Page 15

Jessica.
And she’s not alone.
Jesus fucking Christ.
Someone kill me.
“Anton, I can’t seem to stop losing weight, with all the wedding str—” She stops short when she sees me.
At the sound of her voice, Henley and Cari stand up and turn, with Grace scrambling up after them. Jessica stops short
“You know you have to make an appointment, Miss Jessica,” Anton says while turning and pinning the hemline of the dress I’m wearing. “I don’t take walk-ins.” I look down at him and he gives me a wink. I was a walk-in.
“Well, you think with all the money my fiancé has spent here on our wedding, you’d make an exception.” My fiancé. The emphasis was subtle, but I caught it and it pulls my gaze up and past her to land on him.
Declan is here with her.
What the fuck did I do to God to make him hate me so much?
“I’m so sorry, Jess, but I’ve booked Anton’s for a private fitting.” Henley lies in an overly sweet tone. “Would you like me to call TJ MAXX and see if they have a dressing room open?” I have no idea what she just said but from the look on Jessica’s face, Henley basically just shit on her. Eight years in Fancyland has taught her a thing or two about being a mean girl. Couple that with the fact that she has no problem with taking off her Jimmy Choos and squaring up, she’s sort of terrifying.
“Come on, Jessica.” Declan reaches out, closing a massive hand over her arm but he’s looking at me. Staring at me. Like he can’t take his eyes off me. “Let’s go. We’ll come back later.”
When she doesn’t budge, Anton laughs, waving a dismissive hand in her direction. “I’ve been in business for forty-seven years.” He keeps turning and pinning. “I don’t have to make exceptions for anyone.” Finished, he straightens and claps his hands like a kid on Christmas morning. “Look at those legs, Miss Tesla—beautiful, just like your moth—”
He was going to say mother.
Beautiful, just like your mother.
It slices through me, so quick and sharp I barely feel it.
The pain.
The loss.
Ten years later and it still hurts.
Every time someone talks about her, Every time I hear her name, it’s like opening that bathroom door all over again.
Something passes over Declan’s face, something I can’t bear to see so I look down at Anton instead. He looks like he’s about ready to cut out his own tongue with a pair of pinking shears. “I’m sorry.” He shakes his head. “My tongue is old and thoughtless sometimes.”
I force myself to smile at him. “It’s okay, Anton. She’s been gone—”
“Oh, sweetie, you’re not looking for a dress to wear to the wedding are you?” Jessica says, cutting me off. When I look up at her I can see the disdain on her face, covered by a thin veneer of helpful concern. Whatever she’s about to say, it’s going to be super shitty. “Did you look at the price tag before you tried it on?” She shakes her head at me like she feels sorry for me. “I don’t think you can afford it on what Con pays you at the garage.” She says garage like someone else would say crack house and I watch Henley’s hands crank into fists. Insulting me and Conner in one breath was not a smart move. Henley may look and act like a lady most of the time, but she still has a mean right-jab and Jessica is her favorite punching bag.
“I appreciate your concern, Jessica—” I look down at the dress I’m wearing. I didn’t look at the price tag before I let Anton force me into it but she’s right. I probably can’t afford it. “Like Hen said, we’re just having a girl’s day.”
“Oh, that’s a relief.” She gives me a syrupy sweet smile. “Because that dress—”
“Looks fucking incredible on her,” Grace pipes up. “I mean, did you get a look at her ass? I’m as straight as they come and I’m having a hard time keeping my hands off it.” She shoots Declan a quick grin. “AmIright?”
The syrupy sweet grin spread across Jessica’s goes sour. “Who are you again?”
“I’m Grace Faraday.” Grace cocks her head and plants her hands on her hips. “Who the fuck are you?”
Cari’s little sister is a goddamned treasure.
“Jessica, I already told you—” Declan finally looks away from me and pulls on her arm again. “Tess isn’t coming.”