Page 8 of Attorney Privilege
“We’re waiting,” my mother calls.
Nikki, the sales assistant at the bridal store, purses her lips. Nikki has been nothing but kind to me, but I can tell she’s attempting to conceal her dislike for both my mother and Makayla.
“One second,” I call back, not wanting her to come in here. Her presence definitely won’t help.
“Let’s get this over with,” I tell Nikki under my breath. I say it low enough so that only she can hear me, and her eyebrows lift in surprise.
“This one is ugly. You know that, right?” That was not what she was saying moments ago when Makayla and my mother were gushing over it. “It doesn’t suit you.”
I was thinking the same thing, because it’s hard to breathe in it.
“I know, but it’s not exactly my choice.” I grab the glass of champagne she gave me and take a sip. The bubbles burn my nose, but I swallow it down and give it to Nikki. She takes a giant sip herself before setting it down.
“All right,” Nikki says before pulling back the curtain.
I walk down the small runway to where Makayla and my mother are sitting at the end. Dread fills me with each step, but I guess it’s a good representation of what my wedding will be like. I know I'll have this same feeling as I walk down the aisle to Conner, who has become a giant pain in my booty. Who knew if you ignored someone, they would show more interest? I need to start pretending to be clingy. Then he might go back to avoiding me again.
"What do you think, Makayla?" my mother asks the woman beside her. She actually cares for her opinion. If my mother believes that a person is on a higher level than her, which means more money and power, she starts to mimic them. At one time I thought it was annoying and weird, but now I see it as sad and small.
“Her hips look so wide in that one.” Makayla’s critical eyes move up and down my body, and it’s clear what she thinks of me.
“There’s not enough time for her to lose any more weight.” My mother sighs in annoyed agreement. “Thin is back in.”
Is breathing in? Because it’s hard to catch my breath in this thing.
“Try another.” Makayla shoos me along with a wave of her hand, and I hurry back down the runway.
When I get to the back, Nikki quickly closes the curtain behind me.
“I can’t breathe.” I turn around so she can undo the ties she laced up to get me into this thing.
Because of the short engagement, the dress has to be almost off the rack. They’ll only have a few days to make alterations, but it seems everyone is less worried about my well-being than getting me into a dress they approve of.
“Shit,” Nikki curses, and I press my hand to my chest. I’m trying to slow my breathing and not panic, but the sensation of claustrophobia springs to life inside of me. "It's stuck."
"Oh gosh." My breath comes faster, which I know isn’t helping, and I have to gulp in air. Black spots dance along my vision, and I think I’m going to pass out.
"Move," a deep voice that I remember all too well fills my ear.
When I peer over my shoulder, Nikki moves out of the way and Gideon is standing there. Where did he come from?
"That's expensive," Nikki says to him and then cringes as Gideon grips the back of the dress.
"I'll pay for it,” he tells her and then with one hard tug, the fabric rips. The material is no match for his strength, and I take in a deep breath as the dress falls away.
"Are you the groom?" Nikki asks.
"Yeah, can you give us a second?"
Did he just say he’s the groom?
"Of course."
"Don't tell them I'm here." Gideon nods beyond the curtain, and Nikki smiles at him.
"I'll keep them busy." She slips out, leaving me alone with Gideon.
"You're here." I turn to face him, but when Gideon looks down at me, I remember that the dress is gone. "Oh crap."
