Page 24 of It's Complicated

Aiden feints right, left, and right again. “Fast break,” he says, bullying his way toward the hoop one last time.

And it’s game over. A tie.

Aiden pulls up his T-shirt to wipe the sweat from his face. “Good game, man.”

I hold out a fist and Aiden gives me a pound.

“Sauna?” he asks.

“Nah.” I slip on my sweatshirt and pull up the hood. “I’ve fallen behind on my running. I’m just going to jog home.”

“Too busy bonking, I take it?” Aiden’s grin is merciless.

“At home, I have a notebook chock-full of wedding night jokes. Should I pull it out and work some into my best man speech?”

“Sure, get all the pointers you can. I’ve got a feeling you won’t be too far behind me in tying the knot. See you later, man.”

“Later.” I mock-scold him.

I put the gym bag away in my locker and grab my phone to pull up a running playlist. Instead, I find another string of texts from Lori.

One is a selfie.

10

LORI

“Please follow me.” The shop assistant ushers me out of the suite. “I’m sorry, but all the fitting rooms on this side of the shop are taken by your friends.” They’re not my friends, I want to say. “But we have a space for you this way.”

The lady shows me to a pretty room fitted in pastel pink, like the rest of the boutique, with a silver quilted pouf in the middle and a giant mirror at the back. My zipped-up gown is already hanging from the rack on the side wall.

“Let me know if you need help with the zipper or anything. A seamstress will be with you shortly for the fitting.”

I’m relieved to be in a completely separate area of the shop from the others. At least this way I won’t have to go stand on that stupid pedestal while the other bridesmaids watch.

I’m about to close the fitting room tent when I catch the shop assistant eyeing my feet dubiously.

“Something the matter?” I ask.

Her eyes snap back to mine. “Err, sorry, did you bring the shoes you’re going to wear the day of the wedding for the seamstress to do the hem on the skirt?”

A vague memory of Kirsten mentioning shoes when she gave me the bridal shop’s address crosses my mind, but it’s another of those things I blanked out and then forgot. Also, none of my fancy footwear—mostly sensible black pumps, practical but not overtly fashionable—would pair well with the silvery light-blue tulle A-line dress with boho dropped sleeves, shirred bodice, and flowing, floor-length skirt Kirsten has picked for her bridesmaids.

“Err, actually…”

The shop assistant smiles. “Or if you’re in the market for new shoes, we offer a wide selection.”

“Yes, please.”

“Should I bring you a few options while you’re changing? Or would you like to browse?”

A keen fashion sense isn’t exactly my strong suit. “Options might be better.”

“I’ll be right back.”

While the shop assistant is gone, I shift out of my clothes and pull on the dress. I stare at myself in the mirror, kind of mesmerized. At least Kirsten knew what she was doing when she picked this dress. Her level-eleven girlishness has its uses. Also, I suppose she couldn’t put me in the bridesmaid dress from hell or her other bridesmaids would’ve killed her—especially her sister. See? Everyone has their purpose.

The shop assistant is back a few minutes later.

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