Joey: Party is postponed. My baby has the stomach bug that’s going around. How’s the dress shopping going?
Me: Oh no! Tell Billy I hope he feels better. We just picked out our dresses and Juls is trying hers on now. I’ll send you a pic.
Well, shit. I guess I won’t be seeing Reese tonight at the party after all. My disappointment quickly gets blanketed by the realization that it might be a good thing to go a few days without seeing him. Between the accidental, but not really accidental, sleepover to the photos I received, I have a lot of shit to think about. I hear a gasp from Brooke and I quickly slip out of my dressing room and let my eyes fall on Juls who has just emerged from hers. Holy shit.
“Holy shit. Juls… oh my, that’s… oh, wow.” There are no words to describe the woman I’m staring at right now. She’s beautiful, exquisite even, in a strapless tight laced bodice and ruffled skirt, her tiny waist accented with a deep brown sash that falls down her back and onto her train.
“Wow. You look amazing,” Brooke states as her sister takes her place on her pedestal and begins to twirl slowly.
“It’s beautiful, right?” She shakes her hands out by her side and I can tell she’s nervous.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know. Is it weird that I have no desire to try on any other dresses? I mean, this is the first one I put on and I feel like this is it. I can see myself marrying Ian in this. Maybe I should try on more.”
“Fuck that. Who cares if it’s the first one you try on. You look amazing in it. Like crazy amazing. I can totally see you marrying Ian in this dress,” I reply and see the tension leave her shoulders. Leave it to Juls to worry about the standards of bridal gown shopping. Her smile widens in the mirror and I can tell she’s on to something. “What?” She quickly hops down and slips back into her dressing room.
“Damn it. I wanna get married. There better at least be some hot groomsmen for me to fool around with at this thing,” Brooke grunts.
“The best man is off limits, just so you know,” I reply and she squints at me.
Juls re-emerges with another gown in her hands and walks over to me, thrusting it into my arms. “Here, try this on.”
“What? Are you crazy?” She must be if she thinks I’m slipping into a wedding gown. “I am not trying on a wedding dress.”
“Why not? This would look amazing on you, right, Brooke?” Oh, for Christ’s sake.
Brooke steps up and admires the gown. “She’s right, Dylan. It’s a halter and you always look amazing in halter dresses with those boobs of yours. Remember prom? God, I fucking hate you both.”
I back up. “You are both nuts. There’s no way I’m putting that thing on or any other wedding dress for that matter. I’m pretty sure I’d seal my fate as being perpetually single if I did.” This is an honest fear. Karma has been increasingly hostile toward me lately and I can see her crossing her arms and stomping her foot at me now, daring me to push my luck.
“Oh, come on, Dyl. Brooke will try some on too, right, Brooke?” We both look at her sister who is sulking on her pedestal.
“Whatever. I fucking hate weddings.”
I shake my head and turn back to Juls who is staring me down. “No.”
She stomps her foot and grits her teeth. “Excuse you, but as maid of honor you’re supposed to do everything I ask.”
“And that includes trying on wedding gowns? Are you mental?”
She frowns big time at me and I melt. Damn it. “Fine, give me the stupid thing.” I rip it from her hands and march with fury to my dressing room as she squeals in delight. This is insane and completely ridiculous. After stripping out of my maid of honor dress, annoyed, I step into the wedding gown and slowly zip it up, my eyes widening as I gaze down at myself. “Oh, shit,” I whisper, obviously not low enough because Juls rips open the curtain.
“Wow. You look incredible.” She pulls me from my room and pushes me up onto the pedestal as Brooke walks up behind me.
“Damn, Dylan. Would it be weird to put that shit on hold indefinitely?”