“I’m already a little weepy,” I say with a nod.
“Oh, goodie,” Mia says, rolling her eyes. “We’re going to have two emotional pregnant women on our hands for the next nine months.”
“But then we get two babies to snuggle,” Riley says with a smile. “And I didn’t have to give birth to them.”
“Me neither,” Kat says, fist-bumping Riley. “I’m not having kids. Y’all can just keep shooting them out for me and I’ll spoil them like crazy. Aunt Kat is going to be their favorite.”
“One at a time,” I say firmly.
“Unless there’s two,” Landon says thoughtfully.
“What?” My gaze whips up to his. “You don’t have twins in your family.”
“On my dad’s side,” Mia says with a nod. “There are a few sets. So good luck.”
“You’re mean,” I reply, looking back and forth between the two. “And if there’s even a tiny possibility of that, we definitely need to do this before I really do look like a house.”
“It’s okay, baby, you’ll be a beautiful house.”
THE FIVE OF us all took the day off from the restaurant just a few days later to go shopping. That’s unprecedented. We’ve only ever left it unattended once or twice before, and that was for Addie’s dress shopping and her wedding.
It’s a nice tradition.
We walk into a boutique wedding-dress store in downtown Portland, just down the block from the mall, and I am immediately overwhelmed. The girls all split off, oohing and aahing over frilly dresses in every corner of the store, calling out suggestions for which ones I should try on.
And I’m just . . . paralyzed. There’s so much to take in. There are mannequins in white dresses with veils and flowers. There’s a display table with a guest book and a basket full of pink rose petals.
Chandeliers dripping with crystals float overhead, casting the space in soft light, and there are deep, soft couches placed strategically before trifold mirrors with a pedestal where the bride can show off the gown she’s chosen to try on.
Holy fucking shit! I’m getting married.
“You must be Cami,” a middle-aged blond woman says with a smile as she approaches me and shakes my hand. “I’m Lori, your consultant. We spoke on the phone.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I reply, surprised that my lips even work.
“Are these your bridesmaids?”
“No,” I reply, still feeling a bit guilty about this. “My fiancé and I decided to just have one person stand up with us, and I could never choose between these four, so I’m having my sister as my matron of honor.”
“It’s perfect,” Addie says, pulling dresses out to study them. “You need to stop feeling guilty. None of us are mad at you.”
“If I say I’m mad at you, can I pick out the dress?” Kat asks with a laugh. “Just kidding; I’m totally not mad.”
“You look a little intimidated,” Lori says with a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.
“This is all happening a little fast,” I say with a smile.
“How long have you been engaged?”
“Two days.”
She raises a brow. “And when is the wedding?”
“In eleven days.”
Now her jaw drops. “Afraid he’ll change his mind?”
“No.” I laugh now, starting to loosen up a bit. “It’s a long story.”
“Okay, well, the important thing is that you’re here now. You gave me a description of what you think you’d like over the phone.”
“She wants to try on a few different things,” Addie informs Lori from across the room.
“They’re making me,” I correct her, rolling my eyes.
“Trying on a few things is a good idea,” Lori assures me. “Wedding gowns are very different from other dresses. Plus, this is the fun part.”
“I found one,” Kat announces.
“I’m not wearing black,” I reply, rolling my eyes.
“Don’t judge,” Kat says, scowling. “It’s pretty.”
“Help,” I whisper to Lori, who just laughs.
“This is just like Say Yes to the Dress,” Riley says. “I love that show.”
“Do you have a Randy?” Addie asks hopefully.
“Unfortunately no,” Lori says, laughing at the mention of the man in the TV show, “but we will make up for that with some champagne.”
“I really like it here,” Kat says with a satisfied smile.
“I hope you have cider for Cami and me,” Addie says.
“Certainly,” Lori replies.
After drinks are poured, Lori leads me back to a dressing room, carrying three dresses that the girls chose. I immediately shake my head when she holds up one that Kat pulled off the rack.
“No. I’m not a frilly person.” I stare at the fluffy dress, then sigh. “But because it’s Kat, I’ll try it on for her.”
“That’s the spirit.” Lori helps me step into the dress, zips me up, and when I turn to the mirror, I have to admit, it’s not bad.
“Let’s go show them.”
I walk barefoot into the showroom and climb onto the pedestal, facing the girls.
“It’s pretty,” Mia says, her head tilted.
“It makes your ass look fantastic,” Riley adds.