Fake Marriage Box Set

“For a little backyard wedding?” Maddie asked. “Isn’t that a little much?”

“Are you trying to turn down an expensive designer-made gown?” I raised an eyebrow. “Think of all the photo opportunities for your social media.”

“I’m not sure what I would even promote,” she said. “Wait, designer?”

The car pulled into a busy parking lot, and Maddie gasped as we arrived at the boutique of one of the most famous clothing designers of our time.

“I’m going to wear one of her dresses?” she gushed as we exited the car. “Gavin, this is too much!”

“It really isn’t,” I said. “Out of everything we’ve done, including this fake wedding, a real wedding dress isn’t too much.” I passed her as I walked toward the entrance. “Plus, you can keep the dress and just wear it at your real wedding.”

She hesitated behind me as a weird expression crossed her face. I opened the door and tilted my head at her.

“What?” I asked. “Did I say something wrong?”

She stuttered over her words as she passed me into the shop. “No, it’s fine.”

I stood behind her as we waited for a consultant to greet us. Maddie was stiff, her body straight against mine, and even though she was possibly only an inch away from me, our skin wasn’t touching.

“Can I help you?” the consultant asked. She was a woman in her mid-forties, with curly black hair loose around her shoulders and a professional business suit that matched thin shoes. I realized that Maddie and I both were dressed below our means, me in a sweater and loose trousers and Maddie in a common dress, and that the look the consultant was giving us wasn’t one of excitement. She didn’t think we could afford such a place.

“My fiancée and I are getting married tomorrow,” I said. “Her other dress was ordered straight from Italy, but it got held up at customs and isn’t going to arrive until Monday.”

“Italy?” The consultant raised an eyebrow. Her lips twitched as she considered the implications. “So you’re in need of a last-minute wedding dress?” she asked Maddie.

“Yes,” Maddie said. “If it’s possible.”

“Well,” the consultant gestured at one of the shelves toward the back of the store. “Our clearance section is all ready to walk out of the door now, and I’m sure you’ll find at least one or two dresses that will fit within your budget.”

“Oh, okay,” Maddie said, and the consultant turned to walk away. I stepped forward and raised my voice.

“We’re not interested in the bargain bin,” I said. “You have to have other dresses ready to walk out the door that haven't been priced down.”

The consultant stopped and looked at me. “Any dress on a mannequin is out the door ready,” she said. “But those all start in the upper tens; what’s your maximum budget?”

I noticed Maddie flinch as she realized the consultant meant upper ten thousand, but that didn’t faze me.

“What’s your most expensive dress here?” I asked. The consultant laughed.

“A princess gown for 150,” she said. Maddie gasped, but I nodded my head.

“We’ll start there,” I said. “I can pay with cash or card, whichever is easiest for your store.”

The consultant’s eyebrows both raised. “My name is Yvette,” she said and shook both of our hands. “If you’ll follow me, I can get your beautiful fiancée in a fitting room and pick out dresses that will compliment her perfectly.”

“Thank you, Yvette,” I said as we both followed her toward the side of the shop.

“One hundred and fifty thousand?” Maddie whispered. “Gavin, no.”

“Relax,” I grinned and leaned toward her ear. “Just have fun trying it on. There’s nothing better than proving people wrong, and that asshole thought you and I were a joke.”

Maddie smiled. “So I can try any of them on?” she asked.

“Until you find your perfect dress,” I said. “Sky’s the limit.”

She followed Yvette into a dressing room, and I took a seat just outside of it. I watched as Yvette brought several dresses into her fitting room, and waited for nearly 10 minutes between each one for Maddie to emerge.

The first was a mermaid style cut that hugged her body until it ended in a fin at the bottom. It was a champagne color, with sparkling beads that caught the eye.