Chapter 38

thirty-eight

ELLA

Welcome Holly and Ella.

Our names dominate a cream chalkboard, propped right outside the door of Moonlight and Lace. Seeing my name there, even if it’s a mistake, causes my heart to flutter.

I’ve done this with brides more times than I could count. While it’s not technically part of my job description, Charlotte always wanted to make sure we were readily available for anything a bride could need. Anytime of day, any request.

And by we , she really meant me .

This town often has an otherworldly feel. It’s reminds me a little of when I visit New Orleans for work. Like I’m stepping into an entirely different time period or place. Sometimes it’s the magic, but most of the time it’s the details in the architecture.

All the buildings bleed into each other, but they still keep their individuality. Moonlight and Lace doesn’t have the typical stonework or exposed brick. It’s a smooth surface with gleaming windows, with a wrought-iron balcony jutting out of the second floor .

For the second time on this bizarre afternoon of field trips, Luke swings the door open for us. Holly darts inside, chattering to Cade about the different cakes we tried. I’m a little slower, which gives Luke the opportunity to put his hand on the small of my back and guide me inside.

“You don’t have to stay for this,” I whisper, craning my neck so he can hear me.

Like he can sense the emotions warring inside me, Luke smooths a hand down my back.

“I know I don’t have to. Would you rather me make up an excuse and leave?”

No. I would not.

I’m enjoying this lie too much. Laila tried to help me find this kind of belonging back in Colorado. A boyfriend, a group of friends, a future. Somehow, I never had all three.

Even though it’s fake, I’ve somehow slipped into the life I’ve always wanted. And it feels real.

We stop inside the entrance and charming doesn’t feel like an accurate depiction. It is charming, but it’s more than that. There’s a small hum in the air; a giddiness that settles in my bones and makes everything feel lighter.

The walls and floors are light, a slight shimmer that winks when the light hits just right. Opposite walls showcase flowing dresses hung from racks, with modern celestial signage that says things like ‘to the moon and back’ and ‘it’s written in the stars’ hung above them. The back wall is a deep midnight floral accent wall, moody against the brightness of the rest of the shop. A neon sign proclaiming ‘she said yes to the dress’ hangs over a soft pink colored sofa.

Every time I think I’ve walked into my new favorite shop, I find a new one.

Susie comes out of a door in the back, close to what looks like a dressing area .

“We’re so excited you’re here!” she cheers as soon as she’s within a few feet of us. “Double brides are always such a fun experience.”

My eyes travel over to Holly, still chattering on the phone and browsing through the racks.

“I think there was a misunderstanding.”

Her bright smile falls. “What do you mean? The message said you both needed to have dresses pulled.”

“What message?”

“I’m not sure. Piper took it down.” Her brows draw together.

The last thing I want to do is create a problem, especially since this is Holly’s actual wedding experience. This isn’t about me.

“It’s fine,” I say. “What do we need to do?”

“You’re a more modern bride, I assume?” Her gaze flits to Luke, hovering for a brief moment before traveling back to me. “We rarely have fiancé’s in here.”

“I guess you could say that.”

What harm might come from this? It’s not like I’ll actually be marrying Luke in any of these dresses, anyway.

“Whatever makes our brides happy.” She smiles and gestures for us to follow her over to the seating area at the back.

Having two brides to dote on have the downtown shops beside themselves today. Susie and Piper wait on us hand and foot, offering complimentary everything. I’m used to being the one doing the doting. It’s unfamiliar and I’m struggling to enjoy myself.

“Will you relax?” Luke leans into my space. “I thought all women enjoyed being pampered.”

“Do they?” I lift my champagne glass to my lips, taking a small sip.

The change in Luke’s demeanor is almost palpable .

Holly bursts out of the dressing room, fistfuls of gauze in each hand. Her smile is bright enough to power the entire downtown area.

“How on earth am I supposed to choose?” She unclenches her hands and spins in a circle, her laugh floating along the air.

“I think you’re supposed to just know,” I say. “At least that’s usually how I’ve seen it work.”

Tulle sleeves hug her arms until the puff detail at each shoulder, shimmering under the chandelier, poised directly above us. The sweetheart neckline dips, meeting a bodice that hugs her curves to a full ballgown skirt. The dress is covered in intricate floral appliqués and beads, from the top to the floor and all the way around.

“Try one on.”

“We’re focusing on your dress right now.”

“This one is fine,” she says. “No. It’s perfect. It’s exactly what I want to marry Cade in.”

I set my glass on the table beside me and walk over to examine the dress. Pearls line the back closure, barely noticeable among the rest of the details.

“What kind of bustle can you do here, Susie?” I ask.

Before she can bend to lift the bottom of the skirt and look, Holly spins to face me, ripping the train out of Susie’s grasp.

“Sorry,” she says to Susie, before turning to me. “No. Work hat off. Right now.”

“I’m supposed to help?—”

“With what? I picked my dress. Now it’s your turn.” She grins and waves me off before turning her complete attention to Susie.

I’m not sure what to do. Cake tasting is one thing. Trying on dresses is entirely another. I glance over at Luke.

