Page 31 of Mr. Broody

Kyleigh listens intently to Eloise and pulls out some dresses based on her preferences, then a few for her to try on in addition to what Eloise says her eye is drawn to in the magazines.

“Only Jade with you today?” Kyleigh asks.

“I’m a people pleaser and trying to make sure I don’t end up in a dress I hate.”

Kyleigh laughs. “Good decision. I mean, you have to look at these pictures your entire life.”

Eloise blows out a breath, and her hands stop shifting through the dresses for a moment. I worry something is going on that she’s not telling me about. “So true. Although my soon-to-be monster-in-law will be in all of them, so they’re already going to suck.”

“That bad, huh?” Kyleigh cringes.

Eloise nods and says nothing more.

When it’s time for Eloise to try on the dresses, Kyleigh instructs me to sit in one of the plush velvet chairs. I don’t love the pressure of being the only one here for Eloise, but she told me she doesn’t want a million opinions, so I’m going to take my cues from her. If she seems like she loves a dress, I will too.

“Okay, come take a look.” Kyleigh walks out of the dressing room after helping Eloise to get into the dress.

Eloise steps up onto the pedestal in a beautiful A-line strapless dress. She’s taken out her ponytail, and her blonde hair cascades over her shoulders. The dress’s simplicity only makes her shine more.

“I know you wanted all the tulle and everything, but my salon, my rules. I always ask the brides to try on a dress I picked out before we try on all the ones they think they want.” Kyleigh sits in the chair next to me. She winks and laughs.

Eloise stares at herself in the mirror. No tears well in her eyes, and she doesn’t swivel right and left to get a look at the sides or back. She just straight-on stares at herself. There’s no smile. No amazement over how stunning she looks. No outward physical reaction in the least.

Kyleigh must see what I do because she bolts up out of the chair and rushes over to the pedestal. “You hate it. It’s okay. We’ll try on one of the Cinderella ones with the big poofy skirts.”

Still Eloise says nothing, and her gaze diverts to Kyleigh for a second, a smile creasing her lips. “I love it,” she says, although her voice is small and meek.

The words people pleaser ring in my head.

“Maybe you should try on another one,” I say.

Eloise shakes her head again. “No. Just give me a minute.”

Kyleigh turns and walks back over to me. “Everyone has a different reaction,” she says in a low voice. She pats my shoulder, and we both wait for Eloise to say anything else. The door chimes, and Kyleigh eyes me, smirking. “Finally, Alara, we’re dying of caffeine withdrawal!”

“Good thing I know you always want an iced coffee,” a deep voice says.

She turns around, and the smile that forms on her face… well, her eyes might as well pop out of her head with two big hearts. “Rowan! What do I owe you for this treat?”

“I’ll tell you tonight,” Rowan says. “But a kiss will do for now.”

I stare at the mirror in front of Eloise, and my heart skips a beat because Rowan isn’t alone. Henry stands right next to him.

Thirteen

Jade

The bell chimes again, and Alara walks in. “Oh my god, seriously? I’m the savior today, Rowan. Always stealing my thunder.” She shakes her head with a smile and walks past him. “Hey, Henry.”

“Alara,” he says and looks away from his teammate and his girlfriend. His gaze lifts to Eloise, who is still standing stoically on the pedestal, soaking in the sight of herself in a wedding gown.

I watch him without him knowing. The look of recognition when he spots Eloise has him shifting his attention to where I sit in the chair.

With a stunned look, Henry propels himself forward. “Jade? Eloise?”

Alara hands me my coffee, not paying attention to the invisible string between Henry and me. “Can I at least be your saviors?”

“Thank you.” I accept my coffee, and she sets Eloise’s on the table.

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