There are a dozen things I could point out from the way Caroline’s treated me in the past, but I still feel for her gettingdumped and I’m tired of feeding into some narrative, real or fake.
“No. I think she cares about your brand, and when she cares, she’s very motivated,” I say.
“That’s decent of you,” Elise says after a moment. “If there’s anything I can do to help you, let me know.”
I think fast since I’m not sure when I’ll see my former sorority sister next and land on Nova’s new work. “I’m helping a friend structure new partnership agreements, and I wonder if you’d be willing to share some examples from your business. From one Kappa to another.”
This time, there’s no hesitation. “Follow up with Sarah on my team. I’ll send you her number.”
I swap cheek kisses with Elise and watch her disappear into the crowd.
I go in search of my boyfriend. I find him inspecting a silver gown on a mannequin. “Bridal collection,” I offer.
“It’s moody.”
“It’s a risk,” I agree. “Let me guess—you hate it.”
“It’s the only wedding dress I’ve ever looked twice at, so apparently not.”
I try to push the conversation with Elise from my mind. “You want to get married someday, Garrett?”
He’s quiet. “If you’d asked me a year ago, I would’ve said no.”
I think back to what he told me about his parents and their divorce—how he ended up the ammunition in their hostile war.
“And now?”
The question shouldn’t feel loaded, but it does. Suddenly, I’m picturing me walking down the aisle, and I was never the little girl who imagined those things.
I’m exposed again, more so than being naked in the limo.
Because I’m afraid he’ll think that’s what I want.
I’m afraid I’ll realize it’s what I do want.
“Maybe.”
My heart skips.
“I thought marriage made people worse versions of themselves,” he says. “I couldn’t see a relationship making people better.”
I take a few steps around the gown, taking in the beautiful details. It’s unique and striking.
“What if relationships don’t make people better or worse, they only expose more of who you truly are?”
He frowns, oddly serious for once. “Then I’d choose to be with someone who sees as much of me as possible and likes me anyway. And I’d want to see every part of them.”
Standing on a pedestal next to the gown is a bouquet full of anemones, their white petals soft around a deep blue center.
“Including their cracks?”
“Yeah. I mean, the cracks are where the flowers grow.” Miles reaches behind me to lift a flower from the vase and hold it out.
“Pretty sure that’s not allowed.”
A half smile plays on his lips. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
My breath catches as I take it from him.