Page 99 of Put a Rink on It

“I’ve pulled five dresses for you to start with based on the descriptions and images you shared with me. If none of these will do, we’ve got more you can try. You’re the boss. You want to love the dress you choose. It’s the only one you’ll wear.”

Oh, how wrong she is.

No one goes into buying a wedding dress thinking there might be another one down the line. Even people who eventually get divorced don’t think it will happen to them. They’re not masochists.

Ah, these thoughts. Where are they coming from?

I plaster on a smile, ignoring the comment. “Bring on dress one.”

I spend two hours trying on dresses, Juliet, my mom, and Tate oohing and aahing over the beautiful ones and wrinkling their noses at the unattractive ones.

We thank the attendant before piling back into Ma’s SUV.

We started with the local shop in Havenwood, and for a small-town boutique, I can’t complain about their choices. I added one to my potential list, trying it on three times, but not sure it’s “the one.”

A satin A-line sleeveless dress with a V-neck and pleats over the breasts that also crisscross under them, it’s timeless and elegant. It’s a sweep train with a V-back zip. And it has pockets.

“Okay, where’s next on our list?”

“The one in Albany.”

“That’s where mine came from,” Tate muses. “I should see if they have it in yet to try on.”

“Yes. Fingers crossed because I want to see it in person, not pictures.”

“It’s so fancy. For me. When I saw it on the hanger, I didn’t think I’d like it. Then I put it on, and I fell in love. And Aubrey loves it. Even Lennon gave it a thumbs-up.” Tate laughs, pegging my niece perfectly.

“It’s gorgeous, and my boy won’t know what to do with himself when he sees you in it.”

Next to me, Tate’s cheeks blush at Ma’s comment. “I still can’t believe I’m lucky enough to find the best guy, the best stepdaughter, and the best mother-in-law. I seriously hit the lottery falling in love with Walsh.”

“Don’t forget about us,” Juliet pipes from the front seat.

“You’re on the list for sure. And Jonathan, too. It’s one thing to be born into a wonderful family, but it’s another ball game to marry into one. And your entire family has been nothing but kind, loving, and supportive since day one.”

“I’m not crying,” Juliet states. “I’m not crying.”

“Our family is gaining a great daughter-in-law and another grandbaby. We’re the lucky ones,” Ma compliments, navigating onto the highway.

“I told myself I wasn’t crying today. Thanks a lot, Tate,” I joke, swiping at the tear falling from my eye.

My current situation has my emotions on high alert lately. It’s because we set the date, and I’m shopping for a dress for the wedding. Also, my professional life’s a bit of a mess at the moment, something I’ve put off dealing with for a while. I’d say it’s my time of the month, but I haven’t gotten a period in over six months since switching to this new birth control. I’ve barely had period symptoms. Maybe the regular sex is messing with my cycle.

Or maybe the regular sex made you pregnant. The inner voice is back, louder this time, spewing nonsense.

I can’t be pregnant. I’m on birth control. It’s got one job—stop me from getting pregnant.

But what if I were? How would I even know? Besides taking a pregnancy test. I suppose that would give me the answer.

A ball of worry churns in my gut at the possibility.

Except I can’t deal with this today. Not on top of all the other things I’ve got going on. And it’s not like I’m taking a test now, not with my mother, sister, and Tate along for the ride.

Tomorrow. I’ll grab a test and take it tomorrow.

That decision made, I focus back into the conversation around me.

“Did you make any more decisions on where you’re getting married, Marina?” Juliet leans between the seats, facing us.