She does, and the moms and Skylar discuss the good and the bad of the dress, not mentioning one aspect of Zoe’s body. I’m crossing my fingers that the same goes for me.
“Now you, Chelsea,” Sky says, and I share a look with Zoe like when is this going to be over.
I stand on the pedestal and look at myself in the mirror. Yep, now I just look horrendous times three.
“I love it. I think it accentuates your figure,” Aunt Liz says. “Would all the girls be able to pull this off like Chelsea?”
Sky tilts her head inspecting it. “Are you comfortable?”
“I am if you like it.”
All the women laugh except my mom. “I think we should look at something more A-line. Not so tight around her middle.”
There she is in all her glory. Be jealous ladies, she’s all mine.
“Why?” Aunt Liz asks, her forehead crinkled.
I step down from the pedestal.
“I just think it’d be more flattering,” she continues to appraise me.
“Let’s try on another style I guess,” Sky says, following us back into the dressing area.
My phone is ringing inside my purse, so I pull it out.
Minute Man flashes on the screen, so I press ignore and drop it back into my purse.
“You can get it if you have to Chels,” Sky hollers from outside my fitting room.
“Nope. I’m good.”
For the next hour, I try on six different dresses and stand in front of a mirror to be judged like I’m on that old reality show Swan where they’d look you over and decide what parts weren’t good enough and what needed to be improved upon. I might not have black marker all over my imperfections, but I now know exactly what my mother thinks needs fixing.
“I love the high neckline with the draped back and how it’s tight around the hips and flares out farther down,” Sky says. “Did you like the gold? I think it’s an elegant summer color.”
“Love it all.” I’m heading back to the changing room when my phone rings again.
“Why are you so popular tonight?” Zoe asks, darting across from her dressing room to mine in only her jeans and bra. “What are you hiding?”
“Nothing.” I push my way through the hallway, knocking Sky into the wall.
“She’s definitely hiding something.” Skylar runs after me, but by the time I reach the fitting room, Zoe’s on the bench staring at my phone.
“Who’s the new guy?” Skylar asks, joining us in the four by four changing room.
Zoe turns the screen for Skylar to see. “Minute Man?”
My shoulders sag. “Just a date.”
“Good or bad?” Zoe asks.
“Bad. Definitely bad.”
“Let’s see why he’s so anxious to speak to you then.” Zoe scrolls through, the smile on her face dipping with every swipe. Her head snaps up in my direction. “Is Minute Man, Dean?” Zoe whisper-yells.
“Shh.” I bring my index finger over my mouth and glance behind me as if Zoe saying Dean’s name could conjure my mother up.
“Chels.” Skylar takes the phone from her sister’s hands. “He’s called you four times since you’ve been here.” She hands me over the phone. They really aren’t ones to snoop, but Dean’s number in my phone is not going to go unquestioned.
I glance down the hall again. “I was going to tell you.”
Zoe slides over on the bench to make room for me. “How does he have your number?” she asks.
I shrug. “He’s the tax attorney for the foundation I’m working at. I just found out on Friday.”
“Wait.” Zoe puts her hand in the air. “Dean Bennett is an attorney and at that, he’s a tax attorney?” Her eyes are swimming in doubt.
“I saw the license on his wall.”
She crosses her legs and places her chin in her palm waiting for more.
“He wants to take me out and I refuse to let him.”
“Good girl, you do not need him in your life.” Skylar’s always a nut breaker when it comes to anyone but Beckett.
“What do you want to do?” Zoe asks.
You’d think when I went through my brief marriage that Skylar would’ve been the shoulder I cried on, but it was Zoe. Skylar was busy in the circuit trying to become a Winter Classics skier, so she had no understanding of how I felt for Dean. Zoe did and helped me through one of the hardest times of my life. Who am I kidding? The hardest time of my life.
“I can’t,” I say in a low voice, shaking my head.
“Good. Keep that train of thought and don’t let him railroad you like he did before.” Skylar hangs up the rest of the dresses.
“Sky!” Aunt Liz calls out and as much as I love my cousin, I’m happy at this moment that her presence has been requested elsewhere.
Once Sky’s gone, Zoe pats my leg. “Maybe you should. Let him know how much he hurt you. Let him know your own regrets. You guys were so young, and I’m sure over the years things have changed. Maybe he’s on the right path now.”
“But?”
“What if you still have feelings?” Her lips tip down.
“Yeah.” I hate the way my voice sounds so small, so weak.
“Then you deal with it. But maybe it’ll just let you put him behind you once and for all.”
No way I’ll ever let myself get to where I was five years ago. I use my knuckle to dab at the tears in the corners of my eyes. “Nope. I’m hiding out. Now if I could get him to lose my phone number.”
She taps the phone in my lap. “You could block him.” Then she stands and exits the dressing room.
Skylar would’ve stood overhead and watched me do it. If I didn’t, she probably would’ve blocked him herself.
I’m not sure what’s best as I sit in a bridesmaid dress in a place where most people who enter are giddy with happiness at the prospect of what lies ahead.
I tuck my phone inside my purse.
I’ll do it when I get home.
Even I know that’s a lie.
Chapter Six
“Now I can totally see why delivery people are so happy.” Victoria enters my office and places a bouquet of chocolate candy on my desk. “I do wish the recipient was happier though, but I was smiling the whole way down the hall.”
“You can pick them up, turn around and head right back down that hallway. Give them to Jade.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t let Jade have this much sugar.” She turns on her heels, leaving the bouquet on the corner of my desk.
I tossed and turned last night, hoping to find sleep, but only saw Dean and imagined where we’d be if we’d stayed together. Would he have become a lawyer, or would I have been supporting him? Would we be scraping by, would he have been faithful, would he have ever been able to be the man he promised to be when he proposed to me?
“Victoria,” I warn, sliding the chair out from my desk, stalking after her down the hall with the bouquet in my hand.
“I told you, the dentist said Jade couldn’t have sugar anymore.”
“That’s bullshit and we both know it.” I drop it on her desk.
“I don’t want it, Chelsea.” Victoria’s words have lost their amusement.