Page 28 of That Secret Something

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Lily’s Erica-Lundwood-shaped wounds were all forgotten as she pulled back the curtain and took a step towards the group. My breath caught in my lungs. A lace sweetheart-neckline bodice caressed her figure before fanning outwards in soft layers of embroidered tulle. My best friend had never looked so…angelic. It was terribly misleading.

Tears pricked my eyelids. “Oh my god, Lilz.”

But it was Sally who began bawling first. Of course. “Oh my gosh. It’s perfect!”

“I know. It is, isn’t it?” Even Lily’s eyes threatened to spill. But it was Rebecca’s response that surprised me.

I’d never seen her cry before. Rebecca always seemed so cool and collected; it was hard to imagine her any other way. She brushed the stray tears away with the back of her hand and swallowed. If my attention hadn’t been on her, I might’ve missed it. Mere seconds later, the emotions were solidly back in place. I wondered what had made her cultivate this thick armour of hers.

“Not half bad,” she said softly, traces of emotion still in her tone.

I nudged her and leaned into her shoulder to whisper, “Do you want a tissue?”

She shot me a side eye and shook her head gently.

I made a note to ask her about it later. I turned back to the bride, catching Mum’s eye as I did.

She raised an eyebrow in question. The movement was slight, but I caught it. I hope she doesn’t ask me any questions about that exchange.

I passed another tissue to Sally, and she blew her nose loudly.

Helen admired Lily, her head tilted to one side. “Is it the one?”

“It is.” Lily glanced about the group, her eyes alight with something I’d not seen before.

I nodded. “You look amazing.”

“So it’s true what they say,” Rebecca commented, a smirk pulling at her mouth. “The seventeenth dress is the charm.”

“Shut up, Rebecca.” Lily turned to look at herself in the mirror, and not even Rebecca’s humour could wipe the smile off her face. I’d never seen her look so happy. Newfound excitement for her and Tyler’s big day simmered inside me. It had to be the best wedding. They deserved it.

After the prosecco had been drunk dry, photos had been taken, and more tears shed, Lily picked out a few bridesmaids’ dresses for us to try. We were bundled into the back changing rooms, where two stalls were available. The teens crammed into one, giggling away, leaving Rebecca and me waiting outside the last vacant one. As soon as their door shut, I turned to her, already feeling the change in the air. The walls were compressing, pushing us together.

“Do you want to go first?” I asked.

She flashed that dimpled grin of hers. “You go ahead. Ladies first.”

A memory surfaced of prom night, when she’d said the same thing.

“Well, you’re a lady too, aren’t you?” I’d said.

A smile had pulled at the corner of her mouth. “Sometimes.”

How close was I to finding out the truth behind that statement? Not here, Jess. Not here.

Before I could change my mind, I scurried into the cubicle and hung the blue bridesmaid’s dress on the hook. I turned to close the door and gasped as Rebecca backed me up against the wall of the stall. Her green eyes seared into mine as she leaned over me, her palm flat beside my face. Her scent overwhelmed my senses, stealing the breath from my lungs.

“You sure you don’t want to share?” Her sweet breath tickled against my lips.

Warmth flushed everywhere, my heart jumping into overdrive. Shay and Amy banged and bustled in the stall next door.

“There’s not enough room in here,” I whispered, caught in her gaze.

“I think there’s plenty.”

Rebecca’s lips were so close to mine. My lungs had forgotten how to breathe.

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