Page 83 of Falling for Nicole
“You’ve told me all this. I grew up with dogs, I’ve got it all under control. Go and enjoy yourselves.”
“Thank you,” I say sincerely as I try to keep my anxiety about leaving Bailey under control. Anyone would think I’m leaving my baby, not my dog.
Liv and I get comfortable in my car before heading off. We’re barely out of town before I remember something. “I forgot to tell Liam about Bailey’s favourite toy.”
“Chill out. Everything is fine. Liam’s mum breeds dogs. He knows what he’s doing.” I glance over at her with raised eyebrows. “What’s that look for?”
“You seem to know a lot about him.”
“We just chatted about stuff, and it’s one of the things that came up,” she says innocently.
“Just chatted?”
“Yeah, just chatted.”
Thanks to a road closure due to an accident, we arrive ten minutes before we’re meant to be sitting down for Molly and Ryan’s rehearsal dinner.
“What the hell happened to you two?” Dec asks as we run into reception.
“Traffic.”
“But I left after you,” he says, looking confused.
“They must have reopened the road. We went on a right magical mystery tour.”
“Well, I’d go and get ready before Molly finds you. She’s running around like a blue arsed fly.”
Dec hands me our room key before pointing us in the right direction. I shower, dress and do my hair and make up in record time. Everyone turns to look at me when I walk in to the private function room Molly and Ryan booked in the hotel we’re all staying in for this evening’s meal.
“I’m so sorry,” I say to Molly when I get to her.
“Don’t be silly, you can’t help the traffic. We told the kitchen to hold off for an hour so you and Liv were here.” I feel awful she’s had to change everything for us. “We’ll go and try your dress on when we’re done here.” I ended up sending her my measurements for her seamstress to make amendments to my dress, so we’re yet to know if it actually fits.
Liv appears a few minutes after me, looking as panicked as I felt when everyone turns to look at her.
The meal is incredible, and if it’s a sign of things to come, it’s sure to be an amazing wedding. I really hope so, because both Molly and Ryan deserve it after everything they’ve been through.
“Come on, I need to get this one to bed and we can try that dress on.” Molly makes Lois say goodnight to everyone before we head towards the lift. I can’t help but laugh at her little pouting face. She doesn’t make a fuss though, she must know it’s not a fight she’s going to win—plus, she’s exhausted. By the time we make it up to the suite Molly and Ryan are staying in, Lois is asleep on her shoulder.
I sit and wait while Molly strips Lois out of her cute party dress and into her pyjamas before lowering her into the travel cot. We tiptoe out of the room, although I’m not sure why we bother as I think Lois was snoring before she hit the mattress.
“Here, go slip this on.”
Taking the dress bag from Molly, I make my way to the bathroom, taking in the lavish decoration of their accommodation as I go.
I’m only gone a few minutes, but when I return, I find Susan and Karen sat on one of the sofas with Molly.
“Could one of you try to zip me up? It’s a little tight,” I admit with a wince.
I breathe in as Susan tugs at the zip. “It’ll be fine,” she soothes. “You’ve just had a three course meal.”
Holding my breath and sucking in as much belly as I can, Susan and Karen manage to get the zip up. I watch as Molly takes her first breath in a while when she sees me in it.
I was expecting it to be uncomfortably tight, but it’s not too bad.
“The lump of fabric around the waist was the biggest issue,” Susan says.
Walking over to the mirror, I stare at myself. The dress fits me like a second skin, the built in bra giving my boobs the most incredible lift and making my waist look tiny.
