Page 31 of David

I flick my gaze to my cousin, drowning in guilt and shame.

Why would my mother tell her that?

I expect my cousin to be mad, yet she seems unable to have hard feelings toward me.

Regardless, I’m petrified.

“She must’ve told you it had nothing to do with you. I only needed a little time.”

She stops me with a gesture.

“Don’t feel bad. You know me. I’m the Queen of indecisiveness.”

“I’ll come. Chloe and I go shopping for a dress.”

“No need to,” she says, removing the garment bag and revealing a stunning lace gown.

It’s fitted all the way except for the flared bottom. The lace is delicate and done in the faintest shade of dusty pink.

“I thought it would go great with the color of your hair.”

She holds it up.

“Oh. It’s strapless.”

“Yes. It has a corset built in for support.”

She notices the questioning look on my face before she speaks.

“I want you to be my flower girl.”

A smile slides over my lips.

“Your flower girl?”

“Yes.”

“Like an adult flower girl?”

“Yup. Why not?”

“Scattering petals while walking ahead of you?”

“Precisely.”

She seems unfazed while I crumble inside.

If my world hadn’t come to an end before it just did.

I try to imagine myself as the center of attention even if only for a few moments.

All eyes on me.

My hands trembling on the flowers as I’m struggling not to step on my dress and stumble.

All those men looking at me.

My mother. And Chloe.

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