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“Children. Don’t make me get your father involved.” I rolled my eyes and hit the unlock button on my key fob. “Alternating is fair. You know it, too, Megan.”
“Fine.” Megan’s expression morphed into a scowl. “Spoil sport.”
I didn’t know if she meant me or Whitney, and I wasn’t going to explore it further to find out. Mostly because I didn’t care. “Are we done with the drama now? Because I have to say, as the bride, that I expect the rest of today to be all about me finding my perfect wedding dress.”
Whitney grinned and looked over the roof of the car at Megan. “Aw, look. She’s already a bridezilla.”
Megan started to laugh.
“I am not.” I pulled open the car door and got behind the wheel. “If the two of you are done with comedy hour, you can get in the car. I’m seriously rethinking my bridesmaid choices.”
“Oh, yeah?” Megan got in and pulled the passenger car door closed. She reached for her seatbelt. “Who else would you ask?”
She had a point. There was no one else I’d consider asking. I had a handful of casual acquaintances at school or from the few times I tried out women’s ministry things at church, but no one I considered a friend. Certainly not a good enough one to ask to be a bridesmaid.
“Look how quiet she is.” Whitney pulled the back door closed. “I’m in. Let’s roll. Where to first?”
“Food first.” I started the car. “What do we want to eat? My treat. So, keep that teacher’s salary in mind.” I started backing out of my space in the church parking lot. Chances were high they’d choose something either in Tyson’s or on the way there. We’d decided to keep the bridal boutique in Old Town as our last stop. One, because it was back home and that meant we could get to it another day if we ran out of time. And two? Because the word “boutique” suggested to me that it was more than I wanted to spend on a dress.
Mom and Dad had given me a decent budget. And Austin had said to get what I wanted and he’d make up the difference. But I didn’t really want to do that. It was a dress I’d wear one time. Why would I spend thousands and thousands on it?
So. The mall and the, hopefully, cheaper chain stores.
“Friday’s? I haven’t been there in ages. Are they any good?” Whitney had shifted to the middle seat in the back so she could lean forward and be part of the conversation.
Megan nodded. “They’re still okay. That works for me.”
“Friday’s it is.” I hadn’t been there in a long time, either, but if they had some kind of fried chicken salad, I’d be fine. Or a burger. Burgers were always good.
“Did Austin tell you about the principal basically telling him to quit his job before the school year is over?” Megan glanced over at me, eyebrows raised.
“No way! Why would she do that?” Whitney made a rude noise. “That’s ridiculous.”
“She did. I don’t know if he’s going to do it or not. I hope not. At the same time, I wouldn’t blame him if he did.” I sighed. I didn’t relish the idea of going into work every day and not being able to see Austin. He was an ingrained part of my routine. Sure, we’d be married in basically two months, but that didn’t mean I wanted to see less of him. “I’m trying to decide if I’m going to stay myself.”
“Really? You’d leave? I thought you loved teaching.” Megan shifted in her seat.
I navigated the Beltway on-ramp and merged before replying. “I do love it. I absolutely feel like it’s what God called me to do. But that doesn’t mean I have to stay in a public school. There are all kinds of places to be a teacher.”
“Like a certain learning center opening soon?” Whitney patted my shoulder. “Then you and Austin would be together twenty-four seven. I have to say, I’m a fan of that myself.”
“You like hanging out with Austin?” Megan teased.
“You’re a laugh riot today, aren’t you?” In the rearview mirror, I caught a glimpse of Whitney sticking her tongue out.
“I’m jealous. My two besties are going to be old married ladies and I haven’t been on a date in forever.” Megan sighed and sank down in her seat some.
“What about that guy—oh, what’s his name? He comes into the bookstore every time I’m there at least. Has about ten million questions for you.” Whitney rubbed her hands together. “Ahh, why can’t I come up with his name?”
“Not Reuben?” I snickered. “Tell me that’s not who you mean. You went out with Reuben?”
Megan groaned. “Look, we had coffee. He seemed nice and a little desperate and I tried saying no, but he kept asking, so I thought it might get him to stop.”
“Uh-huh. Did it?” I checked my mirrors and changed lanes to get around the slowpoke who thought the speed limit signsmeantsomething on the Beltway.
“No. Ugh. I finally ended up telling him very bluntly that I wasn’t interested. Wouldn’t ever be interested. And if he kept asking, I’d be filing a report of harassment with the cops. I’m not sure that’s actually a thing, but it did finally get him off my case.” Megan covered her face.
“Sorry. I didn’t realize he’d gotten like that. I wouldn’t have teased.” Whitney squeezed Megan’s arm. “Do you have security cameras at the store?”
