Page 91 of Twisted Gift

“Okay.”

I take a seat in the posh, comfortable dressing room and tap my fingers against my thigh until she comes back, knocking before bringing in a handful of dresses. She hangs them in a row on the rack attached to the wall and smiles at me again.

“Take your time, and let me know when you’re ready to zip it up.”

“Thanks,” I say, my tone absent as I stare at the dress in the middle. I blink and glance around, noticing that she left the room.

Without even touching it, trying it on, my heart is sure.It’s the one.

Oh my gosh. It’s my wedding dress.

There’s going to be a wedding.

I’m going to be the bride.

I’m gettingmarried.

I’m going to be Mrs. Aurora Westbrook.

The room suddenly feels too warm. I sink down onto the cushion and try to take a deep breath, but it catches in my throat.

“Breathe, blondie,” I mutter to myself. My heart skips.Blondie. I laugh, my voice cracking as my eyes burn. “Dammit, Max. You couldn’t let me enjoy this panic-filled moment alone, could you?”

Before I realize it, I’m pulling the dress off the hanger and putting it on. I keep my eyes closed as I approach the mirror, and the second they open, I suck in a breath.

I peek my head out of the dressing room and find the clerk standing there, waiting. She steps forward and does the dress up, offering me a bright smile.

“You look stunning. Would you like a moment?”

I wet my lips, nodding. “Please.”

Once she’s gone, I walk toward the mirrors, unable to peel my eyes away.

“This is it,” I whisper to no one.

The dress is perfect. It’s a traditional floor-length gown with a V-shaped open back. It has layers of fabric all around my waist, and long, open sleeves. It hugs my waist and molds to my chest with a high neck. I can’t stop looking at it—at how I look wearing it.

I don’t want to wait. I want to be married to Tristannow.

“Aurora, come out!” Mom shouts from outside the dressing room. “We want to see!”

I smile in the mirror, staring at my reflection a few moments longer before I step out and approach where they’re sitting.

Mom gasps, shooting up from her seat. “Oh, Aurora.” She chokes on her words. “It’s beautiful.”

“I know,” I say in a daze. My eyes shift to Dad and stay there. He’s smiling at me, his eyes filled with tears.

“This is it,” I announce, unable to hold back a grin.

The clerk says, “If you’re set on that one, you can get changed, and I can get it ready for you. Did you want to take it now?”

Tristan and I agreed we weren’t getting married right away. I blow out a breath and nod. “Yes, please.” Buying a dress doesn’t mean the ceremony has to be right around the corner. It’s just a dress. A breathtakingweddingdress.

Dad stands and walks over to me, kissing my cheek. “Your mom and I are so happy for you. We’d like to buy the dress.”

I shake my head. “Thank you, Dad, really, but I can’t let you do that.” My chest tightens. Hell,Idon’t even know how much this dress is. It was so meant for me, I didn’t even look.

He offers me a smile. “Well, that’s too bad because I gave the clerk my credit card while you were in the dressing room.”

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