Page 47 of Holiday Friend Zones
“Tomorrow?”
I nod again.
“We’re gonna go over there, fill out all the paperwork, and then text everyone to meet us there at two o’clock.”
Twirling around, I look myself up and down in the mirror, my heart squeezing.The dress is simple, no doubt about it, same as it was on the hanger.The scoop neck is wide, dipping low enough to show off the top of my breasts, but not too much, leaving plenty for the imagination.The fitted top hugs my torso like it was cut just for me, the skirt flaring right at my hips.It may be simple, but it’s perfect.
I’m marrying my best friend on a whim…just like I did when I was nine…
“What do you think?”I ask, turning to Lindee.
“Oh, Kyra…”
Her eyes fill with tears, her bottom lip quivering.“You’re getting married…”
I nod.“I am.And I need a witness.State of Tennessee doesn’t have a waiting period, but they do require two witnesses over the age of eighteen.So, be mine?”
“Really?”
“Really.I’d ask Davis, but he’s already the groom, so…” I laugh.“You’re the only one I trust to keep this secret and?—”
“Wait.Does that mean you’re not inviting Mikayla?You’re not inviting your own sister to the wedding?”
Did I say that?No…listen, Lindee!
“I am too inviting Mikayla to the wedding.I’m just not giving her advance notice,” I explain, trusting that she’ll understand.Lindee knows Mikayla as well as I do.“She’ll get the same ‘Surprise!We’re eloping!Want to join us?Meet us at courthouse in an hour’ text everyone else will get.Because you know as well as I do that she will try and talk me out of it.Tell me it’s just another one of my ‘bad ideas.’But I don’t care.I’m doing it.”
Defiance rises up in me, as my oldest sister’s voice rings out in the back of my mind, chastising me.I mean it when I say all three of us Murray girls are as different as they come.I’m the fun-loving, easy-going, up-for-anything child.Lindee is the brains, happy to be squirreled away playing with her chemistry set.And Mikayla?She’s the serious one, the perfectionist.
“That is exactly what she’ll say,” Lindee agrees, stepping behind me and adjusting the back of my dress.“We really need to get her laid.Maybe that will loosen her up.”
I snort, quickly covering my mouth with my hand.Lindee, Rylan, and I have made that joke for years—even to her face—and it somehow never gets old.At least to us.Mikayla might be a little tired of hearing it at this point.
“And, I don’t think it’s a bad idea,” Lindee continues, wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her chin on my shoulder.Our eyes meet in the mirror, and I can see the warmth and genuineness in them.“Not if it’s whatyoureally want.”
“It is.”
The answer flows out of me like the water down Trouble Creek—free, easy, and without thought.Same as my answer to Davis yesterday when he called.Because I can’t imagine my life without him, and the idea of being his wife, in whatever form that takes, lights me up like the Fourth of July.
“Then that’s that then.Tomorrow, we’ll stand in front of the judge and get you married to the man you…”
Love…the man I love…
I finish her sentence in my head, but don’t dare say it out loud.By the way Lindee trailed off, she doesn’t either.I can see it in her eyes though; she knows.
Hugging me tighter, Lindee kisses my cheek, then lets go.I smile, ready to make some sort of excuse or change the subject somehow so that there isn’t this semi-awkward silence, with my unspoken truth hanging in the air like a balloon.
“Shoes,” Lindee says, stealing my move.“You need new shoes.”
“I sure do.”
My phone buzzes as I hand the dress to Lindee to put back on the hanger, and I steal a glance at it, slipping my sweater back over my head.
Davis:
Hope dress shopping is going well.Can’t wait for tonight
I look up, catching Lindee’s raised eyebrow on the way.
