Page 56 of Always a Bridesmaid
Lexi slung one of the other gowns over her arm. “More than just playing bridesmaid or even taking photos. Considering the binder, I’m guessing you’ve planned a few weddings.”
“I did plan one.” Violet attempted to exhale her conflicted emotions over the subject and charge on. “Mine. My ex continually assured me we’d get married someday, but he didn’t actually mean it. In the end, he played me for the fool I was.”
Sympathy softened Lexi’s features. “I’ve been played before. It doesn’t mean you’re a fool.”
“I appreciate that, but I definitely felt like one when I found him with another woman at Maisy’s wedding. They tied the knot the same day I started that stupid fire in the bakery.”
Lexi put her hand on Violet’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
Violet separated the mermaid gown from the others. “This was the dress I kept coming back to, no matter how much everything else changed. Over the past six months, I’ve rehashed our relationship way too many times, trying to find the signs I missed.”
Embracing her fanatical, binder-creating side, Violet draped the mermaid gown over herself and glanced in the mirror. Even if she hadn’t been indulging in too many sweets at the bakery, she would still require a larger size. “One time, when I goaded Benjamin to set a date so I could book the venue, he told me ‘I thought you wanted to lose twenty pounds before the wedding.’”
“That asshole!” Lexi slapped a hand over her mouth. “Oops. While I don’t stand by my colorful language, I stand by the sentiment.”
“In all fairness, Ihadtold him that.”
“In all fairness, he’s still…” She leaned closer and whispered. “An asshole. One that obviously didn’t deserve you.”
Violet shrugged, as if it weren’t a big deal she’d lost her belief in finding that special someone.
So what are you doing letting yourself get swept up in sweet gestures from Ford?
Ford might be charming, funny, and a hero to boot.
The settling-down type, he was not.
Which was why, no matter how much she enjoyed spending time with Ford, she should raise her shields before she ended up hurt again.
Chapter Eleven
Ah, shit.
Ford had come back from the bathroom to see Violet in front of the mirror, a wedding dress over her clothes.
A mere moment ago, he’d been ruminating on how much fun he’d had sitting next to her, remarking on gowns of all things. Affection had tightened his chest in a not-altogether-unpleasant way as she’d helped out his best friend, and he’d seriously considered following Addie’s advice.
If there were anyone he’d be inclined to attempt a full-blown relationship with, it’d be a woman like Violet.
So why not Violet?
Because she has a fucking wedding dress over her clothes and is after someone to walk her down the aisle.
Dating was one thing. Marriage was a whole different ball game—one he’d determined wasn’t for him. Say hecouldopen himself to the possibility of more than casual, it’d still be a while before he’d be willing to move past the practice stage.
Along with the nerves gnawing at his insides, his heart thumped a million miles an hour, affirming it agreed.
The only thing keeping him from fleeing the scene—’sides Murph, of course—was the last snippet he’d overheard.Her ex implied she needed to lose weight before he would marry her?
Not that Ford was volunteering for a stroll down the aisle, but what a prick. An ignorant prick at that. How dare someone behold those killer curves and request less of them.
As he’d stated earlier, he’d always been an ass man, and Violet’s was perfection.
He cleared his throat as he approached, and Violet quickly shoved the dress at Lexi. Her confusion lasted half a second, and then she placed it with the other dresses.
Violet leaped from the pedestal instead of stepping down, so she must be getting antsy. “You survived your first wedding dress shopping trip. What are you going to do next?”
Run.
