7. Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Evie

The memory of Jamie and I under the mistletoe plays over and over in my head like a scene on repeat. In spite of myself, I wanted Jamie to kiss me. And not just on the cheek. Standing so close to him, the warmth from his body and his scent enveloping me had everything in me screaming with longing to have his lips touch mine. And I didn't care that everyone was watching.

All I wanted was to lean in and feel the pressure of his lips. Actually, I did lean in. I leaned in, closed my eyes, and he kissed me on the cheek. On the cheek !

I pinch my lips together. I don't know if I should be angry and disappointed or just plain old angry. I mean, talk about mixed messages.

I blow out a deep breath and take another sip of my coffee.

"I shouldn't have had that punch." I feel heat crawling up my face as I think about how I acted last night. Adding alcohol to the mix was probably not the best idea.

I look at my phone for the time. It's almost ten, and Jessica will be here to pick me up with Mom, Mrs. Stewart, and Penny in a few minutes.

We're heading over to the boutique to do a final fitting for mine and Penny's bridesmaids' dresses and pick out Jess' wedding gown. I feel my lips creep up in the corners as I shake my head—nothing like waiting until the last minute to pick out your dress.

Honk. Honk.

I take a last sip of my coffee, grab my coat and purse, shove my feet in my boots, and head out the door just as Jessica honks again.

"I'm coming," I yell as I lock my door behind me and jog to the car. "Patience is a virtue, you know," I say as I slide in next to my mother.

"Okay, Evie. What's going on with you? You're never this moody!" My mother tilts her head and narrows her eyes at me.

I glare at her and change the topic. "I thought you were picking up Penny, too?"

"Change of plans. She was called in to work to cover for a coworker and needs to be at the library by eleven thirty. So she's meeting us there instead."

I look away from Jessica and find two sets of eyes staring at me. "What?!" I yell, and to my chagrin, my Mom and Lenny chuckle.

I turn to look out the window and pretend to be occupied with the snow coating the ground in a sheet of white. I know that I'm in a mood, and if I'm honest, I can't stand myself either. I'm not used to feeling on edge like this. When Jamie was away, I could pretend everything was fine. But with him back in town, telling me he missed me every day he was gone, my emotions are all over the place.

It's like an extreme case of PMS, except I normally don't have PMS. I blow out another breath and watch it fog my window.

"Right, Evie?" I snap my eyes over to Jessica and catch her looking at me through the rearview mirror.

"Huh?"

"What has you so distracted today?" She smirks at me. "In fact, I think you've been distracted since the day we were in your office. When Jamie called."

"What are you talking about?"

"Ahh, yes," Lenny nods her head. "That makes perfect sense."

My mother puts her hand on my shoulder. "You haven't been quite yourself since Jamie left, sweetie, now that I think about it."

"That's it!" I yell, unable to control myself. "There is nothing going on with me and Jamie."

My protest is met with silence. I run my eyes across the ladies in the car; not one of them will look at me, but they all have the same smirks on their faces.

I sigh loudly and look back out the window again, feeling like every one of my emotions is under a microscope. I need to pull myself together and fast. I'm just not sure how to do that when my entire world feels upside down.

When we get out of the car in the shop parking lot, Mom and Lenny are talking excitedly. Jessica, I notice, is chewing her lip.

I walk over to my best friend and put my arm around her shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"The wedding is getting really close, Evie. What if I can't find a dress that Sean will love?" The worry in her voice is evident, and I feel my chest warm from her concern for my brother's happiness.

"Jessica." I pull her closer, giving her a big squeeze. "My brother adores you. He's going to love how you look in whatever dress you choose. Don't worry about Sean."

"Really?" Her uncertain eyes find mine.

"Really! In fact, Sean would do anything for you. If that meant having a gown made from scratch, he would find someone to get it done in the time needed." Her lips lift at the corner. "Now, let's go find your gown!"

