Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 98134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
There’s no sound from the other side of the door, so I suddenly feel like an idiot.
“Sorry. Verbal diarrhea. I guess I just feel all kinds of weird after running away from my own wedding. Go figure. Like God. His parents paid for the wedding and I just bailed on it. I know they’re mega multi-millionaires or whatever, but I’m going to have to figure out some way to pay them back. And all the people who made plans to come be there?”
“It’ll be fine, Andi,” Jesse says. “I don’t think anyone would have wanted you to go through with the wedding just because they bought plane tickets. People who care about you will want you to be happy.”
I sigh. “Right. Right. You’re definitely right. Thanks,” I say. I decide I can dwell on how big a mess I made at some other point. I force some cheer and lightness into my voice. “I got the zipper. We’re good! Definitely out of the dress now.”
“Good. Not that you’re naked, just that the–” Jesse makes a noise of disgust with himself. “I’m going to shut up now.”
I grin as I slip on the new underwear, which I never thought I’d appreciate so much, and then try the dress on. I twirl, checking myself out, and then give my hair a little bit of fingertip treatment. It doesn’t help much, but licking my thumb and wiping off my smeared makeup at least makes me look a touch less tragic.
Because I’m not tragic. I’m a bright, vibrant, young woman who is turning over a new leaf. I’m somebody who is taking the first steps of her new adventure and ready to see where life takes her. If that’s tragedy, then sign me up.
I open the door and spread my arms wide. “Well? How is it?”
Jesse’s eyes fall from mine to my body, drifting slowly down and then back up again. He licks his lips, nodding. “Yeah,” he says.
“Yeah?” I ask. “Like, ‘yeah, you should burn that dress and file a restraining order against it’ or ‘yeah, that dress looks amazing and you’re beautiful.’”
“The second one.”
“You think I’m beautiful?” I ask.
“That’s not what I meant, I just–”
“You don’t think I’m beautiful?” I’m trying not to smile. I just can’t help pushing his buttons. He’s so tightly wound. It feels like somebody needs to take him by those big, muscly shoulders and shake him.
Jesse opens his mouth and then settles for hanging his head. “Are you getting the dress, Andi?”
“Yes. Actually, you are, if you’re still willing to lend me the money.”
“Come on.”
“One sec.” I duck back in the fitting room and scoop up my huge wedding dress, tucking it under one arm. I can’t say I feel a particular emotional attachment to the thing, but it might be weird to leave it lying on the floor of a dressing room.
Jesse reluctantly brings me back to the cash register, where the girl is watching us with an interested expression. “So he liked the dress on you, I take it?”
“He did,” I say happily, spreading my arms and twirling. “What do you think? Do you like it?”
She tilts her head. “Sure. It’s nice. It shows off your figure. Probably why Jesse likes it.”
“Is this true, Jesse Prince?” I ask, nudging him.
“Just ring her up, please,” he says, pushing his card toward her.
I turn my back toward the counter and pull the tag out. The scanner gives a little beep. “Do you want a bag for the rest of the panties Jesse bought you?” she asks.
“Um, yeah. Unless Jesse wanted to shove them in his pocket or something.”
“A bag,” he says quickly.
I bite back a smile. Katie meets my eyes and smiles a little, too. Maybe I’m not the only one who enjoys pushing Jesse’s buttons, then.
“Thank you,” I say, going up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. He flinches back like I tried to bite him.
“You’re welcome. Jake doesn’t need to pay me back, either.”
“Oh, no. I don’t ever let people buy me stuff without paying them back. You’re going to get all…” I check the receipt. “Eighty-seven dollars and forty-three cents back. Wow. That dress was expensive, huh?”
“Really. It’s fine. If I have to tell Jake I paid for your underwear, I think he’ll try to murder me, anyway.”
“Oh,” I say, laughing a little. “I guess you have a point. Then I’ll pay you back. You may just have to give me a couple days.”
We walk toward his car.
“Know any good places around town where a girl can make some quick money?”
“You want a job? Are you seriously planning to stay that long?”
“This place gives me good feelings,” I say, looking around and taking in the scenery. It really is picturesque, with cutesy little shops and homes dotting the hills that eventually back up to a towering range of snow-capped mountains. “Maybe I’ll stay a little while.”