Page 206 of Even Exchange

Andi and Sophia share a mischievous look. “Yeah, she’s almost ready.”

“There are a few dress shops I found nearby,” I say. “Hopefully I’ll be able to find something there.”

“I don’t think you need to worry about that,” Sophia says, fighting a smile, and I turn towards her, brows furrowed.

The door of the suite opens and closes, and Abbs walks inside holding a garment bag. “Theo sent this for you. He said he knew you were planning to go shopping, but he thought you might not mind the option.”I need to hire him as my personal stylist at this point.

“Sothat’swhere you’ve been all morning?” Sage asks, and Abbs shoots her a glare.

“I was retrieving this for thebride,” Abbs says.

“Gimme, gimme.” I reach with grabby hands, hopping out of my chair. “If it’s half as nice as the gala dress, Noah won’t be able to breathe.”

Abbs hangs it on a wall hook, and we crowd around. I unzip the bag, and a beam of angelic light streams out, displaying the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen.

It’s a white corset top covered in rhinestones, reflecting light around the entire room. A wink to the night Noah and I became friends officially while I was dressed as a drunk little disco ball. The bottom is a flowing satin that will leave plenty of room for my bump.

“It’s perfect,” I say with a breath.

“Put it on,” Sophia suggests. “Make sure it fits.”

“And put this on under it,” Abbs says, tossing me a teeny tiny little lingerie set.

“Did Theo pick this out too?” I ask with a cocked brow. “Noah would not be very happy if his best friend knew what I was wearing underneath that dress.”

“No,” she says with a laugh. “That was all me.”

“Pretty,” I say, fingers dragging over the delicate lace. “But isn’t it way too early for this? The wedding’s not till…” My thoughts drift off. “Well, I guess I haven’t been much in the loop of anything, but it’s definitely later.”

The only thing I was in charge of was picking out Noah’s ring. And I ampositivehe’s going to love it.

Sophia takes my hands and forces my gaze to meet hers. “Charlie.”

“Sophia.”

“Put. On. The. Dress. Before your fiancé kills me for making you late.”

My veins buzz with excitement. “Damn, you don’t have to go allMommyon me.”

“You’re right,” she says, placing a gentle hand on my belly. “That’s your job.”

* * *

Our town car flies through the Vegas streets, passing hotel after hotel. Every famous landmark I know from the movies zooms by. I’ve got the drop-dead gorgeous dressandthe lingerie under it. Sophia is still in jeans and a tee, we left the rest of the wedding party back at the hotel, and I am utterly confused.Maybe we’re just taking photos?

“Put this on,” Sophia says, a white silk blindfold dangling from her fingertips.

“You can’t be serious?” I ask with a laugh.

“Husband’s orders,” she says, and I narrow my eyes at her, eventually caving. Partly because I don’t want to ruin anything Noah’s planned and partly because the thrill of the surprise really is exciting.

The blindfold is secured on my face, and it’s another twenty minutes before I’m given a hand and taken from the car. Sophia leads me through—well, I have no clue where. All I know is a few minutes—and what feels like an elevator ride from the butterflies in my stomach—later, we’re at the top of what I assume is a tall tower.

A door clicks open, and Sophia ushers me through it, warm, dry air hitting my skin.

“If you wanted to throw me off a roof, you didn’t have to make it so mysterious,” I tease.

“Don’t worry,” she says. “I would be way more creative than that.”

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