Page 112 of Just One Kiss

“We can’t get married, Josh. We’re kids.”

Kids who shouldn’t have had sex. That’s what their parents would say.

Oh no.Their parents. Her father. How were they going to tell them?

“What’s going on?” Josh said. “You just turned pale.”

She blinked and tears streamed down her face. “My dad is never going to speak to me again.”

“He will,” Josh said. “Just maybe not for a little while.” He stood and walked a few steps away, then turned back to face her.

“You’re freaking out,” she said.

He pushed his hands through his hair, eyes wide. “A little.”

She screwed her eyes shut, pressing the heels of her hands into them. “This is a disaster.”

Quickly, he was at her side. “No, no. We’ll figure it out. I promise. We’ll figure it out together.”

She looked up into his eyes and he used his thumb to wipe another tear away. “You promise?”

He kissed her forehead. “Always.”

“Carly?” Quinn’s voice pulled her back to the present, where she found herself standing barefoot in a wedding dress.

Of all the ridiculous . . .

“Come out!”

She let her eyes graze the long, white satin, and she couldn’t help but wonder when everything had gone upside down. What made him decide to break his promise? She and Josh had been young, yes, but they did love each other.

Didn’t they?

She pulled back the curtain and found her sister standing on the other side, wearing the poufy princess dress with a tight beaded bodice. Carly couldn’t believe how stunning it looked. On the hanger, the dress had looked borderline silly, like something a Barbie doll would’ve worn.

But on Quinn? It was perfection.

For a brief moment, she forgot she was wearing a wedding dress too.

“You look gorgeous,” she said.

Quinn’s eyes brightened. “I haven’t looked yet. I was waiting for you.”

“It’s stunning. If you don’t get it, you’re bananas.” She smiled at her sister.

“Nobody gets the first dress they try on,” Quinn said.

“That’s not true,” Dot piped up. “Happens all the time.”

Quinn grabbed her hand. “Let’s go look.”

Carly pulled away. “You go look. By yourself. This is your day—I’m just here for your amusement.”

“But, Carly, you look so beautiful it makes me feel like crying.” Quinn’s eyelids fluttered, as if blinking back tears.

“Well, don’t cry,” Carly said. “I’m not even a real bride.”

The bell on the front door jangled, pulling Dot’s attention. “Oh, girls. I’ll be right back.” She shimmied off, leaving them alone at the back of the store with nothing to do but go stand in front of a three-way mirror.

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