Page 105 of Doing It for Love

“Prepare your thrusters.”

He laughed and weaved his fingers through my hair, wrapping his hand around my head and pulling me close. He squeezed my entire body twice, and I squeezed back. We may not have had sex, but it was how we loved each other last night, and it was magnificent.

And as I blink back into the present, girls throwing money at strippers, people drinking and having fun, and my own mother getting a lap dance, maybe I’m ready to give up on strawberries and whipped cream for something a little healthier.

Chapter 34

Deep breaths. This is it. You can do this. Just stand up straight, hold on to something, and eye on the prize.

“Okay,” I tell Theresa and my mom. “I’m ready.”

Theresa nods once and then pulls on the zipper.

I suck in as hard as I can. We’ve gotten the dress on about 96 percent of the way, but whatever alterations Gina did weren’t for my bustline.

“Come on, come on, come on!” Theresa yells at the thing, but I can tell it’s not going to budge. THE dress, my dress, doesn’t fit. And it’s my wedding day!

I lean against the vanity in the bridal room, trying desperately not to tear up because my makeup is already done.

“It’s just a little bit,” Mom says. “Maybe the veil will cover…” She drifts off as she settles the veil down my back. I know it won’t cover it with the transparent material.

“I don’t get it,” Theresa says, shaking her head. “We gave Gina the same measurements that woman took at the dress shop. I don’t know why—”

“Wait,” I say, trying to catch my breath. “The last measurements that lady took was when I was wearing Spanx.”

Theresa gasps. “I totally forgot about that. Do you still have them?”

“They’re in my underwear drawer.”

She grabs her keys, her red gown swishing by her knees. She fits just fine into hers.

“I’ll go get them.”

I’d complain about having to wear that thing on my wedding day, but honestly I’m just hoping it does the trick. So I practically shove her out the door.

“Thank you!” I call after her. Mom helps me out of THE dress so I don’t rip it again while we wait. She helps me into a fluffy robe and fixes a loose snowflake in my hair. She hasn’t spoken much today, just sniffled a few times.

“How we doing on those Hurdles, Momma?”

Her eyes wrinkle in the corner when she smiles. “That first one is still really high. How are you doing on yours?”

I flick my gaze to my dress and let out a small laugh. “I don’t think I cleared a single one.”

“You’re still here, though. So maybe you didn’t do as badly as you think.”

“I tripped and stumbled over each one of those Hurdles.” My future mother-in-law continues to give me the stink-eye. Paying for the wedding never would’ve happened without my parents. Operation Great Sex was not without its stumbling blocks either. We were all sorts of menu items while we battled each other to our honeymoon destination. And I gave up the Bahamas two days before, not only because I wanted him so much, but as I nudge the packed honeymoon bag with my toes while Mom messes with my hair, I know I want Landon to be happy, and I want to share that part of his life with him. So Utah, here we come.

Devil butterflies start to beat their wings in my stomach. I clutch it tight, breathe deep, and count fifteen Mississippis.

“Momma?” I ask, staring at my bag. “It’s normal to be nervous, right?”

“Do you need me to warm your feet?”

I nod, a long blond curl bouncing in front of my nose. Mom clips it back in place.

“Twenty minutes before I married your father, I detoured to the caterers and stuffed my face with sponge cake.”

“That sounds like a good idea.” If only I could fit into my dress.

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