Page 83 of Space Oddities

A moment later, the receptionist comes back on the line, singing a completely different tune. “Mr. Kincaid, Mr. Mitchell would be happy to meet with you tomorrow afternoon once he gets back to the office.”

“That’ll be fine.”

“Will three o’clock work, sir?”

I do the math. The Atlanta law firm is about twelve hours away by car. If I drive straight through, just running home to grab a bag and only stopping when I need gas, I should make it with time to spare. I put the car in reverse and let Bluetooth pick up the call.

“Three o’clock is perfect. Thank you.”

I maneuver out of the lot, wishing I had taken Dale up on that second cup of coffee.

It’s going to be a long drive.

* * *

Trish

“I toldyou I’d look good in anything.” Jules preens in the dressing room’s gilded mirror.

“This isn’t just anything, this is Vera Wang,” I admonish, helpless to feel less than fabulous in the chiffon artistry draped around me. It even twirls when I spin.

Rose jostles her boobs into place under her ruched bodice. “We’re literally wearing Wangs.”

Snickering, Jules and Rose fist-bump.

“Everything okay?” The seamstress pretends she didn’t just hear two grown women make penis jokes in her couture wedding shop.

I also notice that no mimosas are offered this visit. Probably a good thing, what with the bachelorette party tonight.

“How are the hemlines?” The woman steps back, looking at the floor, tape measure in hand. “You’re wearing the shoes you’ll be wearing for the wedding, right?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t realize Shortstack would be wearing stilts.” Jules pokes me in the shoulder with her index finger, causing me to fall into the wall.

Rose, Jules, and I were all supposed to wear the same shoes. And we are. Basically. I just happened to find a pair identical to theirs, but with an additional two-inch platform.

I push myself upright and smooth out my gown for the seamstress to check. “I didn’t want to look like a little kid walking down the aisle behind your Amazonian rear end.”

“Please, you’re lucky to have this in your direct line of sight.” Jules slaps her backside.

I shake my head, laughing, but trying to remain still as the woman duckwalks around me, double-checking the length. “Your humility knows no bounds, sugar.”

“Just one of the many things Holt loves about me.”

“One of them, huh?” Last night I learned the hard way not to come a‘knockin’ if the ranch is a’rockin’. I took one step into the newly renovated, open-concept house and nearly blinded myself with what I saw taking place on the kitchen countertop.

I’ll never look at a spatula the same way again.

Next time I need a box of tissues to wipe my tear-stained face, I’ll just make do with a roll of TP.

“So much for your self-imposed sex sabbatical.”

Jules shrugs, a smirk on her face. “I can’t help it if the man is sex crazed for— ow!” She looks down at the seamstress, who has made her way over to Jules, pins in hand.

“Sorry,” she mumbles, but we all know she doesn’t mean it.

“Serves you right.” Rose doesn’t even try to hide her laughter. “No sister wants the details on her brother’s sex life.”

I turn away from the mirror and their direct line of sight and unzip my dress. “Yes, some things you can keep to yourself.” I pull my plain blue T-shirt over my head and step into my elastic waist pleated skirt. I keep the shoes on to break them in before the wedding. And so I don’t look like the dwarf I am.

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