Page 103 of Bloom: Part 2

“Sounds good.”

I waved him off and then turned to Bloom, who was staring up at the store’s sign with a blank expression. “Bloom, we can do this another day, you know.”

“No, it has to be today. That’s the plan, right?”

He squared his shoulders, determined, and marched toward the entrance, and I followed him inside. The boutique was one I visited frequently. Every corner was filled with polished mahogany and glass showcases. High-end fashion mannequins stood scattered across the room, displaying the latest trends.

A tall woman with silver-rimmed glasses and dark curly hair approached us almost immediately. She wore a metallic dress just below the knee that flattered her trim shape.

“Ah, Dr. Collier.” She smiled and leaned forward for her usual double air kisses, but I took her hand instead.

“Elise, how good to see you again.”

“I haven’t seen you here for a while, but I’ll forgive you. I see you’ve brought me another customer.”

“Yes, this is my fiancé, Bloom. We’re here to find outfits for our wedding.”

“How wonderful! Congratulations to you both. We’re so honored you’ve chosen us to be a part of your special day. Are we going for very formal or…?” Her gaze drifted to Bloom, who was checking out a monochrome suit tucked away in a corner.

“A bit more on the casual side—modern but elegant. It’s a small wedding with just close friends, but we still want to look our best when we remember the day.”

“Understood. Let’s get your fiancé measured up. We already have your size, Dr. Collier, but we’ll also do a quick check. It’s been a while.”

“Sounds good.”

One of her assistants, a young woman with a buzz cut, led us to be measured. I stayed close to Bloom, who looked skeptical with all the touching but endured it. When she was done, he sighed with relief. Mine went quicker, confirming my size, then they rolled out options for us to consider.

“Do you like any of these?” I asked Bloom.

I’d already spotted the suit I intended to wear—a traditional black tux. Not as casual as I was sure Bloom would go for. Although I had two back at home, I wanted something new for our wedding.

“Not really. Something edgier would be nice.”

“Let me see what I can find.” Elise zipped away, leaving me alone with Bloom and two racks of rejected outfits.

“What about you?” Bloom walked over to a mannequin wearing a black leather jacket with silver studs. “What are you going to wear?”

“A tux.”

“You’re dressing that fancy?”

“Of course. It’s our wedding.” I picked up the jacket. “You want to try it?”

“We’re here for a wedding outfit.”

“Doesn’t matter. If you want it, I’ll buy it for you.”

“You know, I still haven’t used the money the state gave me.” He shrugged on the jacket and walked over to a standing mirror. “This is badass. I love it. What do you think?”

“Looks great on you, though you could do with a size down. I’ll ask Elise. And you don’t have to touch that money if you don’t want to. I’ve got you.”

I lowered my head to kiss him, remembered his reaction in the car, and pulled back. Bloom slipped a hand behind my head and tugged me down to kiss me. The last of my worries melted away at the feel of his soft mouth against mine.

Elise returned with a new set of suggestions for Bloom.

“I like these two.”

Bloom pointed at a slim-fit suit in deep charcoal gray with subtle metallic pinstripes and a matching vest. The suit had an edgy, tailored cut with sharp lapels. He ran his hand over the fabric, his smile wide. “What do you think, Logan?”

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