He kissed the top of my head. “I’m right here, kid.”
I smiled and snuggled in a little deeper. Kid, his affectionate nickname for me since high school, when he got a ton of blowback for dating a lowly freshman. His much “cooler” senior friends started calling me Joanna Kid instead of Joanna Kitt, and like any good nickname, it stuck.
“I’m getting sweat all over your Brooks Brothers tie,” I said, wrenching away.
He pulled me back into his arms. “These days, I’ll take you any way I can get you.”
I looked up into his big brown eyes. “We haven’t had much time for us lately.”
“After the wedding, I promise.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Half the places we’re staying on our honeymoon don’t even have WIFI, so like it or not, I intend to have your full and undivided attention.”
He cracked a mischievous smile. “Oh, you’ll have all of my attention, kid.”
I looked him up and down. Maybe because I’d seen Sam transition from teenage boy to grown man, there was something extra sexy about seeing him dressed up in his business suit complete with a pocket square, heading off to work. His light wavy hair was slicked back and off his clean-shaven face, which was topped off with the most perfect pair of tortoise-rimmed glasses.
“I should go shower. Are you positively sure you can’t join me?”
He bit his bottom lip and picked up his briefcase. “Tempting, but I can’t.”
I handed him his phone from off the nightstand. “Here, don’t forget your phone.”
He looked down. “That’s your phone. Mine’s right here,” he said, patting his pocket.
We’d both used the same photo from our New York Times engagement announcement as our screen savers, causing some recent phone confusion. I made a mental note to switch my picture.
“You know, tomorrow’s our yes date, and like it or not, you have to agree to everything I say,” I teased.
The corners of his eyes crinkled with delight. “Oh, I know. I’ve been looking forward to it for months.”
Chapter Five
The receptionist at the bridal salon directed us downstairs to alterations. Merritt took the tiny elevator with Alec and his stroller, while Naomi and I walked down the flight of stairs.
“I cannot wait to see your gown in person. The photos you sent were gorgeous, and I’m sure they don’t even do the dress justice,” Naomi said.
“I hope so. It’s the most money I have ever spent on anything for myself in my entire life, and that was with the trunk show discount.”
Merritt was waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs with Alec and one of the salon’s seamstresses.
“Which one of you is the bride?” she asked.
I raised my hand.
“Wonderful. I’m Sylvia. Nice to meet you.” She motioned us down the corridor. “Come with me. We have you all set up in the far dressing room.”
We followed her down the long, narrow hall of maroon curtains, until we came to the last one.
“Did you bring shoes and the undergarment you’re planning to wear that day?” Sylvia asked.
I pulled out a pair of white satin Louboutins I’d bought on one of those resale consignment websites and a cream-colored lacy bustier.
Sylvia pointed to some chairs outside the changing room. “Your guests can sit here, while I help you into the gown, and then we’ll do a full reveal.”
Merritt and Naomi took their seats and even turned Alec’s stroller around to face the curtain.
I followed Sylvia into the dressing room, where the gown was hanging in a garment bag on a high hook. Sylvia popped up on her toes to unzip the bag.
“There she is. What do you think? Do you still love it?” she asked.
I covered my mouth with my hand and inhaled deeply. “I think I love the dress even more than I did when I bought it.”
“Good, that’s exactly what we like to hear. I’ll step out for a moment, so you can get into the bustier. Give me a shout when you’re ready, and I’ll zip you into the gown.”
Sylvia ducked past the curtain and out of the room, while I took a few steps closer to examine the dress. It was exquisite. A blush organza gown with full tulle skirt, antique silver beading embellishments, cap sleeves, fitted bodice, and open back. The dress was dreamy and romantic and exactly what I’d imagined myself walking down the aisle to Sam in. It was the first and only dress I tried on, and the minute the zipper closed, I knew it was the one. I slid the bustier on and called for Sylvia to come back into the changing room to help me into the dress.
A few moments later we opened the curtain for the big reveal. I did a full turn in my spot. “What does everyone think?”
Naomi jumped out of her seat first. “God, the workmanship on this dress is incredible. Who’s the designer again?”
I smoothed down the tulle. “It’s a Georgica Goldstein. I never in a million years thought I could afford one of her gowns, but between this being a sample dress and the trunk show discount, I was able to make it work.”
Naomi raised her eyebrows. “Georgica Goldstein? The designer of Princess Victoria’s dress?”
I nodded.
“It’s gorgeous, Jo. Really.”
I glanced over at Merritt, who was being uncharacteristically quiet.
“Mer, what do you think?”
“It’s a beautiful gown, Joey.”
Sylvia came around to the front of the curtain. “The dress is much too big on her, that may be what’s throwing you. When we take it in on the sides like this,” she said, pinning the material, “the effect is very different.”
Sylvia continued pinning the dress in several different spots, to take away some of the excess material. When she was finished, she stood back to admire her work.
I twisted my torso in the corset. “It feels so much better.”
Sylvia stepped back and away from the pedestal. “There, now you’re wearing the dress, it isn’t wearing you.”
I turned to my sister. “Merritt?”
“It’s an absolutely stunning dress, but I’m not sure it’s really you.”
I blinked hard. That was not at all the reaction I was expecting.
She continued, “It’s so formal and so . . . I don’t know, poofy. It’s not really what I was picturing.”
I caught Naomi shooting Merritt what could only be described as a death stare. “What were you picturing?”
“Something more vibrant. More fun, maybe?”
“It’s my wedding, not a New Year’s Eve party.” I turned to face the mirror. “Besides, I think Sam would love me in this dress.”
Merritt stood up and put her arm around me. She tilted her head and scanned my reflection up and down. “I’m sorry, I should’ve kept my big, stupid mouth shut. I don’t know what I’m talking about. The dress is amazing. You look amazing.”
Sylvia clapped her hands together, breaking the tension in the room. “We’ll see you back in about two weeks. It’ll take a bit of time to finish the alterations. Someone from the salon will call you to schedule an appointment once we’re done.”
“Before you get changed, I have something for you,” Merritt said.