Page 101 of Home in the Country
“Plus you can’t deny us seein’ Briggs all dressed up in his little suit dancin’ with you,” Cheyenne whines.
“Fine,”I hiss as I’m doused with another layer of hairspray. The girls snicker, and when I’m finally made up within an inch of my life, they shove me in the bathroom with a lacy white dress that hits just above the knee.
It looks very…bridal.
“Y’all, are you sure about this dress?” I ask as I step out in my tan cowboy boots.
“You look so pretty!” Marlee squeals. “You’re gonna look perfect for the pictures.”
I squint at her. “Do you know something?”
“I know that my brother-in-law is so proud to show you off and wants to pamper you a little in the process. What’s so wrong with that?”
I don’t answer, but I’m still skeptical considering the photographer had popped in twice for “in the moment pictures” of hair and makeup. It was the strangest day, but she insisted the photos would help her with building her website, so I agreed.
“Are you drivin’ or is someone pickin’ you up?” Isla asks.
“Tanner is coming to get me, I guess. I don’t know; Otto said something about us all taking a couple together.”
I rub at the spot between my eyebrows to stave off the headache I can feel coming on.
“Hey ladies,” Tanner says with a smile as he steps into the salon. The girls all say hello and hug my ex-husband before hugging me and heading out the door. “You look really pretty. Are you ready?”
“You look very nice too, but is something happening today?” I ask as I grab his elbow and turn him to face me. He’s dressed in a crisp white button-down shirt and navy blue slacks.
He shrugs and laughs. “I don’t know. Ask your boyfriend. I just do what I’m told.”
I smirk. “I heard that about you.”
His mouth drops open in shock and then we’re both laughing and getting into his car. Pulling out onto the road, I send up a little prayer that Otto knows what he’s doing and then take a deep breath and brace myself for all that awaits me.
34
OTTO
“You ready, Big Rigg?” He nods his little head.
“Yes!”
“What’s first?”
“We smilerealnice.”
“Then what?”
“You give the signal.” He tries to wink but ends up blinking both eyes with a massive smile on his face. “And then it’s time!”
I hold up my hand and he slaps it.
“That’s right.”
“Y’all ready?” the photographer asks.
Nodding, I say, “Yeah, nervous though.”
She smiles. “This is probably the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard, and romance isn’t even my thing.”
“Well, if everything goes as planned, my brother will be lookin’ for a roommate if you wanna get out of your aunt’s house.”
