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“Zoey,” her mother grinds out between clenched teeth, making everyone laugh, including me.
“So we have different rooms for different dresses,” she starts, and I tune it all out as I look around the room at all the women in my life. I don’t know how long she talks, but I’ve finished my glass of champagne by the time everyone moves away from us.
“Now,” Bianca says to me as Sofia fills my glass, along with Zoey’s, “while they are looking for dresses, I have to ask, what is your vision?”
“I’m not sure,” I answer her honestly. “All the magazines said not to have one style in mind and to be open to different types of styles.”
“They’re right.” She smiles. “So where is the venue?”
“It’s going to be in New York,” I answer. “It’s a chic and sophisticated event, plus my family,” I joke with her. “My fiancé works in banking, so there will be lots of?—”
“Stuffed shirts,” Zoey chimes in, “and then the cool people.” She holds up her glass.
Bianca laughs at her as we walk slowly into the room. “Now, do you think you want it strapless or with sleeves?”
“It’ll be June,” I finally say, “so strapless or straps is good.”
“Are you having one dress for the ceremony and one for the reception?”
“Yes,” Zoey interjects, and I look at her. “It’s your wedding. You should have two dresses, even three. One for the ceremony, one for the reception, and another one for the party after midnight.”
“We can certainly see if we have enough in our budget.” She smiles at us. “What is the budget?” she asks, and Zoey snorts.
“Whatever she wants, she gets,” Sofia states, and I look at her. “This isn’t just from your brother but also your father, your Uncle Evan, and Max and Matthew.”
“That sounds great. If you don’t mind,” Bianca offers, “I have a wedding dress in mind for you.”
“I’ll try on anything, and we can work our way through it,” I say as she steps away from me, going to one of the dresses and taking it off the rack. She walks with it over her head to the back of the room. I walk with Sofia, and Zoey goes to the rack of dresses on one side of the room, looking for what I like and what I don’t like. You would think, after having so many cousins getting married, I would know what type of dress I want. But there are just so many different options.
When we finally make it to the back of the room, I see everyone sitting on the plush couches facing the back wall where there is a silk-draped curtain. I can see five dresses hanging inside and then a step right in the middle of it with mirrors all the way around. There are also two silver champagne buckets holding two bottles of champagne in them, as everyone is drinking and having the best time. Gabriella stands in the corner of the room, taking pictures of everything. Something she said she is going to do for me and then give me a scrapbook of sorts. Whatever it is with her taking the pictures, I’m sure it’ll be breathtaking.
“Okay, folks, it’s time to try on dresses,” Bianca announces and I hand my glass to Zoey.
“Keep that close,” I tell her as I step forward toward Bianca, who guides me behind the silk drapes, closing us in.
“Now, your mother picked out this one with your aunt.” She points at the one that looks like it’s lace from top to bottom. “It’s a mermaid style.” She picks it up and turns it around. It has buttons all the way to the floor and a small train. “I love this one for the reception,” she suggests, “but I would like for you to try this one on.” She walks over to the ball gown that is hanging almost hidden. “It’s a full ball gown, but it’s got little silk flowers sewn into it with a corset top.” My feet move toward the dress as I look down at it. It has to be the prettiest dress I’ve ever seen. It’s not too puffy, and the silk flowers are draped all through the dress, starting at the top all the way to the bottom.
“It’s beautiful,” I say honestly. “Like, wow.”
“It hasn’t even been out on the floor yet, so no one has seen it. They think I want you to try on that one.” She points to one on the side that looks like it weighs a hundred pounds, while the other one looks like it’s light and fresh and beautiful. “Okay, let’s get you in it,” she urges, and I nod, undressing before stepping into it. I face the wall of mirrors as she pulls it together and zips it up. “It’s a perfect fit,” she states as I put my hand to my stomach, turning to the side to see how it flows and moves.
“Oh my.” That’s all I say, looking at the top that goes into a V, but it’s covered in embroidered flowers all the way up to the shoulders, where they hold it delicately. “I think this might be the one.”
“I think it was made for you.” She smiles. “Now, if you are ready, I’ll open the curtain.” I nod, smiling. She walks over to the end of the curtain, and I hear chattering from the other side as I turn around to face them. The silk curtain moves away to see me facing everyone.
Their mouths all stop at the same time as they take me in. “Holy,” Sofia gasps, sitting on the side right next to Zoey, whose eyes are as big as saucers.
I take a minute to look at each woman’s reaction as they see me for the first time. By the time I get to my mother’s, she is wiping a tear away from the corner of her eye. At the same time, the butterflies start in my stomach. “That’s the one.”
2
ZARA
I put my hands to my mouth, feeling the excitement run through me. “Oh my gosh, is this really it?” I ask the room as I turn to the side so they can see the swoosh of the dress. “How can you find the dress on the first try?”
“I did.” Zoey holds up her glass, and I shake my head.
“You chose that dress to make him eat his heart out and for him to check out your ass,” I remind her of what she said.
