Page 184 of Mind Games

Maddy pfft! that away.

“Not that I’m going to have some big, fancy deal. I want a great dress, but—”

“We’re going shopping!” Thea sang it. “For a wedding dress for Madrigal!”

Moaning, Maddy covered her face with her hands. “Shut up. And you can pick your own dress. Style, color, whatever. I’m not going to dictate that. Except you’d look really good in blue, a soft spring blue. But”—she held up a hand—“your choice. I’m not going to be one of those … Oh God, Thea.”

Eyes wide and desperate, Maddy clutched her hands together in prayer. “Please don’t let me be one of those.”

“Those what?”

“Brides.”

“You’re going to be a bride.” Because it thrilled her, Thea did a nice, fluid pirouette. “A spring bride.” Then another. “A beautiful bride.” And with the third, took a bow.

“But not a crazy bride. Not one of those, Thea. If I start doing the crazy bride thing, you have to stop me. That’s your job as my person. Not maid of honor because I refuse. You’re not a damn maid, I’m not a damn maid. You’re my person.”

“I’ll always be your person, and I’ll wear a blue dress because I do look good in blue. You’re allowed to get a little bit crazy, but I won’t let you go over the edge into full-out crazy.”

“Promise.”

“Solemnly. You need to pick your second color. Not pink. Pink’s not your color. It should be green.”

“Done. That was easy.”

“And you have to pick your flowers, the kind of bouquet you’ll carry, and the music—”

“Thea. Are you going to be a crazy person?”

She didn’t even think about it. “Absolutely. But I won’t go over the edge either. I know what my best friend likes. And she’s not going to want the traditional wedding march or procession.”

“Oh, so much hell no.”

“See? I’m going to help, as your person. We’ll find the perfect music, what suits you and the sneaky bastard you’re marrying.”

“Yes.” Relieved, a little, Maddy sipped more wine. “This is good.”

“I bet your family’s thrilled.”

“If Mama was capable of handsprings, she’d have done them. Daddy hugged me so hard, he might’ve cracked a rib.”

“They love Arlo.”

“They do. Me, too. I love that sneaky bastard.”

“Let’s get more wine and go get my tablet and look up wedding dresses. Do it for me!”

“Well, if it’s for you. I want a white dress.” Maddy managed to look pained and resigned simultaneously. “It annoys me how much I want a white dress. Not white-white. I look better in ivory, like a warmer white.

“What is it?” Maddy demanded when Thea pressed a hand to her temple.

“Nothing.”

Taking her arm, Maddy looked into Thea’s eyes. “A headache. I see it. And it came on fast. Tell Dr. McKinnon.”

“It’s nothing, really. It’s … Riggs. He comes at me sometimes. It gives me a little headache. It doesn’t last.”

“How often?”

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