Page 67 of Poppy Kisses
“Ohmigoodness.” I almost smoothed my hand down the bodice, but I held my arms out like I needed the air circulation. There could be no pitting out on the expensive dresses. Soccer Barbies didn’t get armpit stains on dresses. “You’re my favorite niece.”
“Not fair,” Violet said in a scandalous tone. “Your others can’t talk yet.”
I grinned and turned to the side. “I’ll try another,” I said to the young attendant, Hadley. She’d grabbed at least ten gowns when she’d first led me to the dressing room. She’d asked my style and then seemed to pick her favorite dresses. She was so excited about them, I hadn’t had the heart to ask for different ones. I’d wait for the next round.
Clover lowered her phone. “Can you get her a looser, less formal one?”
“Of course.” When she turned her back, Clover pointed toward a row of dresses and mouthed,I got you.
Relieved, I picked up the hem of my skirt and scurried after the attendant. By the time Hadley helped me out of my dress, someone was knocking on the door.
“I found some I like,” Clover called. “Indulge me and try them on next.”
I smiled. Clover was trying to keep the process going smoothly by taking the blame. Hadley blinked at me like a little doe in front of a semi.
“It’s fine,” I said.
“Oh. Okay.” She inched open the door of the changing room and accepted three dresses. As she shut the door and hung up the dresses, she frowned at the choices. “These are…cute.”
I bit the inside of my cheek and gestured to one that didn’t look like I’d have to be poured into it. “Let’s try that one.”
“Sure.” She took the clear plastic sleeve off and helped slip it over my head.
The flurry of changing gave my hands time to dry. I ran them over my hips and swung from side to side. The skirt was loose, with the empire waist tucked under my boobs. The skirt swished. I liked it better already.
“Want to try another?” Hadley asked.
“Um, let me see it in the mirrors. This is more of what I’m looking for.” When her lips formed a troubled line, I nodded so she knew I meant it. If I had to mold myself into another formfitting dress, I’d opt for a pantsuit.
“It’s a backyard, outdoor wedding. And it fits over my butt and thighs better.” I patted my ass. “Too many years of soccer. All my muscle is here.”
Her brown eyes lit up. “You played soccer?”
“For a long time.” I stepped out of the dressing room. My sisters watched me approach. I didn’t have to hold the skirt up and there was no train. The hem brushed the tops of my feet. Violet’s mouth twisted. Lily was the same. Clover was shaking her head.
“You look like a princess,” Cali said, beaming.
“Thank you.” I stood on the little platform. I agreed with my sisters’ dubious expressions. It was tooPride and Prejudice. “It’s gorgeous but not aschill summeras I was hoping. Let me try another of your other choices, Clover.”
“I used to play,” Hadley said on our way back to the changing room.
“Yeah? What position?”
“Goalkeeper.” We entered the room, and she helped me change. “We drove to Mandan for a long time, and then a few years ago, I just quit. It was a lot with everything else.” She hung up the dress and pulled out a plain cream one that was more the style I was looking for but too plain.
Still, I let her help me into it. My head popped out, and I blew a chunk of hair out of my face. “What if there was a team in town?”
“A team to play on? Or to coach?”
Ooh—a coach. “Both.”
She thought for a moment. “I think coaching would be fun. In sixth grade, I would get so mad at my coach because she would tell me to go against what I learned in my goalkeeper practices.”
“What about playing?” I didn’t have to look at the dress to know I wouldn’t pick it, but I’d take the same style with less sleeve and more decoration. “This is a little too mother of the bride. I’ll just try the other one right away.”
Relief crossed her face. “Of course.” Her nose scrunched the tiniest bit when she took in the modest bodice of my last choice.
At least it was easy to slip off. She hung it up and slipped the next one free.
