Page 13 of Our Little Wedding

She slipped the card from my hand and looked up at me. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“I’ll see you at home tonight. Drive careful.”

Ainsley

“Ainsley and Carly.” The barista called as she placed our coffee down on the counter.

I stopped talking as we both stepped forward and picked them up.

“Thank you,” I called, waving to the girl as we made our way out the door and over to the only bridal shop in this shopping area. We stepped inside to be greeted by a sea of white dresses.

“This is a little overwhelming,” I said, looking around, wondering where the hell to start.

“Do you have any idea what it is you’re looking for?” Carly asked as we removed our shoes as the sign inside the door asked.

“I have a couple of ideas of what I want,” I said, removing my jacket and hanging it up on the coat rack. “I found the perfect dress in a magazine. Trina told me they may have it here or at another store.”

“Well, let’s see if we can find it, shall we?” Carly said, taking a few steps into the shop.

“Oh, girls, no coffee on the floor.” I turned in time to see a panicked woman who worked at the shop rushing toward us. “Welcome, ladies. Sorry, there is no coffee on the floor. Now, what can I help you with today?”

I let out a sigh and looked at Carly, who smiled smugly at me, then slipped my cup from my hand and took a seat on the couch just inside the door. “I’ll just sit here. Go browse. See what she can help you with today.”

I looked back at Carly and stifled a laugh as the woman pulled me toward a rack of dresses and began showing them to me one by one. By the time I got to the third rack, I was annoyed. This woman’s attitude was the pits, and she was showing me everything I told her I didn’t want. When I glanced over at Carly, I saw boredom lining her face as she flipped through her phone.

“Do you not like any of these, either?” the woman asked.

I shook my head. “No but thank you. I think I am just going to go somewhere else.”

The woman gave me an irritated smile as I left her standing there and made my way back over to Carly, who stood up with an excited look on her face.

“Tired of Miss Stuck-up?” She giggled, handing me my coffee. “No coffee on the floor,” Carly mimicked.

I laughed. “Yes, let’s go somewhere else.”

Within minutes, we were back in the car and headed to a shop that Trina had suggested. This time, we left our drinks in the car and headed inside to find a very relaxed atmosphere. A couple of groups of girls were there shopping as well, laughing and giggling at the dresses as they pulled them off the racks. I smiled at Carly, and together we made our way into the store. The first rack of dresses we came to I pulled out one dress and held it up. It was almost what I was looking for.

“Have you even set a date yet?” Carly asked as she pulled a dress off a rack and looked at it.

“No, not yet. We are still waiting to hear from the venues we contacted. We need to know what dates they have first. I think we sent requests to six places, and since it’s such short notice, we kind of have to play by their rules.”

“Okay then, let me rephrase my question. When are you trying to get married?”

I pulled out a dress and quickly changed my mind, then looked over at my best friend. “You know… in the next six weeks. For obvious reasons,” I said, placing my hand on my belly.

Carly shoved the dress she’d been looking at back into the pile and turned to me with a frown on her face. “You mean in the next six weeks, so the pregnancy isn’t obvious? Is that your idea or his?”

I immediately stopped looking at the dresses and turned to my best friend. “Why did you ask me like that?” I questioned.

“Like what?”

“If it were his idea or mine? You know, Spencer is a good man, despite what you and some others might think. I know you’ve had challenges with us, and I know you aren’t his biggest fan, but I love him.”

“I didn’t mean it in any way, Ainsley. I guess I just meant it was a good reason. Was it your idea or his?” she said, changing the tone of her voice before turning back to the dresses in front of her. “Now, what do you think of this one?” she said, pulling out the next dress.

I just about screamed because it was the exact dress I’d bookmarked off the site. “Oh my God, that’s it!” I cried, looking at the gorgeous white dress.

“What is it?”

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