Page 99 of The Love Playbook

“What do you think?” Barb says, turning and glancing behind her at the mini train that pools around her feet like a white puddle of silk.

“It’s breathtaking. You look . . .” I shake my head, truly at a loss for words. I already knew Barb looked good for her age. With her slim, hourglass figure, long, silky blonde locks, creamy skin, high cheekbones, and bright blue eyes, she’s undoubtedly gorgeous, but in this dress, she’s a knockout.

“I think it’s the one,” Barb whispers in reverence at the same time Marti scurries back into the room with a veil so thin and delicate, it’s practically transparent.

“Hair up or down?” Marti asks as she approaches.

Barb’s eyes find mine in the mirror.

“Up, definitely,” I say. “It’ll showcase your long neck and prominent cheekbones.”

“Up,” Barb repeats, unable to hide her smile.

Marti twists Barb’s hair into an impromptu knot at the base of her head, pinning it in place like she’s done it a thousand times, before securing the veil on Barb’s head. Taking a step back, she beams at Barb, and it’s not hard to tell which is her favorite out of the dozen dresses Barb’s tried on.

I swallow as I take Barb in: The way the dress hugs every single one of her curves, to her flushed cheeks, and blue eyes radiating happiness. My father will have a stroke when she walks down the aisle; she’sthatbeautiful.

It’s perfect,I mouth at Marti’s back.

Barb nods, her eyes shifting to the bodice as she shrugs and says, “Eh, we’ll put it in the maybe pile, but I think it’s too plain. You know, I really think maybe I want something different. Something super unique.”

“Yeah,” I say, tapping my chin in contemplation as I play along. “Something that screamsLook at me, I’ve arrived!”

“Exactly!” Barb points, pressing her lips together to stifle a laugh.

“You should definitely try the tulle one.”

“Good idea. This is probably too sexy, anyway. Don’t want to give the man a heart attack, you know,” she says, patting a gaping Marti on the arm. “It’s not like we’re spring chickens anymore.”

“Um, the food is almost here,” Marti stammers. “Are you sure you don’t want to have some dinner, maybe think about it?” she asks, scurrying after Barb toward the fitting room.

“Nope. I’m feeling good, actually. We can eat after I try a couple of these other gowns on. The perfect one is right at my fingertips. I can feel it.”

“Oooh, ooh.” I clasp my hands out in front of me. “Please try on the tissue dress after the tulle one.”

“The tissue dress?” Marti asks, glancing between us.

“Oh, yes!” Barb snaps her fingers and points at me, then says to Marti, “You know, that really soft and pretty one that looks like a bunch of wadded-up tissues all over it?”

I wink at her as Marti’s mouth parts, eyes rounding in shock, and for a moment I think she might faint. “Of course,” she says, her voice strained, “whatever you want. Just . . . take this one off, and I’ll set it aside just in case.”

Stifling a laugh, I head back to my seat and sink down with my glass of champagne. “I’ll be right out here waiting.”

Three monstrous dresses later, Barb and I are having too much fun with our charade as I walk with her back to the dressing room in a gown resembling a white trash bag.

“Did you see her face on that last one?” I say with a laugh. “I thought she was gonna cry.”

Barb tips her head back and laughs. “It’s so funny I almost feel sorry for her. I can’t believe she thinks I’m serious about these.”

“I don’t know. She might be on to us,” I say, casting a glance to where Marti is perched, staring longingly at the crepe sheath dress.

“I’m not so sure. But I’m also growing more and more uncertain of who’s going to win the bet. She seems to be going along with the ugly dresses, but unable to let go of her grip on my real gown.”

“Agreed. I might be ten bucks richer at the end of the day.”

Barb waves me off. “The relief on her face when I tell her I want the sheath gown will be worth the ten-spot.”

I snicker and shut the door behind her so she can try on one last ugly dress?a poof of white lace with a high-low skirt, huge balloon sleeves, and a beaded neckline that resembles something like a dog collar.