The Loyal Groom (Groom 1)

She would fall over dead if I told her I got the dress from a thrift store. But after I got discouraged trying on designer dresses last week, I asked the twins and Lindsey to go shopping with me. They agreed if they got to pick the places we checked out.

When we pulled up to the thrift store I was a little nervous that I wouldn’t find anything. Lindsey said if we didn't we’d hit the mall next but to give it a try and I might be surprised. I was, but I should have known because Lindsey is an old soul that can somehow see into the future. At least that’s what I say when I’m teasing her, but I think we all know it’s because she has more street smarts than anyone.

“Ugly. Is that a better word for you?” My mother huffs and scrunches her nose at me. Once upon a time I would have jumped to fix whatever was irritating her, but the thing is, she’s never not irritated.

I think the dress is perfect, even if I’ll never convince her of it. The back is bare, with soft lace running up the side to tie around my neck. It shows a beautiful V line to my breasts with decorative flowers spilling down to the floor. A thin silk ribbon tied around my midsection makes my hips look rounded and shows off the hourglass figure I’ve grown into over the years. Thankfully my mother's small jabs about my weight have tapered off since she noticed they were wasted on my ears.

Besides myself, there’s only one other person whose attention I want on my body, and it’s Darian. And much to my pleasure, he has a hard time keeping his hands off of me. Even with as excited as we are when we’re alone, we haven't gone far. I’m really hoping that tonight is the night. It’s never been the right time or place for us to do more than heavy petting, but tonight will be different.

“When are you leaving? You’re not going with that boy, are you?” she asks, taking me away from my thoughts.

“He has a name, and you know it.”

Darian and I have been a thing since he stole my heart that first day of school. Everyone knows it, and everyone is pretty much over it at this point. It’s been years, not to mention we’re closing in on graduation and everyone will be starting a new path. I bet I’ll never see half these people again, and I’ll be too happy to get out of this town.

Thankfully, Darian and I are going to the same university. It would have been awful to do the long-distance thing. My mother is going to lose it when she finds out we’re going to the same college, but I have no plans on telling her anytime soon.

“You’re really still on this boy? Your father and I had hoped it was some bad boy phase.”

“He’s not a bad boy.” I throw my hands up.

He might have threatened a few guys at school over the years, but only assholes who made stupid sexual comments in my direction. The same kind of guys my mother would be over the moon about me going to prom with. It takes everything in me not to explode, but it's pointless because she’ll never understand.

“Why are you doing this to us? You know we don’t care for the boy.”

Her words take the air right out of my lungs, and my eyes burn with tears. I hate that my family is this way. Darian is always judged for things he cannot control, and it makes me heart ache that they are so openly rude to him when he’s only ever been nice to them and treats their daughter with nothing but sweet kindness. They should be happy I’ve found someone like Darian because I truly believe he’s a rare breed of man.

“I love him,” I say firmly, and my mom drops her head.

“You’re a silly little girl, and I’m putting an end to this now.”

“I’m an adult. You can’t tell me who I can and can’t date.”

“I can while you’re under this roof,” she seethes, and I grab my purse off my bed and pull out my phone. Darian is almost here, and as I’m about to text him, she grabs my arm. She might be mad, but I know she’s not going to kick me out. If word got around she’d lose face, and that’s the one thing she would never sacrifice.

“Don’t make me pick, Mom. You won’t like the answer.” I pull my arm free from her grip and leave my bedroom.

When I get to the front door, I pull it open right as Darian is about to knock. I step out quickly, shutting the door behind me and smile a little too brightly up at him.