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He doesn’t even stumble, the jerk.

“Aunt Barbara and Uncle Bentley have given us the best presents of anyone we know for our whole lives,” I wail. “I have to give them something decent.”

“I got them aGreatest ShowmanBroadway poster, signed by Hugh himself.” Jake has never looked more smug. “Aunt Barbara loved that show.”

“I really, really hate you.”

“Love you, too.” Jake’s in front of me, keeping his distance thanks to my recent violence, and he spins around to blow me a kiss.

“What about a song?” Easton asks. “I know there’s not much time, but I can’t think of much that would be better than their own custom song.”

“Oh my gosh,” I wheeze. “Yes!” I’m not sure whether it’s exhaustion, my anxiety over this wedding, or being generally out of shape, but I’m not sure I can go much farther. “We should turn around.”

“Panicking much?” Jake jogs another annoying little circle around me, his gloating at maximum level. “Don’t forget the dress modifications.” He jogs back toward the apartment before I can even try to kick him.

Easton stayed with me. He’s my new rock. “What’s wrong with the dress?”

“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m four feet tall. Every dress I buy off the rack has to be hemmed.”

“Four feet?” Easton’s smirking. “That might be a bit of an exaggeration.”

“But not by much.” I’m huffing and puffing, but at least we’re headed home again. “I’m barely five feet tall, so the knee-length dress Aunt Barbara chose hits me a few inches above my ankle.”

“Ouch,” he says.

“If I had started sooner, I’d have had them take in the bodice too. It’s always a little too long when they don’t have a petite option.”

“For my little China doll.”

“Dude.” I glare at him on principal. I’ve never met my dad, but he must have been from some Asian country, because my eyes are clearly not like those of my Italian mother.

“Not because—like, the Asian thing.”

“Uh-huh.”

“No, I meantdollfor small, you know, petite. China doll is just a kind of doll.”

I arch my eyebrow, but I let it go. I don’t really care. It’s just fun to mess with him.

“Speaking of alterations, if you don’t mind coming by my office, we have a whole design team I’m sure I could put to work getting your dress fixed up.”

“You have—what?”

“I mean, they mostly do men’s clothing design, but they could definitely hem a dress. They could probably take up the bodice, too.”

“You’re suggesting that yourdesignerscould modify my bridesmaid dress?”

“I mean, if I were going to be the plus one for someone’s wedding, it would only be right for my date to look her very best,” Easton says. “It makes business sense.” He issostinking cute when he smiles.

“Alright,” I say.

“Wait, does that mean I will be your plus one?” He looks nervous. “Because I had already blocked off Sunday for Bea.”

“If you don’t mind coming to a family wedding, then sure.” It’ll be really nice not to go alone for once.

“Maybe I can come by the office with the dress tomorrow morning,” I say.

“What time do you have to be at work?” he presses. “If you came today, they’d have more time to get it done.”

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