Page 46 of Little Gray Dress

“Absolutely.”

After today I’m not sure I want a girls’ day ever again. The makeup, hair, and girly stuff has gone so wrong and taken so long, and now, an hour before the wedding, when I look into the mirror I barely see me, but a tanned blonde that I hardly recognize.

“You look amazing!” Lily stands back and admires all the hard work we’ve done in the last hour. “Seriously, I think all this makes even the hideous dress looks better.”

“Really?”

“Yes, you are just, wow.”

“Aw, thank you!” I squeeze her by the neck, causing her to giggle while struggling to get free. “After a rough few hours you totally just made my day. I was so afraid I was going to be the laughing stock of the wedding.”

“There’s no way for that to be possible now. In fact, I think you’ll end up with all eyes on you.” She grabs her purse and hands me my shoes. “I think you might even have a couple of men to choose from after tonight.”

“No, remember, the Liam thing is just a favor. A business deal really.” No way am I going to mention that this deal is favor for favor. I’m not sure what kind of favor I might be getting myself into at some point in the future, and I’m sure Lily’s thoughts will go right to the worst possible idea.

“A favor… Right.” She stares at me, eyebrows raised in disbelief.

“Will you stop?”

“Fine, but don’t come crying to me when they’ve both fallen for you and you can’t decide between the two of them.”

“I promise that won’t happen. Now let’s go before Hannah has a stroke worrying about us.” We are running late and we promised Hannah we would be there in plenty of time for the wedding. Liam agreed to pick us up the moment I texted him and that was done five minutes ago.

“Hello?” I hear him in the foyer looking for us. I told him to let himself in if we weren’t already out front when he got here.

“Be right down!” I yell through the doorway before slipping on my stripper heels. “Let’s go.”

When I reach the top of the stairs Liam’s face lights up with a look that is half confused, half intrigued. “Wow! You are just…” He smiles and runs a hand through his hair. “You are gorgeous. I love the hair.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. Seriously, I haven’t been speechless in a while.” He holds the door open as Lily and I walk out to his SUV. “I’m sure Jack will fall head over heels for you.” His face drops a bit when he says it, and my heart hurts momentarily when I see the disappointment in his own statement.

“Doubtful, but thank you.”

“I’m just glad to be the date of the prettiest girl in the room for the night.” He helps push all the feathers safely into his truck before running around to his seat.

I can’t believe it but we might actually make this wedding on time, and looking better than I did last night.

Chapter Twelve

Four and a Half Years Ago

Northwest Portland, Oregon

The Funeral

“She’s gone,” I say through a cry, looking over at Evan and Jack.

“I’m so sorry, babe.” Jack walks around to where I’m standing and pulls me in for a giant hug to mask my sobbing from my brother.

“I’m sure she’s happy to be with Dad again.” Evan attempts to make me feel better, but it hasn’t worked so far today so I’m not sure why he keeps trying.

“Yeah…” I snort-sob it out into Jack’s chest.

“You can stay as long as you like.” A nurse tries to smile through a frown. I know the nurses were not looking forward to this day either, as my mom has become the mom of the ward for the last few months she’s been here.

I’m not sure you can die of a broken heart, but it sure appears that way. One day she was fine, and a few months after Dad died she got weaker and weaker. When we finally convinced her to go to the doctor they discovered that her heart was failing. She refused most options they gave her and only lasted a few more months living on her own before they admitted her to the hospital.

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