Page 59 of Mr. Swoony

“She’s probably been to about one hundred cocktail parties. She was going to marry a Somerset after all.” Jade rolls her eyes.

“Stop it,” I chastise her.

“I still remember when I went with you to spend the night at your grandparents’ house because it was your dad’s weekend. They made us go to the country club, and I had to borrow a dress from your closet there. I was in awe of all the dresses and shoes you had.”

I nod, wondering what it will be like to leave that life completely. I’m sure my grandparents are more than upset. Their silence speaks more than if they’d reached out to yell at me. They’re embarrassed by their granddaughter’s actions, I’m sure. Another thing I need to deal with, but it’s been so much easier to ignore it all.

“I always hated the country club.” I sit on a chair while Kyleigh and Jade try on some dresses that I picked out for them.

“You should have seen it, Ky. It was like she was like some princess, her grandma taking her around the room and introducing her as her beautiful granddaughter, Eloise. Oh, and this is her friend.” She uses her best uppity rich accent. “No name or anything, like I was nothing.”

Kyleigh comes out first wearing a black high neck halter dress stitched with a diamond beaded pattern. It falls perfectly over her body, showing off her beautiful figure. It stops midway down her calf with a slit up the back.

“Rowan is definitely going to have to thank me.” I smile at her.

She goes to the three-way mirror. “I love it.” She circles around to see the back. “Yoga is doing my body good.” She laughs. “I was skeptical about the length since I usually always wear dresses above the knee, but it’s gorgeous.”

“I’m glad you like it and that you trusted me with my rule to try on the dress I liked for you first.”

We all laugh, since that was Kyleigh’s rule when I tried on wedding dresses at her boutique.

Jade’s dressing room door opens.

“Oh my god!” Kyleigh covers her mouth. “Jade…”

“I know, right?” She grins at us.

I smile, my chest warming at seeing them both so happy.

Jade’s is a blush, off-the-shoulder dress that is ruched on one side. Her dress is also mid-length, but it flares a little more with a dramatic slit over her right thigh. She looks supremely elegant.

“Your boys both owe me big time.” I clap my hands together in delight. They both look so beautiful.

They stare at themselves in the mirror, putting their arms around each other.

“It’s our first year going to this thing.” Jade’s shoulders rise with excitement. “Thank you so much, Eloise. I never would have picked this out for myself.”

“Well, we’re not done, ladies. We have shoes and jewelry still to go.” I shoo my hand at them to go get changed. “Let’s get out of those dresses. We have things to do.”

They laugh and take one last look at themselves before going into their designated dressing rooms.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, so I pull it out. A text from Tristan.

Stop ignoring me. Call me.

My stomach sinks, but he’s right. I can’t just pretend this isn’t something I need to address.

Tomorrow night. Seven o’clock at The Urban Acre.

You know I hate that place.

Will you be there or not?

Fine.

I click off the phone and tuck it into my purse, my belly filled with nerves. I want to take Jade with me, but at the same time, I feel as if it’s something I should do on my own.

My friends come out of their dressing rooms, each holding their dresses. I love the way they’re smiling and talking about how excited they are to have Rowan and Henry see them in their dresses. Somewhere along the line, I forgot what it was like to dress for your man. Was there ever a time that Tristan looked at me with awe when I stepped out to show him what I was wearing to a function we were attending? Maybe when you come from a world where dressing up is common, it’s not as exciting, or maybe it’s just because Tristan was always more worried about what he was wearing.

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