Page 32 of Little Gray Dress

It is, and she knows it enough that she didn’t even have to ask. Jack picked this dress out, we even got engaged while I was wearing this dress. He’s unzipped it and watched it drop to the floor more than once. “Maybe,” I respond, really not wanting to get into the whole reason of why I’m wearing it. “I just… Well, if he’s moved on and happy then I really don’t have any way of making him miserable. Unless I wear a dress that I know makes him swoon.”

“Your grand plan now is to make him suffer by realizing he’s still attracted to you?”

“Maybe.”

I’m just glad I brought the dress. Nothing else has really worked out in my favor thus far.

“OK. And how on earth is that ever gonna fit?”

“Is that a subtle way to call me fat?” I glare at her.

“That’s not what I’m saying and you know it,” she snaps back.

“I may or may not have had it altered before we left. OK?”

“Ok…” Lily says it slowly, “Now even I’m curious to know the answer to Hannah’s question.”

“You and me both,” I say to Lily, wondering if my head and heart can ever just get along and agree.

I wasn’t planning on trying to get to Jack by wearing the dress tonight. I wasn’t planning to wear it at all. It was one of those last-minute ideas I had and the reason I missed the original bridesmaid’s dress alteration. I went to have this dress altered, instead of the other. Thank God I did it early, because it took a few days for the woman to practically remake the entire dress to fit my new larger figure, without adding any super-cinching underwear underneath. I needed a secret weapon, just in case. I paid almost as much for the alterations as I did when I bought the dress.

But, now that I’m in it, it was well worth it. Even though I’m thirty pounds heavier than the last time I wore it, it still looks incredible. Jack won’t know what hit him.

“Hey, Em?” Lily calls to me from the bottom of the stairs.

“I’m almost ready!” I call back, trying to do a few last-minute adjustments.

The tap on my door a few minutes later reminds me that I can’t spend forever putting myself together. “Come on in Lil, I’m just about ready.”

The door swings opened and my brother walks in. “You’ve been up here an hour…”

“I know, sorry.”

“Wow. I know my job is to make sure you are properly tormented as my sister but, you look great.”

I smile at him, surprised he’s given me a true compliment as opposed to his normal back-handed ones. “Thank you, Ev. You look great yourself.” He’s wearing a suit, his hair is slicked back and he looks the complete opposite of my normal, casual, chuck-wearing brother.

“I understand your friend agreed to…” His eyebrows narrow in confusion and he shrugs his shoulders at me. “I guess I don’t quite get why you need him, but he’s here.”

“Because I’m the only without a date, and the only one who needs to at least look like I have my life together. I can’t keep showing up alone, it makes it seem like I’m not over Jack.” I grab my bag off the bed and pull on my shoes.

“Right, and bringing a stranger to my wedding does that?”

“It might.” I say, with one more glance in the mirror.

“If it makes the next couple of days easier for you, I’m good with it.” He smiles at me, though I know he’s mad at me. I know these few sentences between us don’t seem like much, but we’re twins. There is an unspoken conversation here that says everything we haven’t said out loud. He’s not happy about me being so back and forth, but he’s willing to overlook it since he’s partially responsible for making my week miserable by asking Jack to be one of his groomsmen.

“Thanks,” I say, as my way of saying apology accepted. “Let’s go and hope there are no more incidents you will need to write down.” I wink at him. Seriously though, please, please let there be no more incidents. I don’t know who’s in charge of that department. God? Or maybe Karma? But whoever it is, please give me some kind of break.

As I get to the top of the stairs I hear Liam talking to Lily and Josh. I try to peek at him before he sees me, but I’m too short to see over the balcony for that. One more deep breath and I’ll be ready to go.

“Come on, Emi.” Hannah exits her room at the end of the hall, her arm linked through Evan’s and the two of them looking completely ready to walk down the aisle. Even if it is only practice for tonight. “You look fabulous!” she says excitedly.

“So do you, just gorgeous.” I return her compliment.

“I know.” She does a small twirl before taking my brother’s arm once again. “Let’s go see your date.”

I follow her to the top of the stairs, way more nervous than I had expected. Why am I nervous? This is basically a business deal. Favor for favor. Liam smiles up at me from where he’s standing.

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