Love At First Sight (Southern Bride 1)

Alyssa took a step closer and lowered her voice. “We need to talk. Because any normal bride would be jumping out of her skin to try on dresses, and you act like this is a punishment. Your mom is starting to catch on, Chloe.”

“Catch on?”

“Yes. It may not be clear to you, but it’s clear to the rest of us. You have no desire to marry Easton. None. Zero. Zilch.”

Her words rattled in my head for a few seconds before the sales lady walked over. “Okay, ladies, I have your dressing rooms set up with four gowns each. Let the wedding dress shopping begin!”

As I stepped into the dressing room, I let my eyes wander over each dress. The sales lady had paid attention to the dresses I looked at. I closed my eyes and pointed my finger and then took a few turns. Whichever dress I ended up pointing at I would try on.

Opening my eyes, I smiled. It was a beautiful Vera Wang gown in a soft white with a plunging V-neck bodice. I stripped out of my clothes and got the dress on. When it was time for help, I rang the small bell and the sales lady came in.

“Oh, I was hoping you would try this one on first.”

Outside the dressing room, I heard Alyssa’s mom, Mary, and my mother going crazy over Alyssa’s dress.

Then I heard Alyssa say, “I look like a princess in this! It’s stunning.”

I smiled at the excitement in my best friend’s voice. I didn’t have the same level of excitement, and that was only becoming clearer as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

The other sales lady said something about trying on the others before Alyssa jumped at the first dress. They all laughed. I placed my hand on my stomach and took in a few deep breaths.

“It’s normal to feel nerves and not excitement.”

I turned and faced her.

Jesus, even the sales lady could read me like a book.

But then a huge smile erupted on her face. “Okay, let’s go show everyone!”

I stepped outside the dressing room and Alyssa, Mary, and my mother all gasped.

Gathering the full skirt in my hands, I walked up the three steps and faced the wall of mirrors. I didn’t even recognize the woman I was looking at. She looked tired with dark circles under eyes that were filled with sadness. I let my gaze wander down the dress. It was beautiful, and probably exactly what Easton would want me to wear… and I hated it.

“I’m going to marry you someday, Rip.”

I was on our swing while Rip sat on the ground, an apple in his mouth. He took a bite and chewed it.

“Okay, but we have to get married here. At our tree.”

“Chloe, sweetheart, you look so beautiful.”

The moment my eyes caught my mother’s in the mirror, I lost it. Tears streamed down my face and I collapsed. The next thing I knew, four women were on the floor next to me as I cried uncontrollably into my hands.

Rip

“YOU’RE IN A bad mood.”

“Why do you say that, Mike?” I asked as I laid back on the weight bench and put my hands on the bar.

“You keep snapping at me.”

With a blank look, I opened my mouth to say something, then shut it again.

“What?” Mike asked.

“Dude, you sound like a woman. I’m snapping at you?”

“You are! I ask a simple question and you snap back.”

I laughed. “Just spot me, will you?”

Mike stood behind me as I lifted two-hundred-and-twenty pounds.

“Alyssa and Chloe went wedding dress shopping today.”

I grunted as I lifted the weights.

“Struggling? You’re only on six reps, dude. Four more to go!”

I shot him a dirty look.

“Looking a little weak, Myers.”

“Shut. Up.” I grunted as I lifted for the tenth and final time.

Mike had to help me guide the weights back onto the bar. Jesus, I am a fucking wimp.

I sat up and tried to will the nauseous stomach away. I was running out of fucking time.

“Working out too hard?” he asked, a smug look on his face.

“Fuck you, Mike.”

“Yeah, you’re in a bad mood.”

“Jesus Christ, will you stop already? I’m not in a bad mood. Maybe I just need to get laid.”

He shrugged. “When was the last time you did? A while ago?

Looking over my shoulder at him, I replied, “No.”

Mike’s phone beeped in his pocket, and he pulled it out to read a text message. The goofy smile on his face told me it was from Alyssa.

“Are you going to stare at your phone like a giggly school girl or work out, asshole?”

Mike looked up at me. “She found her dress.”

My cold heart melted some, and I gave him a smile. “That’s great, dude.”

When he laid back, I almost asked him if Alyssa had mentioned if Chloe finding a dress. I decided my heart couldn’t take it, and I didn’t want to know.