Page 86 of Bad Crush
“Turn around. I want to take a picture.” Dakota holds her phone up, and we link arms and smile while she takes several.
“Those photos stay between us,” I warn as I spin around to get one last look before I have to take it off. Maybe someday I’ll get a chance to wear a dress like this.
“Yeah, uh Reagan, I don’t think that’s going to be possible.”
At Dakota’s words, I look up into the mirror to the front door of the store where the guys have just entered. Adam’s eyes are wide as our gazes lock.
“Oh my gosh.” I wrap my arms around my chest as if that could hide me. The saleslady must think I’m trying to keep the future groom from seeing my dress because she whisks past us to shoo them out of the store.
“Oh no. No, no, no, no,” I mutter. This cannot be happening.
“I’ve got this,” Dakota says. She whips off her dress, which she put on over her regular clothes, and shoves it into my hands. “Get changed. I’ll wait for you two outside.”
“You’re fine. It’s just a dress.” Ginny squeezes my hand.
“You’re not freaking out? Your boyfriend just caught you trying on wedding dresses.”
She shrugs. “Heath and I talk about our wedding all the time. Not that we’re planning on actually doing it anytime soon, but I think he’s beyond freaking out.”
“Well, your brother and I do not talk about it, and he’s definitely freaking out.” I slap a hand to my forehead. “First, I faked an engagement, and now I’m in here trying on wedding dresses. He’s going to think…” I can’t even finish the statement. The thoughts I imagine going through his head are too awful. We haven’t even said we love each other yet, and it looks like I’m planning our happily ever after.
“Breathe, Rea. It’s going to be fine.”
The group’s waiting outside. Adam’s leaning against the building. When he sees me approach, he pushes off and walks forward. I can’t read his expression at all.
“It isn’t what you think,” I blurt out before he can say anything. My heart is hammering in my chest. I cannot have screwed this up over something so dumb. “I don’t want to get married. I mean, maybe I do someday, but not today. Not even this year. Not even in five, probably. And we haven’t even—”
He takes my hand and squeezes gently. “Relax. Dakota told me. Although for a second there, I thought you were picking out a costume for your next premed function.” He interlaces our fingers, and we fall in with the group walking toward the restaurant. I search his face to see if he’s being truthful or if he’s sweating and swaying like he might faint. He smiles. “For the record, though, you looked beautiful.”
25
Reagan
You may face tough decisions today. Confusion is likely to reign. Wait a couple of days, and then consider your options.
“We’ll stop there for tonight,”Director Hoffman calls rehearsal Tuesday night with a sigh.
Despite his continual look of irritation, the play is starting to come together. Ginny came yesterday to make sure we’re all set for makeup, we’ve been fit for costumes, and the backdrops and props are mostly finalized and in place. It’s starting to feel like we’re going to pull this off.
I know we will, we do every time, but those first few run-throughs off-book always feel like we’re working toward the impossible.
Mila catches my gaze and smiles as he barks out the schedule for the rest of the week. I playfully roll my eyes at him, and she holds back a laugh. It’s been fun getting to know her, and she’s fitting right in with everyone. We get to spend quite a bit of time together since she’s my understudy. And, just as I assumed, she’s memorized all of her lines with no problem.
Occasionally, Director Hoffman pulls her in so I can work on technique with Dr. Rossen. My timing is still shit, and I’m struggling with my facial expressions in a couple of scenes. Sometimes I feel like I’m the newbie instead of her.
What was I thinking going for such a different role? I will get it, though. I am nothing if not determined.
“A few of us are going out for drinks. Do you want to come?” Mila asks as we’re helping clean up the stage. There’s an orchestra performance tonight, and it’s all hands on deck to transition the space quickly so they can set up.
“No, I can’t. I have plans.”
“Do they involve that cute guy that just walked in?” She nods over my head, and I turn to see Adam waiting for me.
My heart rate kicks up a notch. “They do.”
Her smile is big and genuine. “Is that your boyfriend?”
“Yep, sure is.” I get butterflies in my stomach just talking about him. I’m so ridiculously crazy about him. This weekend solidified that more than ever.
