Page 38 of The Friend Zone
Tamika placed her hands on her hips. “It doesn’t speak to me. I’m only going to get married once, and I have to find the perfect dress.”
Initially, Tamika and her fiancé planned to get married right away. With her cosmetics business taking off and looking for a house, planning a wedding added to the list of things they needed to do, and since they were already living together, the urgency to get married waned. Tamika was now settled in her new business arrangement, she and Anton had a home under contract which they’d be closing on in a few weeks, and she loved Lion Mountain Vineyards after their trip to Dahlonega. The wedding plans were rolling along, but finding a dress proved to be a difficult task.
This was the third time they’d gone dress shopping, and they’d been at the bridal boutique for two hours.Find a dress already!Dana wanted to scream, but realistically, she didn’t expect Tamika to rush her decision. Besides, Tamika’s mother and sister passed away years before. Her next closest relative was a cousin who lived out of state, so Dana and Layla were the default persons to help her make this difficult decision.
Part of the problem was, Tamika couldn’t decide if she wanted a traditional or nontraditional design or a white dress or one of a different color.
Tamika made eye contact with them in the mirrored wall. “When Anton sees me walking down the aisle, I want him to get overwhelmed with emotion and burst into tears.”
The salesperson assigned to Tamika swept into the room. “How’s everything in here, ladies?” she asked, stepping across the carpet in wide-legged pants and skinny four-inch heels.
Dana wondered how she managed in those shoes all day on her feet.
“I don’t love it,” Tamika admitted, crestfallen.
The salesperson circled the platform to stand in front of Tamika. She assessed her appearance with a critical eye, gaze traveling from her bare shoulders to the hem of the dress sweeping the floor.
“I have an idea.” She wore her curly auburn hair pulled back from her face and tucked several loose tendrils behind each ear. “Do you mind if I bring you something a little different from what you’ve tried so far?”
“I don’t know…” Tamika said hesitantly.
“Miss Jones, I’ve been doing this for seven years. Trust me. If you don’t like the dress I choose, no problem, but please, keep an open mind. All right?”
“All right,” Tamika said reluctantly.
“I’ll be right back.” The woman disappeared from the room.
Tamika studied her reflection. “I hope she doesn’t bring me anything figure-hugging. I want big and bold. I want pizzazz.”
“Remember she said to keep an open mind,” Layla pointed out, eating a couple of cashews.
“I will,” Tamika said, not sounding convinced. She swung toward Dana with narrowed eyes. “You’re oddly quiet today. I expected you to bitch and complain that I’m taking too long.”
“I slept with Omar,” Dana blurted out.
“What?” Tamika shrieked.
Layla’s mouths fell open.
“Before you say anything, this is—”
“I knew it!” Tamika said, slapping her hands together. “I knew you had the hots for him the entire time.”
A smirk filtered across Layla’s lips. “Well, well, well, the truth is finally out.”
“You’ve wanted him for a while but put up barriers to resist the temptation,” Tamika said matter-of-factly.
“Says who?” Dana asked.
“She’s right,” Layla interjected with a shrug. “Why do you think we tease you all the time? Last night it was more obvious than usual. You two are way too close for your friendship to be only about friendship.”
“Women and men can be friends,” Dana said.
“Sure, but not the two of you, clearly,” Tamika said.
“Not the way you were dancing at Hot Vinyl,” Layla added.
She’d known they’d give her a hard time, of course. They wouldn’t be her friends if they didn’t. “Are the two of you done? Because I have more to say.”
