Page 30 of Mr. Broody

“You need to treat me better,” the bride says. “I demand better service.”

“If you’d listen to my instructions, I wouldn’t poke you.” The woman stands and deliberately pokes the bride in the shoulder with a pin.

“Ouch. Jesus.” The bride puts her hand on the back of her shoulder and inspects it as if she thinks there’ll be blood.

“Do you want help getting out of it?” Kyleigh asks.

The bride scoffs and lifts the skirt of the dress, stepping down from the pedestal. “I don’t need any more help from you.”

“Ungrateful,” Kyleigh says to the bride’s back.

“Go get some coffee into your bloodstream before you lose customers,” the bride bites back, disappearing to where I assume the changing rooms are.

I eye Eloise while trying to appear as if I’m perusing dresses. I’m not sure she wants to use this woman. She’s got a whole mean, entitled girl thing going on.

“Jade?”

I swivel around and realize that Kyleigh is the woman who was at the concert last night with Henry and his friends. I’m pretty sure she’s dating Rowan Landry because she was at the bar that night too, sitting in his lap.

“I thought that was you.” She breaks the distance, putting out her hand. “I’m Kyleigh, Rowan’s girlfriend. I wanted to introduce myself to you a couple times now, but there never seems to be the right time.”

Eloise’s head volleys between Kyleigh and me.

“Are you…? I mean…” Her attention shifts to my left hand.

“Oh no.” I shake my head, placing my hand on Eloise’s shoulder. “My friend Eloise is getting married.”

Kyleigh laughs. “I was gonna say, we might have to lock Henry up. Either that or get him really drunk.”

Eloise glances at me.

Kyleigh puts her hand out to Eloise. “So, you’re the bride?”

Eloise shakes her hand, and her smile is so wide I’m a little envious. “I am.”

The other bride comes out of the back room in joggers and a sweatshirt. “The dress is in the room, tyrant.” She stops at the sight of us and bites her lip.

Kyleigh must see the expressions on our faces and fear strikes her beautiful features. “Oh no. You must think I’m a total bitch.” She looks back at the other bride, and both women laugh. Kyleigh recovers and gestures to the other woman. “This is my best friend, Alara, who is also getting married.”

Alara steps forward and digs out a ChapStick from her purse, sliding it over her lips. “She is a bitch, though.”

Kyleigh elbows her in the ribs, and Alara feigns injury. “Why don’t you get me a coffee now?”

Alara puts her ChapStick back in her purse. “Anyone else want anything?”

“Oh no. Thank you, though,” I say, loving their dynamic now that I know they’re friends.

“Please, it’s the least I can do for us having a rough start, and Alara loves doing my coffee runs.” She puts her arm around her friend.

Alara rolls her eyes. “It’s my dream to be her bitch.”

Eloise and I give her our coffee orders, and Alara leaves the shop.

“Okay.” Kyleigh claps her hands as she addresses Eloise. “Let’s get started. I always like to start by having you try on some simple dresses with different silhouettes so we can figure out the fit and style you like the most. From there, we’ll talk fabric and any additions and veils and all the things that will make the dress unique to you and have everyone green with envy as you walk down the aisle. How does that sound?”

Eloise nods in approval.

“Great, why don’t you tell me what you’re thinking you might want?”

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