Page 42 of The One You Want

“You look amazing,” Rose’s mom praised, too.

“Maggie picked a beautiful dress.” Rose would look good in anything, but Maggie had picked a one-shoulder, high-low dress with a flared skirt to make sure her maid of honor stunned. The tight bodice and drape of the skirt would make Rose look like a goddess.

She wanted her friend to feel as beautiful as she looked.

“Can I come in?” Rose called out to her.

“Yes. I guess I need more help than I thought.”

Rose walked in and Maggie turned. “Oh, my god,” they said in unison. “You look amazing,” they said together again, and laughed.

Rose held her hand up, finger pointed, and made a circle motion. “Turn. Let me button you in so our moms can see you. Really, Mags, you’re breathtaking in that dress. Marc is going to lose his mind.” Rose started at the bottom and quicklyworked her way up to Maggie’s mid-back with the tiny little pearls.

Maggie caught her eye in the mirror after she’d finished. “Do you really think he’ll like it?”

“Yes. Absolutely. But it’s not about the dress, Mags. He is so lucky to have you.”

“Then why can’t he stop looking at you?” Maggie blurted out, feeling like a fool for bringing it up.

“What?” Rose looked stunned, but not confused.

“I thought you liked Gray.”

“I do. We had a fantastic brunch together this morning. He kissed me. Again. Made my head spin, and my heart...”

“What?” Maggie asked, feeling so much better that Rose looked so enamored with Gray.

“It melted.” Rose sighed. “I never thought that was a real thing. But oh, god, my heart just leapt and melted and felt so full.” Rose pressed her palms to her rosy cheeks. “Am I crazy? We just met.”

Maggie let go of whatever was making her suspicious of Marc and her friend. “It’s not crazy if it feels right.”

“It feels amazing. He’s... amazing,” she repeated.

“I’m so happy for you.”

Rose’s glow dimmed. “About Marc—”

“Forget it,” she said quickly, not wanting to upset Rose. “We had a really nice night and morning together.”

“Oh, really.” Rose teased her friend.

“Really. He can’t wait for us to get married. And neither can I. I think all the stress is getting to me. He’s been trying to tieup loose ends at work before we go on our honeymoon.” She shook her head. “I’m making something out of nothing. You’re beautiful. Of course he’d look at you. Tonight, he’ll be staring at a dozen half-naked women.”

“But he doesn’t want any of them. He only wants you,” Rose assured her. “But there is something—”

“Are you two ever coming out of there?” Maggie’s mom shouted.

Maggie rolled her eyes, but smiled. “Let’s not keep them waiting any longer.”

Rose looked disappointed she didn’t get to finish what she wanted to say, but nodded and opened the drape, then stepped out and to the side as Maggie emerged.

Nancy gasped and covered her mouth with her fingers. “Oh, Maggie. You’re stunning.”

Brenda smiled like a proud mom. “Gorgeous, sweetheart. It’s perfect. Just like you.”

Maggie turned to hide her tears, but gasped when she spotted a familiar face staring in through the shop window. But before she could blink away the tears and focus, the person rushed away, making her think she hadn’t seen him at all.

Why is Joel in town?