Page 133 of Ruled Out

“So, how many times have you tried this dress on now?” Felicity asks.

“Ummm … only a couple. I just look at it mainly. But I wanted you all to see me in it before I commit to it fully.”

“I’d say it’s the one, babe,” Kate replies.

“But you haven’t seen it yet.”

Kate shakes her head even though Luna can’t see. “Doesn’t matter what we think. It’s all about how it makes you feel. I’m just here for the bubbles.”

“Same,” Felicity agrees.

“Me too,” I pipe up, taking another sip.

The fizz nearly leaves my mouth as I fight to keep it from spraying across the room when another assistant pulls back the curtain, revealing Luna in a Grecian-style ivory dress.

“Christ on a freaking cracker,” Felicity announces, sinking into the plush white couch behind her.

Pink rises on Luna’s fair complexion, staining her cheeks. “What do you think?” She looks around at the three of us, all motionless.

Kate moves first, setting her champagne glass down on a table. Walking across to Luna, she steps up onto the platform her friend is standing on and takes both of her hands in hers.

Luna’s dress is long and flowy with a thin white band that sits just below her breasts; the flawless material cascades over her baby bump and falls all the way to the floor, where it pools around her feet. The deep V neckline features the only detail on the dress, crystals lining either side of the V, leading all the way up to the thin white straps that tie around her neck.

She looks like a true goddess.

“You know how I said that it doesn’t matter what we think?” Kate says to Luna.

In response, she nods. “It’s how I feel?”

Releasing one of Luna’s hands, Kate swipes under her left eye. “Well, I take that back. Because you absolutely need to know that I have never ever seen a more beautiful bride in my entire life.”

Luna throws her arms around Kate’s neck. Her auburn hair falling over her shoulders.

“What do you think, Felicity?” she asks.

Felicity cocks her head to the side in a way that reminds me of the first time I met her in Riley’s Bar as her green eyes shine bright. “Tell me, do they have good health care in Barbados?”

I turn to look at her, completely confused.

“I mean, I think so,” Luna answers. “Zach has researched the shit out of it just in case I go into labor, like, two months early.”

Felicity nods. “Well, let’s just say, it won’t be you needing the medical treatment because he will be in full cardiac arrest when he sees you in that. And I can absolutely see why you’ve been stalking it these past few weeks.”

Smiling at Felicity, Luna then looks at me. “What do you think, Mia?”

I continue to stand there, transfixed by her beauty. “I think there’s a fair chance Felicity is right. Stunning. Absolutely stunning.”

JESSIE

“So many memories in these four walls,” Kate says as the girls enter our favorite Italian restaurant, Luigi’s.

She takes a seat next to Jensen. He plants his arm behind her and leans across to kiss her on the cheek.

“I think a personal highlight has to be you breaking the pregnancy news here,” Felicity adds, sitting next to Jon.

Kate winces. “Oh my God. The sheer panic I was in.”

“Why?” Jensen laughs.

---