Page 13 of Follow Your Bliss

“Do—” But she strode quickly ahead, not hearing me or not wanting to. Okay. Maybe her disinterest in the apartment was about me. I should keep my mouth shut.

She stopped short and whirled around, making me almost run into her. “Do you really have an apartment to rent?”

I gulped, unable to crawfish under that soft gaze. Her eyes were still bright with tears. “Yeah. Let me give you my number. I’ll be home all day tomorrow if you want to come see it.”

A few minutes later, we’d exchanged numbers and Rose was leading a bridesmaid toward the women’s restroom. At least I’d offered, and maybe she wouldn’t want it.

Becca appeared beside me. “Thanks, Jason.” She took her planner but looked down at her phone. “Have you been watching that tropical storm in the Caribbean?”

“Yeah,” I said, still distracted. “They’re saying it’s probably heading to Texas.” And a good thing too, since I was going to try to get to Florida in the next couple of weeks to talk to the Big Dick Tools people.

“Poor Texas. But I selfishly hope we’re in the clear on this one.” She snapped her phone off. “I’m sick of evacuating every other week, being gone overnight for no reason, then coming back to all the housework we left behind. Ooh look, here comes the food!” She danced off toward Brad and his parents.

I smiled. Now they were a great match, and as the frosting on top, his family and ours were closeandwent to the same church. That’s what I wanted: a great match for me who was also a great match for my family. I’d have to keep looking.

I rubbed at the empty ache in my chest and scanned the room. Straight ahead, Misty was watching me. I half-smiled and made a sharp left toward the buffet table.

‘Cause Misty wasnotit.

Chapter 4

Sweat & Sawdust

Rose

In a shocking turn of events, it was nearly ten, and Lily still wasn’t here. I should’ve known better than to make plans to see Jason’s apartment at eleven, since Lily Time was at all times at least an hour behind everyone else’s.

But at least it gave me time to talk dress designs with Mom. After the bombshell she dropped on us last night, immersing myself in the familiar discussions—Chantilly lace versus romantic eyelet lace and sweetheart versus V-necklines—was ironically a welcome distraction. Yawning over my coffee, I scribbled notes about Mom’s preferences of silhouette and veil.

Her hand landed on my wrist, stopping my writing. “Are you sure you have time to make my dresses? I know you’re nearly done with Becca’s, but October’s so close.”

Why did I lie to her about my progress? I smiled reassuringly and put my hand on hers. “Mom, I willnotlet you get married wearing someone else’s dress. It’s fine. I got it.” I took my hand away, but she didn’t budge.

“Are you…okay with this?”

Hell, no. “Yeah, I can get it all done.”

“Rosie, that’s not what I meant. Are you okay with me getting remarried? You didn’t seem as excited as your sister last night.”

Lie, lie, and lie. “No, I’m fine! I want you to both be happy. It just surprised me, is all. I didn’t know y’all were even talking about it.” And lie some more to make it look like I wasn’t anti-marriage. “It’s about time he put a ring on it.”

Mom laughed, and Lily walked through the door. And for the first time, her late arrival was a win for me.

“Good morning! I brought buttermilk drops from Tastee Donuts.”

“Hell yeah,” I murmured, pulling one of the crackle-icinged, spherical donuts from its box. “I forgive you for being late. You know these are my favorite,” I said around a mouthful.

“I know!” she sang. She grabbed a mug and sat at the table with us. “Sorry I’m so late.” She launched into a story about her boyfriend and her dog, but I caught sight of the clock and stopped listening.

“It’s okay. I just told Jason I’d be there to look at his apartment this morning, so I need to leave in like thirty minutes.”

“Oh good! I’m glad you’re going to look at it! Okay.” Lily pulled out a fat notebook and opened up to a page full of notes. “Let’s get down to business. What day are you looking at in October? And where do you want to have the ceremony?”

“Hotel Maison De Ville had a spot on the twentieth, so we grabbed it yesterday.”

My mouth dropped. “Girl, you move fast!” That was exactly two months away. Between Becca and Mom, that made two wedding dresses, two flower girl dresses, and ten bridesmaid dresses. And only three-and-a-half of Becca’s bridesmaid dresses were close to being done. But I had no car and just enough money for a few months’ rent and food. And at some point, I’d have to start building my business, even though I had no idea where to start. Either that or find a real job.

I hugged myself, rubbing my shoulder tattoo. At least Jason might be solving my living situation. He was such a nice guy. Last night, after we’d been paired to walk together down the aisle, he’d even talked his mom out of making me cover up my tattoo for the wedding. I wouldn’t have minded, but she didn’t exactly ask nicely and everyone was staring.

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