know we usually get Mexican down by the beach, but we should come here sometimes, too.”

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