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“Like a weed or a fresh blooming flower?”

She chuckled, something she didn’t think she’d do after being fired by one of the most prestigious bridal corporations in the country. “Maybe a little bit of both. Sort of an unwanted wildflower that is pretty enough to catch the eye.”

“I’ll take that. So, dinner is on, right? Pizza, M&Ms and popcorn. We’ll rent your favorite movie.” Which wasThe Devil Wears Prada. No, that wouldn’t do. She didn’t need reminders of her failure in life. She’d find something to watch that didn’t involve fashion. Maybe a movie about a dog or something.

“Right. Okay.” Taylor turned to hug her best bud, squeezing her extra tight. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Simone.”

Her friend didn’t know it yet, but she’d just saved Taylor from having a soul-searching, heart-wrenching, tears-flowing, pity-party horrible night. Correction, Simone did so know it. Taylor saw the truth on her expression. Simone wanted to come to her rescue, the way Taylor had when Simone’s jerk-face boyfriend had dumped her.

“Right back at ya,” Simone said.

And Taylor was grateful for the rescue.

Even if it was for just one night.

*

They settled onThe Notebook. So not a dog movie, but it was a far cry from fashion and just what Taylor needed. She loved the time period and flashbacks and, honestly, she could look at Ryan Gosling for hours. She ate three pieces of pepperoni pizza and half a giant-sized bag of M&Ms. Her stomach was a battlefield now, acid fighting against sugar and the warfare was grueling. But at least for the last three hours since Simone showed up with the goodies, she hadn’t thought too much about losing her job, or her next career move.

She’d called Julie this afternoon and they’d spoken for over an hour, her cousin a good listener and before Taylor could even broach the subject of showing up in Last Stand early, Julie had invited her. “You have to come. I’d love to have your help and it would do you a world of good to get out of the city. Please promise me that you’ll come as soon as possible.”

And Taylor had promised. Just like that, her immediate future was planned out. She’d be leaving on a flight for Texas day after tomorrow and luckily, she was able to change her reservation without it costing a major fortune.

The movie ended and Simone was crying. Taylor’s eyes had misted up too. She rose to grab a box of tissues and handed her friend one.

“It gets me every time.”

“And yet, we keep watching it.”

“Yeah, it’s that good,” Simone said. After she dried her eyes, she glanced up. “How’re you doing? You’ve been quiet.”

“Busy eating away my grief. I did major damage on the M&Ms. The sugar is bouncing off the walls inside giving me tummy rolls.”

“Tummy rolls? Is that a thing?”

“You know, when you’re doing dips on a rollercoaster, or when you’re driving and speed up on the down side of a hill and your stomach rolls. That’s what mine feels like right now.”

“O-kay,” she said, her brows gathering. “Sorry.”

“It’s my own fault. I ate too much and I’m paying the price right now.”

“You don’t want to get sick before your trip,” Simone said.

“I won’t. But you have to admit, this day has been kind of horrendous. You know what I mean?”

“Of course I do, but I have to tell ya, you’re handling it pretty well.”

“That’s because you’re here with me. Otherwise, I’d be falling apart.”

Simone rose, grabbing the empty pizza box and paper plates. “Then I’m glad I’m here.”

She walked the stuff over to the trash and dumped it in. “Before I go,” she said, “I’d love to see your cousin’s dress.”

“And I’d love to show it to you. Follow me,” she said. She led Simone into her bedroom, where the gossamer wedding dress—well, the bare bones of the dress—was hanging high up on the wall. “It’s definitely a work in progress.”

“I’m just amazed you can work on it from across the country.”

“I lucked out. Julie and I are the same size. When she sent me her measurements, they were almost identical to mine. So, it’s been easier than I thought it would be. I’ve been putting it on and checking my work firsthand.”