Page 10 of His to Have
I clapped my hands together, snapping out of my thoughts. “Alright, ladies, I think we have our winner. Will we be doing the alterations here, or are we ready to take it home today?” I asked, watching the bride contemplate her options. It wasn’t unusual for a bride to purchase her dress here and then hire her own seamstress to make alterations. I didn’t like to assume, so I always asked.
“I’ll do the alterations here,” she finally answered.
“Perfect. We’ll order your size today and call you for your first fitting in about two weeks,” I told her with a reassuring smile.
This place was my sanctuary. A world far removed from the chaos of my family’s business, where I could pretend, just for a few hours, that everything was as beautiful and simple as some of these gorgeous gowns. My bridal boutique was one of the most sought-after in Atlanta.
And it was all mine.
Built from the ground up with no help from my family or their... connections. The clientele ranged from everyday brides on a budget to high-profile celebrities looking for the perfect custom gown. Each bride brought her own story and unique style, making every day at the boutique an adventure.
I took a deep breath, refocusing on the bride in front of me. “The fit on this one is great, but I feel like we can go up one size to ensure proper comfort and allow room for any necessary adjustments,” I suggested gently. The bride nodded thoughtfully, trusting my expertise. I removed the tape measure that dangled from around my neck and went on to measure the most important body parts. While she and her friends chatted excitedly about the upcoming fitting, I continued measuring her hips, as I zoned out thinking about my long ass to-do list. As much as I loved these moments, I also felt overwhelmed by it on some days. I was so drained from the day-to-day, and barely had any days off.
My to-do list felt never-ending. Between my boyfriend Corey, my family, and running the shop, I was teetering on the edge of exhaustion. Especially today. The shop was extremely busy. Appointments were stacked one after another and I had another bride coming in after this one. My boyfriend had been trying to get my attention all morning, despite how swamped he knew I was. Which could be endearing and irritating at the same time. And my father had been calling me non-stop all morning.
Whatever he wanted, I wasn’t sure I was in the mood for. I loved my father, but Samuel Reed didn’t really understand boundaries. Or maybe he did and just didn’t care.
Lately, he and my mom had been on a marriage kick. I was nowhere ready for marriage. I barely tolerated the boyfriend I had, let alone wanted to marry him. Corey, my boyfriend, was safe.
Normal.
He had a good job at the bank and never so much as thought about getting caught up in street life. But that didn’t mean I wanted to marry him. Besides, I doubt my father would approve of Corey anyway. But nonetheless, I wasn’t in the mood to deal with whatever he was calling me for.
With the final adjustments written, I said, “I think I have everything I need.”
The bride giggled, dabbing her eyes, still in awe over the gown. I turned toward my assistant Constance, giving her a quick nod to finish things up.
Handing the tablet over to my assistant, I gave her the details I needed her to complete, then turned to the bride and said, “I’ll call you when your dress arrives.” She nodded in understanding and walked off to prepare for my next client.
On my way to my office, the door chimed. As it swung open, I instantly knew my brother wasn’t here on a normal brotherly check-in. His expression was intense, unlike any other time he came to check in on me. There was something on his mind.
The room practically froze as Bash, strolled into my shop. The pensiveness on his face temporarily disappeared and was replaced with his charming smile.
Here we go.
I rolled my eyes, catching the wide-eyed stares from the bridal party. It was always the same. Bash walked in, and the women suddenly forgot how to act. I didn’t even have to look to know they were gawking at him.
He flashed his signature grin, all poise and filled with swag. “Ladies,” he greeted smoothly. And just like clockwork, the giggling started.
“Hey handsome,” one of the ladies cooed.
“Seriously?” I called out to him, not even bothering to hide my amusement. “How you gonna come up in here disrupting my place of business.”
He winked at me, shooting the bridal party a two-finger salute before making his way to the back of my bridal shop and to my office, like he owned the damn place. The moment he was out of sight, the giggling erupted, and I could feel my resolve wavering.Despite my love for my brother, his knack for distracting my clients never failed to irk me.
I shook my head, turning back to the bride and her party. “Please ignore him.” I laughed.
“Girl, how can we. That man is fine.” Laughing, I gave my assistant quick instructions if my next client came in while I was speaking to my brother.
“I’ll be right back,” I assured all of them before heading to my office to see what Bash wanted. Whatever it was, I had a feeling it would not be a simple chat. I headed toward the back office, pushing open the door to find Bash leaning against my desk like he had all the time in the world, arms crossed, that smug smile still plastered on his face.
The moment I closed the door, his smile faded, replaced by the look I’d grown too familiar with over the years—serious and intense.
“Okay, what’s up? Did Dad send you?” I finally asked ready to get down to the reason for his visit.
Bash raised an eyebrow, his frown fading slightly. “You’ve been ignoring Pops all morning. This is important Yanna.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I’ve been busy, Bash. I know you see the shop full of people.” My hand gestured toward the floor full of potential clients.
