Page 5 of Be My Bride

Because I’m not that cruel.

“You’re going to realize someday,” Mom touches a strand of my straight black hair, “that you can’t control everything. Sometimes, you have to go with your gut and take a chance. Sometimes, that’s the only way you find the one that fits you perfectly.”

“I doubt it.”

She sighs where did I go wrong?

Mom’s a total free-spirit. Which drove me absolutely nuts growing up. But her intentions are good. She’s always preaching to me about ‘balance’—which is something I can admit I lack sorely—but in this case, she’s way off.

Nothing good can come of going with the flow.

“Go change and come back in the next dress,” Mom says, turning me around and pushing me toward the dressing room. “And give it a chance.” Mom winks. “You might not even know what you want until you have it.”

My back stiffens, but I’m not going to argue with her. Not unless I want to spend all day in this boutique. The faster I can get this dress off, the faster I can run out and confront Thad.

In the dressing room, the assistant helps me to slip out of the princess dress. She shoves another gown at me, but I shake my head.

Her eyebrow arches.

“Sh.” I press a finger to my lips and point to my street clothes—a bright yellow silk tank over fitted blue skinny jeans. My yellow pumps sit neatly, waiting for me to slip my feet in. My striped coat flaps over the back of the sofa.

The attendant nods eagerly, as if she was waiting for me and my indecisive self to leave.

It’s not indecisiveness, it’s having high standards, I want to tell her.

But don’t.

I stare at my phone, too nervous to pull my clothes back on.

There’s still no new messages from Thad.

My eyes lift to the mirror.

I’m a half-naked black girl in wedding lace.

No clothes.

No fiancé.

You don’t know that yet.

True.

I dial Thad again.

The line connects.

My heart slams into my chest. “Thad, oh my g—what the hell was that text about?”

“Hello, Asia,” a cold, feminine voice blows into my ear.

I shiver. “Lucy.”

Why is Thad’s mother answering his phone?

Crap.

Maybe he is hurt.

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