Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“Why would you ask that?” Mom stops what she’s doing to focus on me.
“Is that a real question, Mom?” June asks from where she’s seated.
“We are not cursed.” She looks around at my sisters and me, planting her hands on her hips.
“It seems like we are.” I look at myself in a blue dress that April picked out for me to try on, one I will not be getting, because it’s too much of everything, too tight, too showy, and too blue.
“Well, we’re not,” Mom says, sounding upset.
“Don’t get mad. I’m just asking, because any time one of us with the Mayson last name finds someone they’re really interested in, drama starts to take over like a plague.”
“Right,” July agrees, nodding. “It’s like you aren’t allowed to just experience the goodness of a new relationship and falling in love. You have to suffer a little before you get your happily ever after.”
“Or maybe that’s just the world we live in today.” Mom goes back to flipping through dresses, and my sisters and I share a look of disbelief, because we all know that’s not true.
“So when do we get to meet Aiden?” December changes the subject, and I bite my lip. If he had gotten his way, he would have been here when it was time to pay for my dress today, but I refused to tell him which shop I was going to, because that is not happening. I don’t even like that he’s purchasing the cameras and security system for my place, but I didn’t have much of a choice, since he’s ignored me every time I’ve asked how much it will cost and made it clear it’s not something I need to worry about because I’m not paying for it.
“You’ll probably meet him this afternoon. He and his friend Noah are installing a camera system at my house, so they’ll be there when you guys help me get ready for tonight,” I tell them as I walk back into the dressing room to try on another dress.
“Your dad would have done that for you!” Mom shouts at me through the thin curtain as it falls closed behind me.
“When you and Dad started seeing each other, how would he have felt if you went to Grandpa instead of trusting him to make sure you were safe?” I hear July ask as I wiggle out of the blue dress and grab a black one off its hanger.
“He would have been fine,” Mom tells her, and I roll my eyes at my reflection, because that’s a flipping lie.
“That’s such a lie.” I listen to April laugh. “Dad would have been pissed.”
“Fine, he would have been pissed, but he would’ve gotten over it,” Mom says.
“No, Dad would have bulldozed over Grandpa,” December says, and I know she’s not wrong. Even now, our dad’s first priority is making sure our mom is okay, and he will trample anyone he thinks is getting in the way of him doing that.
“That’s the one.” April stands and walks toward me when I come out of the dressing room a second later.
“I completely agree,” Mom says, smiling at me while April helps me zip up the back. Then she takes my hair and wraps it up to sit on top of my head, using a clip to hold it in place.
“You look gorgeous,” April tells me as I turn to look in the mirror. The dress is simple but so flattering with the tight bodice, ball gown skirt, and sweetheart neckline that has straps that fall softly off my shoulders.
“I love it on you,” December adds, while June and July both come to stand behind me and fluff the skirt. “Do you have shoes to wear with it?”
“I have a pair of black heels that should work.”
“Then that’s even better.” Mom moves around to stand in front of me and pulls out a few pieces of my hair so they hang around my face, then adjusts the top of the dress. “If this were white, it would be the perfect wedding dress on you.”
“Mom.” I let out a long sigh. “Please don’t start.”
“I’m just saying.”
“I know what you’re saying, and I’m saying it’s way too soon for any of that talk. So please do not bring up weddings or babies when you meet Aiden.”
“I would never,” she gasps like she’s offended.
“Sure you wouldn’t,” I mutter, and my sisters laugh, because they have all been there with her. “I’m going to pay, then I need an iced coffee.” I hold the dress to my chest when June unzips me, then head back to the dressing room, thinking I would probably do better with a shot of bourbon. But if my mom is going to meet Aiden, that’s not an option, because I need to have my wits about me.