I cut Sophia off. “She’s right about getting to the real show. Come back and help me get undressed so we can get you into your dress. I’m ready for an ugly cry.”
“Not in the photos, though.” Madeline smirked at me and shrugged. “Sophia is just so beautiful. I want her photos to reflect that.”
I pulled Sophia into the dressing area with me and shook my head. “Whatever you’re thinking, just let it go.”
She scowled. “I’m going to talk to her. I don’t know what her issue is, but she can’t talk to you like that.”
I sighed. “I think she has a thing for Will. And if that’s the case, I understand her not liking me. I don’t appreciate it, but I understand it. No matter what, though, she planned your wedding, Soph. I don’t want to upset her and have her go nutty on the wedding plans.”
“I don’t give a shit about the wedding plans, Claire. You’re my best friend and I’m not going to allow her to talk to you like that. I’m going to talk to her. If she can’t get her attitude in check, she can go.” Shaking her head, Sophia looked so upset that I hated myself a bit in that moment.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to cause any trouble this week and I’ve caused a lot. I haven’t been the best maid of honor. Please, just let this go with Madeline. At least until after the wedding. You’re trying on your dress today and you’re upset. You shouldn’t be upset, Soph. So, let’s just put this behind usand focus on the fact that you’re getting married to the man you love and I’m going to be at your side for it.”
She sighed. “We need to talk about the way you treat yourself.”
“Soph.”
“Fine! Fine. I won’t say anything right now.” She shook out her hands and blew out a breath. “Get me in this giant dress already.”
41
***Claire***
“It looks…” Martha, the seventy-year-old paint instructor I’d hired to lead the wedding party in a paint and sip afternoon, stared down at Will’s painting and tilted her head to the side. “Honey, it looks like a big cock. Is that what you were going for?”
Will’s cheeks turned red as our table burst out laughing. He launched into a defense of his painting. “No! See, this is the lighthouse and this, that round part there, is the rock it’s built out of. It’s a lighthouse! Just like the one everyone else painted.”
The old woman tapped her finger to the tip of her nose. “Dear, it’s a cock.”
I was crying from laughing so hard. It was rare to see Will be bad at anything and we were all eating it up. I grasped my sides and ended up snorting. That just made me laugh harder.
“Let’s see what you painted then, you brat.” Will grabbed my canvas and spun it around to see what was a decent lighthouse and coastal horizon. He scowled at it and then at me. “That’s notfair. You planned this. You’ve probably been practicing. Let me see yours, Anthony.”
Anthony turned his around and it was a perfect replica of what Martha had shown us. He grinned at Will and shrugged. “I just have talented hands, man.”
Zane proudly showed us that he’d skipped the assignment completely and had instead painted a silhouette of-
“Zane!” I shouted his name as I realized he’d painted my body. I wouldn’t have known if not for the exact placement of my birthmark. “You idiot!”
Martha hummed. “I do love a rebel. Good work.”
I scoffed. “Don’t encourage him!”
Will tossed his painting down on the table. “No one told me I could’ve painted you, Claire. I would’ve blown your mind.”
“No one was supposed to paint me!” I slapped my palm to my forehead and sighed. “Hide that.”
Zane just smirked back at me. “This is going to hang in our bedroom.”
My breath caught.Ourbedroom. It was one more sign that they were serious.
“Oh, god, Will! Why’d you paint a dick?” Sophia had come up behind us and she leaned against my chair while judging her brother. “I’m starting to worry about you.”
Will shook his head. “No.”
She laughed. “No, what?”
“No, I’m not dealing with the two of you teaming up against me.” He got up and pressed a kiss to both of our heads before backing away. “I’m going to sit with Jake. I bet his painting looks like shit, too.”