I gather the clothes I was wearing, drop them into a bag another salesperson brings me, and meet Melissa out front.
“An hour and a half left,” she comments, glancing at her phone. “The guys should be getting fitted for tuxes right now. Should I text to make sure they are?”
“If it’ll make you feel better.”
“Just to be safe,” she says as she texts him.
He texts her back by the time we’re in the next store, saying they’re on schedule.
“God, I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Melissa mutters as we’re flipping through a rack of dresses.
“What do you mean?” I ask instead of agreeing that I can’t believe it either.
“That I’m marrying Ben. That he wants to marry me. That the three months I’ve spent with him have been the best three months of my life. That I get to spend the rest of my life with him. That we eloped.”
“How did y’all decide to do that, by the way? Like, I could never do it until my parents are coming with me. I’d need them there. Y’all don’t want your parents here?”
Melissa shrugs. “Not really.” She holds up a dress that is gorgeous.
“Go try that one on. I think it may be the one.”
I follow her into the fitting room, sitting outside her door while I wait for her to change and come model it.
“Do you think you and Trace will ever get married?”
Yesterday, when he asked me what my dream wedding looked like, I could picture it. Picture him standing at the end of the aisle, waiting for me and then marrying me. “Maybe,” I answer aloud. I don’t like predicting the future. Not anymore. I don’t want to say that yeah, I think we’ll get married, only to be disappointed if it never happens. Besides, we’re happy with the way things are right now. “I think it depends on how Trace feels. He’s already been married once before. He’s not going to do it again unless he believes it’s with the right person and it’s going to
be his last marriage.”
“Oh, shut up. You already know he loves you like crazy. If he’s ever going to marry anyone, it’s going to be you.”
“Can we focus on one wedding at a time?”
“No. Do you trust him yet? Completely and wholeheartedly trust him?”
I think about the past few months since he reentered my life. Everything he’s done for me, for us. All those little things Mrs. Potter told me to keep an eye out for added up. He’s talked to me on his bad days, and we’ve helped each other through those days. “Yeah,” I finally answer. “I trust him.”
“Does he know that? Have you told him?”
“What is taking you so long?” I ask, letting my irritation be heard, because no. I haven’t said those words to him.
“I was making you talk.” She laughs and opens the door. “So?”
“You look beautiful, Melissa. Do you like it?”
She stands in front of the three mirrors and looks herself over. Then, she sighs. “This is the one.”
“I’ll tell the lady we need shoes. Any requests?”
“Yes. Red heels, please.”
“Done.”
Once we’ve wrapped up at the store, it’s almost time for the wedding. The guys are talking outside the chapel doors when we get there. They glance over at us, but do a double take when they realize it’s us. Ben doesn’t say a word. He closes the distance between them and kisses her hard. Trace takes my hand and whispers in my ear, “You look magnificent, Britt.”
“Thanks. You look handsome.”
“I’m glad you’re mine.” He kisses my neck, but after a moment, I gently push him away.