Page 75 of Steps

“Yeah, but I’m not sweating it too much. I’m anerd; studying is pretty much a hobby.”

We giggle together.

Just then something pops into my head. I veer offto the dresses nearby, wondering how Alison is really handling all this.Perhaps she’s trying not to feel sad about her dad marrying another woman. Ormaybe she’s thinking how her mom isn’t here to do something like this with her inthe future.

“Dad says you and Varen have gotten close.” Herremarks draw back my attention.

“Oh. We’re... just trying to be cordial,considering we live together.”

Alison flips her ponytail off her shoulder. “Well,Dad thinks you’ve been a positive influence on my brother. Either way, I’mglad.”

I swallow hard, trying to be careful with my bodylanguage. “I’m only a friend.”

Her pink lips coil into a smile. “Hopefully, thischange will last, and he won’t go back to hanging out at shady houses gettinghigh on God knows what.”

“Alison, um, do you know he went to your mom’sgrave last Saturday?”

Crap. Should I have said that? Will Varen beupset?

“I didn’t know that.” A frown appears on her face.“He doesn’t talk to me about anything.”

“Hey, Varen—”

“Dress number one,” the associate announces,moving the curtain aside for Mom to step out.

She’s gorgeous in the strapless, lace mermaiddress, grinning from ear-to-ear. It hugs her naturally slim frame seamlessly.

“What do you girls think?” she asks, turning tothe large mirror before giving us a twirl.

“Oh my gosh,” I gush over how stunning she is.“You look amazing, Mom. I love it.”

“You do look amazing,” Alison chimes in. “But Ifeel like it doesn’t pop. Do you love it, Lisa?”

Mom stares into the mirror and purses her lips.“Hm. I love it, but I’m notin lovewith it.” She picks at the fabricand sighs. “No. I’m not having that feeling like this is the one.”

“Let’s try another,” the associate recommends,lifting the train so Mom won’t trip on her way back to the dressing room.

When she’s out of sight, I fall back into myconversation with Alison. “I think he’s distant with you and Daniel because hefeels guilty for putting you guys through so much.”

Her shoulders droop. “He talks to you about thatstuff? Wow, he must really like you. Varen rarely gives anyone a glimpse intohis heart.”

Varen offers me more than a glimpse. He’s deepinside me almost every night.

“Uh,” I clear my throat and blink away theintimate flashes, “it’s because I’m an outsider. I’m sure he’ll open up to youand your dad if you guys sit and really talk.”

Alison slants her head, beaming at me. “You’re notan outsider, Toya. You’re family.” She reaches for my hand, giving it asisterly pat.

Guilt skates over me. I want this family andVaren. Is it possible to have both?

We break it up as Mom pops out in the seconddress. Neither of us likes it. Too many unnecessary details.

She tries on three more dresses, looking fantasticin each. But she doesn’t beam as much as she did in the first dress, and Alisonand I aren’t fans of the styles.

When she steps out in the sixth gown, anothermermaid style with thin straps, decorative lace, and moonstone embellishments,I see the joy in her glistening chestnut eyes and know instantly, she’s foundthe one.

Walking up to the mirror,tears stream downher face as she admires herself. “Oh…” The associate places a veil in her curlsto complete the look.

“Gosh, you’re beautiful,” Alison praises. “Of allthe dresses, this is my favorite.”

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