The tension about what's happening with Jamie falls from my body as I focus on Jessica and her wedding day. I beam a real smile at my best friend for the first time in days, and the tightness in my chest loosens.

The bell from the shop door chimes as we walk in the entrance. "Oh, Penny," my mother sighs. "You look beautiful. That color is perfect and the dress is breathtaking on you."

I look up to see Penny standing on the pedestal with her head turned over her shoulder and a smile on her face. She turns back to the mirror just as we step behind her.

I can see Jessica clapping her hands excitedly out of the corner of my eye, and I shake my head. I love this version of my best friend, but it's still something I'm not used to.

"Evie, go put yours on!" Jessica demands.

"It's hanging in the dressing room for you." Madelyn, the shop owner, points to the open dressing room door.

"Thank you." I take my coat off and place it in Madelyn's outstretched arms. I smile as I walk to the dressing room and pull the door closed, running my hand over the satin material as I do.

Jessica picked out a vibrant evergreen color for our dresses. Being that the theme is Christmas, she almost chose red, but when she saw the green, she fell in love. The color is perfect for Penny, with her light coloring and strawberry blond hair.

The dress itself is simple, with an A-line cut and a halter-style top. At first, I was concerned about the lack of sleeves for winter, but Madelyn convinced us that the perfect addition would be a fur stole in the same color as the dress. Faux, of course. I wasn't convinced until I saw it on, and once I did, I immediately fell in love.

I turn to look at myself in the mirror and take a deep look into my blue eyes. Somehow, this color makes my eyes pop. Yeah, I know it shouldn't, but it does.

"Evie, I want to see," Jessica orders, her voice impatient like a child who's been kept waiting too long to open her birthday presents.

I open the door and walk out with a smile on my face.

"Oh, Evie." My mom covers her mouth, and her eyes get glassy.

I look at Lenny, Jessica, and Penny through the mirror, and my heart warms at the looks on their faces.

I look at myself in the mirror as I step on the pedestal. Madelyn comes over and inspects me to make sure the fit is right.

"Perfect." She claps her hands and smiles.

"So perfect," Jessica giggles, bouncing on her toes. I can't with how cute she is right now and press my lips together to keep from laughing at her.

"Yay!" I clap my hands and then meet Jessica's gaze in the mirror. "Now it's your turn. Just let me and Penny change."

Once back in my clothes, I take a seat on the couch next to my mother. She puts her arm around my shoulder and smiles at me. She leans in to give me a kiss on the cheek before whispering in my ear, "Whatever is going on, Evie, it will all work out."

I meet her gaze with a weak smile on my face. "I know, Mom. Thank you."

Just then, Jessica comes out in a beautiful cream-colored gown. The ballgown style makes her look like a princess with a full tulle skirt that seems to float just above the ground. The lace that covers her arms and neck over the bateau neckline is an intricate styling of what looks like berries. Perfect for a winter-themed wedding. Madelyn walks over and puts on the final touch: a faux fur stole.

We all gasp. Lenny covers her mouth with one hand while putting the other over her heart as a tear slips from her eye.

My mother is in almost the exact same position.

"Jessica," her mom finally speaks. "You look stunning."

Jess smiles, steps on the pedestal, and looks in the mirror. Her mouth drops open, and her eyes get glassy.

"Oh. My. Goodness." She runs her hands down the front of the dress and looks at me through the mirror. The delighted smile on her face tells me everything that I need to know.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Madelyn sigh in relief. She meets my gaze, and I smile.

"I was running out of options," she mouths at me, and I chuckle.

"You did great!" I mouth back, unable to contain the smile spreading across my face.

The dress is not only perfectly perfect, but it's somehow perfectly Jessica and Sean.

Their story is one that people dream of, that people go to Sean's movies in order to live vicariously through.

My smile slips slightly from my face as I think about the part Jamie and I played in that love story, and my chest gets tight. I was beginning to let myself dream about the same for us until the man broke my heart and flew across the country.