Page 68 of How to Ruin Your Ex's Wedding
She goes with a khaki-colored, knit, long-sleeve crop top with a deep V in the front, and a matching knit, wrap-style skirt with the slit in the middle. Even though it’s seemingly conservative with its long sleeves and skirt, it actually shows a lot of skin and is sexy as hell. She pairs it with metallic gold, strappy stilettos, and the khaki green color makes her green eyes totally pop. She straightens her long blonde hair, then curls just the ends to give it a tousled look. Her makeup is light and natural. She’s stunning.
I let her make my hair big—like Julia Roberts inPretty Womanbig—and then give me a smoky eye with a shiny lip. My outfit is a one-piece romper-goes-to-the-disco. The top is a cold-shoulder style with a three-quarter length sleeve. It’s a cowl neck, loose and billowy. The bottom is short shorts—tight short shorts that show a lot of leg. It’s a black base with purple and silver slashes and sequins. I pair it with black, strappy stilettos. I feel fierce in it. Like I can kick ass. More like my character, than myself.
We start with champagne while we are getting ready and finish it in the limo after picking up Angela. By the time we get to Crystal’s, we are well on to the second bottle. It’s safe to say we will all be just a little tipsy by the time we reach the fitting.
The dresses Si designed—the only requirement being that they’re black—look amazing. Crystal’s is a tea-length, A-line silhouette with a sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves. It showcases everything about her body that is beautiful, and it makes her look tall, which she loves. Angela’s choice is a short, body-con, bandage style with long sleeves. Both look stunning in their dresses.
Of course, this dress disparity goes against Hunter’s big idea of total coordination at the altar, but I don’t care. The worst possible thing a woman can do to her friends is make them buy a bridesmaid dress. Everyone says you can wear it again, but you can’t. Unless it’s to another wedding where you’re a bridesmaidagainand they’ve picked the same dress.
“Your turn, Tab!” Crystal claps her hands and bounces in place. I’ve only tried the dress on once before and it was more a mock-up and not the actual dress. When I finally see it in the dressing room, I’m overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude. The dress is breathtaking on the hanger, looking almost see-through by design. I’m taking a huge risk with it since Hunter does not like to see me in revealing clothing. Tight, yes. Just not revealing. I hadn’t realized there was a difference before I met him.
I want my dress to wow him. To the point where immediately after our vows, he pulls me into a closet somewhere and fucks me up against a wall because he can’t help himself. Because he is so overcome with desire and so possessive that he wants to know that his seed is dripping down my thighs all night long.
The gown is very delicate looking and made almost entirely of sheer tulle. It’s a blend of ivory and gold threading, with tiny spaghetti straps, plunging neckline, and almost no back. With a wide waistband in the middle and then a flowing A-line skirt. At first glance it might appear as though it’s transparent, but it’s not. And it’s exquisite.
I put my big hair up in a smallish bun and take off all my jewelry. Si helps me get it on, taking care with the delicate straps and skirt. She will be there the day of the wedding to help me put it on. I keep my eyes shut as she buttons the back and then situates the dress better on my body to analyze the fit.
“Ees peerfect,” she says in her thick accent that I can’t quite place. “You look now, Tabeetha.”
I open my eyes.
She’s right.
It’s perfect.
Tears form in my eyes. I grab a tissue to dab at them before I ruin my makeup.
“Are you guys ready for this?” I call out to the girls.
“More than,” Angela yells back.
Si opens the privacy curtain and I turn from the mirror to face the girls.
All three faces look back at me with similar awestruck expressions.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I ask, looking down at my gown.
“No, Tab,you’rebeautiful. Wait until Hunter sees you, he’s going to lose his techy little brain,” Crystal says, tears streaking down her face.
“I have never seen a more gorgeous bride,” Angela says.
“You are breathtaking, girl,” Maisey adds.
I admire my gown some more in the mirror, as well as me in my gown. Si has outdone herself with this. After a few minutes of wedding talk, the girls and I change back into our clothes to go out. We make the final arrangements for delivery on the wedding day and discuss the time schedule. Si also says she will try to stay for the wedding.
“It would mean a lot to me if you could,” I tell her as I give her a big hug. She kisses me on both cheeks and walks us to the door.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m freakin’ hungry, and now that I know I can fit in my dress, mama wants to eat,” Crystal tells us.
Maisey fixes my hair in the limo, returning it from the messy bun to the original loud red mess it was before. I almost feel like my hair gets there faster than I do, it’s that big.
Instead of stopping somewhere for dinner, we hit a drive-thru burger joint and picnic on the trunk of the limo, watching the sunset and drinking a third bottle of champagne. The food helps, because I was feeling a little drunk. And even though Crystal and Angela drink the bulk of the third bottle, I still feel those first and second bottles. I’m a lightweight, which I hate.
I switch to water for a bit as we make our way to the first club, not wanting to be too drunk to enjoy myself. This is my night and I want to make the most of it, stretching it out to last forever. The driver pulls up in front of the club, and I notice where we are and what’s across the street.
“Ladies, I have an idea . . .”
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