Page 74 of Hot Shot

Cynthia stops at a rack of dresses and starts rifling through them. “Here’s what we have in stock. You don’t have enough time to order anything custom. Hopefully we can find something you like.”

“Whatever. I’m not picky.” Hayden waves a hand and I shake my head. I have to make sure she gets something nice.

We soon have a few choices and Hayden goes into a fitting room to try them on.

“Oh my God, I look awful in all of these,” she moans a long, frustrated while later. I’m using all my patience as Hayden rules out one after another.

“No, you don’t. You look amazing in all of them.” I twitch the sheer skirt of the one Hayden currently wears. “You’re just not used to wearing such . . . glam stuff.”

“That’s for sure.”

As a scientist and a professor, Hayden usually wears a lab coat over basic black pants and a shirt, sometimes a skirt, occasionally a suit when she’s presenting at a conference or pitching a project to a funding organization. Neither of us has ever been fashionistas; as a teenager, I was into creative thrift shop dressing rather than the latest styles. Since working as a model I’ve become more aware of fashion trends, which I try to coax my friend into wearing, at least once in a while. But Hayden is not into clothes.

“Let me try one more,” she says with a sigh. “Then I’ll just pick the one that’s the least uncomfortable.”

I swallow a sigh. Hayden really did look gorgeous in most of them—okay there were a couple that weren’t her—but she was stiff and awkward, and that’s not right for her wedding. She has tofeelgood. She has to feel beautiful.

Hayden emerges from the dressing room wide eyed, her hands on the full skirt of the white dress she now wears. “Carrie . . . I like this one!”

I sweep my gaze over the dress from hem to neckline. “Yes! It’s beautiful. It’s you!”

The pure white dress is simple and elegant, a sleeveless fitted bodice with a bateau neckline and a full skirt. The white satin is unadorned with frills, lace, or beads.

“It has pockets!” Hayden thrusts her hands into the pockets. “I love a dress with pockets!”

I grin. “That’s awesome! Let me see the back.”

Hayden pirouettes and I inspected the row of tiny pearls down the back. “Love it.”

Cynthia beams behind Hayden. “It fits perfectly. You could add a belt . . . something sparkly . . .”

“No. I like it just like this.” Hayden turns again in front of the big mirrors, swirling the skirt. “Oh my gosh, I feel so . . . pretty.”

“Youarepretty.” My eyes get wet. “You’re more than pretty. You’re beautiful, Hayden.” I move in and we exchange an emotional hug.

“This is the one. Now to find something for you.”

“I’ve already put a few aside,” Cynthia says. “Again, we’re limited because of your time frame and the color, but I did find some.”

“I’ll change,” Hayden says.

“No, keep the dress on,” Cynthia urges her with a smile. “So you can see both of you together.”

My bottom lip quivers but I turn to the dresses Cynthia found. “Of course you want something simple also,” Cynthia says. “So you don’t overshadow the bride. Are you okay with a knee-length dress?”

I look at Hayden for guidance. It’s her wedding.

“Jeez,I’mokay with it! You’re my only bridesmaid, you can wear whatever you want!”

“I’m fine with that,” I say.

“I think you’ll like this one.” Cynthia hands me a dress in a gorgeous shade of blue. “It’s quite complementary to the bridal gown.”

I purse my lips and enter a dressing room to try it. It’s actually a similar style, a modest halter with a fitted bodice and full skirt that ends at my knees, in a shimmery sateen fabric. When I get it on, Cynthia helps with the zipper.

“Oh,” Cynthia says with disappointment. “It’s a little too big.”

“It is. But otherwise it’s perfect.”

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