Page 26 of Christmas Romance Galore!
The tinkle of the shop door took Sophie away, and then it was just me and Nicola in a sea of white and lace. My life couldn’t get much more surreal if it tried.
While I was waiting in this artificial web of happiness, my phone vibrated in my bag. It was a text from Holly asking if I fancied a Friday night beer. I would definitely be in need of a beer after this escapade, so I texted her straight back to say yes.
When I looked up, Nicola was standing in front of me in an off-the-shoulder fishtail gown, looking every inch the bride. She looked at me for a reaction, but I couldn’t speak. Seeing that much of her skin was having a strange effect on my vocal chords, causing them to knot together and my breath to quicken. I tried again but no sound came out.
“You don’t like it?” She wrinkled her brow, then walked over to the mirror and regarded herself left, then right. “It’s a bit too... Essex d’you think? A bit too bling?”
I shook my head. “No, you look gorgeous. Really. But maybe something more classic would be better?” I hoped this was a safe thing to say. How Nicola looked was beside the point. She was standing in a wedding dress with only me as the audience and this was messing with my head more than I cared to consider. Seeing her in front of me dressed to marry someone else pierced my soul. She’d already cut me open once, and now she was doing it again.
Nicola was oblivious. “You’re right, but I thought I’d try this one — I don’t hate it as much as I thought I would.”
My mind was playing images of Nicola walking down the aisle in the dress, but instead of Melanie waiting at the end, it was me. I shook my head and blinked.
“Let me show you the next one — this is my favourite.” Nicola disappeared behind the curtain again and I exhaled loudly.
Sweat was dripping down my back and I’m sure my chest was glowing red under my coat, being battered as it was by my pounding heart.
I could do this. Breathe.
Within a minute, Nicola’s head popped out again and she looked around before settling on me. “Where’s Sophie?”
“She had another customer,” I said.
“Right.” Nicola gave me a pained smile. “Would you mind giving me a hand with the zip on this one? Sophie did it last time.”
I returned her smile right back. “Sure, no problem,” I said.
Fuckety fuck.
I left my bag where it was — I figured it was safe in this environment, bridal shops not being known for their smash and grab raids.
But when I got that close to Nicola Sheen’s bare back, I was back in High School, back on my bed. Her honeyed skin was smooth and so inviting. I wanted to bend down and kiss it, trail my tongue up that back, then spin her around and... I closed my eyes to stop my mind creating any more thoughts and it half worked. When I reopened them, Nicola had her head turned and was staring at me.
“You okay?” she asked.
I went to speak but no sound came out again. My mouth was gluey, all sense of time and place woozy.
I nodded.
Her eyes dropped to my lips, then back up to my eyes, then she turned quickly.
A blush crept into my cheeks, then slid down my neck and on to my chest. I cleared my throat and kicked into action, removing my gloves and stuffing them in my coat pockets. Then I stood with my hands poised, and eventually, pulled the two sides of the dress together with my left hand and began tugging the zip up with my right. Of course, the action meant I was now in direct contact with Nicola Sheen, my bare fingers on her naked back, but I was pushing that thought to the back of my mind.
I was helping her into her wedding dress. I was a friend helping out and I was going to do my job right.
It only took a few more seconds, and the dress fitted her perfectly — the waist, the arms, the length, everything. It was an off-the-shoulder number, satin and lace, with an elegant, short train. It was understated but undoubtedly classy, exactly what Nicola wanted. Her strong, elegant shoulders stood firm, and when she posed in front of the changing room mirror, she couldn’t help but break into a grin. She looked absolutely beautiful, and I told her so, standing to her right.
I stared at both our reflections in the mirror and caught her eye. “It’s like it was made for you.”
She fluttered her eyelids before fixing me with a reflected gaze. “I know.” Her eyes teared up and her face clouded with sadness.
I panicked. “Hey,” I said, putting a hand on the top of either shoulder. “No crying.”
She turned slowly, shaking her head and leaned her head on my shoulder, my arm going round her in a painfully awkward embrace. Could she hear my heart thumping in my chest? I hoped not.
“I’m sorry — it just reminds me of before, all the time I’ve wasted. All the time I could have been living the life I should have been leading, instead of being miserable with boyfriends and pretending to be something I’m not.”
I patted her back awkwardly — I got what she was saying, but it still didn’t make the situation any less odd. All I wanted to do was agree with her, tell her that yes, you did make the wrong decision, you did walk away from me and the best thing that could have happened to you. And now you’re standing in a wedding dress marrying someone else? Pick me!
