Page 96 of The Backup Groom

“Dancing is the furthest thing from my mind. My ribs are constricted and my lungs can’t take in much air.” I immediately turned back to the fitting room. “I need to get out of this thing before it crushes my internal organs. Plus, I have to pee, and my bladder is hurting more than my torso.”

Stella teased, “I heard medicinal marijuana works wonders for bladder pain. Maybe you should call your dealer for another pot-brownie-hook-up.”

I couldn’t help myself laughing with her, which caused more pain. “Stop it before I wet myself.”

After Violet helped extract me from the dress, I ran to the bathroom, then returned to try on the final dress with the floral lace and spaghetti-straps.

I glanced at myself in the mirror, and caught myself sighing, a good sign. They say you know when you have found the right dress, it’s a warm feeling you get. My body was sending me those signals loud and clear. I was in love with this dress, even more than the one I had given to the woman in the other store.

Now, I was curious what Stella thought.

I spun around to face her, waiting.

When Stella’s eyes went wide, I knew it was the one.

My wedding dress.

“My goodness, Miss Amber,” she said, standing to take a closer look. “That’s the one right there, no doubt about it. You look positively breathtaking. Scotty is going to cry, I’m telling you right now. And so am I.” Stella dabbed her eye and sniffed to prove her point.

I walked toward Stella, giving her a hug. “Thank you.” I glanced down at the dress, then back in the mirror. “It fits me perfectly. I’m not even sure if it even needs to be altered.”

Violet checked the length, the straps, the hips, then spun me around. “It doesn’t happen very often, but you’re right. It’s perfect for you.”

“It was meant to be,” Stella said.

I don’t think I stopped smiling at all as I paid for the dress and walked out to the car, carefully laying it across the backseat.

“That’s that,” I said. “Okay, that was so quick that we still have some time before we meet the guys for the cake tasting.”

“Where’s the tuxedo shop?” Stella asked.

I turned and pointed toward the store right across the parking lot from where we were standing. “Right over there. They should be still trying on tuxedos because they started after us.”

She hooked her arm around mine and led me in that direction. “Let’s spy on them.”

I sniggered. “How old are we?”

Stella smiled proudly. “Feeling younger every day. That’s what love does to a person.”

I pulled her to a stop. “Wait a minute . . . are you telling me you’re in love with Dean already?”

“Okay, maybe I’m not there yet, but if I were any closer to love, this would be a double-wedding.”

“Nothing would make me happier,” I said. “I’m talking about love, not the double-wedding. You would drive me crazy with that.”

She considered it for a moment. “You’re probably right.”

We hooked arms and walked over to the tuxedo shop.

I held a hand over my eyes to block the glare from the glass outside.

“There they are,” Stella said. “Look at those handsome men in their tuxes.”

Dean stood still as the tailor checked the vent openings on the back of his jacket.

Scotty adjusted his bowtie and turned to the side to look in the mirror.

My breath caught in my throat. “Oh, my . . . so dapper.”