“Do it,” he mouths.

I shake my head .

He tips forward like he’s about to stand, so I scurry in the opposite direction toward the dressing room. I don’t want or need him to convince me to try anything on. It’s hard enough to remember this is fake. Like he can hear my internal thoughts, his rumbling laugh follows me every step of the way.

The best I ever hoped for was Luke noticing me outside of being Gaby’s best friend. Going through the motions as a bride, even a fake one, comes with emotions I’m not used to. Maybe I can just stand inside this little space and pretend I’m trying on dresses and once long enough passes, I can come back out.

When I pull back the thick curtain, my self control wavers. Full ball gowns like Holly’s hang just inside. Dresses of my literal dreams.

“It’s just like playing dress up,” I tell myself. Only there are real veils outside this little room, not rolls of two-ply toilet paper.

In minutes, I’m stepping inside a massive gown, my heart thundering in my chest. I don’t have to step outside the room. No one has to see me. But as soon as I pull the bodice up, it becomes alarmingly clear that my plan won’t work.

“Susie?” I call out. “I need some help.”

I was too enamored by all the sparkles and the deep pockets hidden in the folds of fabric to notice the lace up back closure. That’s not something I can do for myself. I stand in the quiet for a few moments, clutching the heavy fabric to my chest as I wait.

“Ella.” Luke punctuates my name with a couple of soft wraps on the wood frame. “Everything okay in there?”

“Totally fine. Is Susie out there?”

“She’s ah—dealing with Holly. Something wrong?”

“No.”

There’s no mirror, I assume, for the express purpose of having the bride walk out so everyone can oooh and ahhh over her, while she stands in front of a mirror. It’s an experience. I get it.

But I wanted to see the dress before I took it off.

“Ella,” he repeats. “Do you need help with something?”

Luke has three sisters and a daughter. The man knows his way around a dress or two. I can hold up the front of the dress, and the worst he will see is my back and the racerback of my favorite maroon bra.

It’s skin and fabric and elastic.

But do I want to see myself in this dress that badly?

In a word: yes.

Unless I rent a princess costume from somewhere, I’m not sure the next time I’ll be in a dress this beautiful.

“I didn’t notice the dress is a lace up back,” I say. “So I’m sort of stuck.”

“If you’ll turn around, I’ll do my best. “

“It’s like a shoelace, so it’ll take a minute to do.”

Why am I encouraging this?

There’s a scrape of metal on metal as the curtain slides down the bar. Then a brush of warm knuckles against my back as Luke searches for threads.

“How tight are you supposed to get this? Isn’t this the sort of thing that made Elizabeth Swan pass out? Ella, this looks like a torture device.”

A torture device covered in sequins and tulle. I’ve already told him I’ve got no control when it comes to these things. Probably why he encouraged it.

“You’re being dramatic. It’s not that serious.”

I’m not going to tell him about the boning that will soon dig into my rib cage. To be honest, I was feeling pretty good about it until he mentioned Elizabeth Swan .

“You’ll tell me if it’s too tight?” It begins as a statement, but at the very end, his voice raises. He’s worried.

“You won’t suffocate me,” I assure him. “There will be no passing out.”

It’s only a half-truth because as his skin accidentally brushes against mine, stars dance at the edges of my vision. His touch is every bit as tender as the moment he brushed his nose against mine.

This whole fake situation might kill me.

“Ella!” a familiar voice calls. Only it’s not Holly. “You are one tough bride to find!”

“Laila?” I turn, my hands pressing the beaded bodice to my chest.

Her eyes take in the scene: Luke with two satin laces in his hands and me in a state of undress. In a wedding gown.

“Did I miss a call? A text?” I ask, my voice an octave or two too high.

I’m desperate to crawl out from under her accusing stare. Not to mention, genuinely curious why my step-sister is standing here in Enchanted Hollow.

“Nope. I wanted to surprise you.” She closes the distance between us and smoothly moves me away from Luke. “Sister chat—I can take it from here.”

She shoves me into the dressing room and yanks the curtain closed behind us. With all the extra tulle from the dresses and two bodies in here, the space is much less inviting than it was twenty minutes ago.

“What are you doing here, Laila?”

“What are you doing?”

“Helping Holly pick out a dress.” I shift, adjusting my hand. It’s a shame Luke couldn’t have finished his job before she showed up. This might be a lot less awkward.

“Is that why you’re wearing one? I said see what Enchanted Hollow has to offer you, not marry the hot Glen Powell look alike.”

“He does not?—”

“Yes, he does, and that’s beside the point,” she hisses. “Charlotte is furious.”

“About what?” I snap. “I’ve sent her everything she could want and then some. Schematics for the setup, a tentative schedule, mood board…”

Charlotte doesn’t actually need any of it. When she passes off a wedding to an associate, she’s only there to field complaints and collect a check. She’s not involved with weddings anymore. She’s only asking for all of this to micro-manage and look for the slightest mess up so she can renege on our deal. But I’m meeting her at every single demand, no matter how ridiculous.

“That’s one reason she’s so angry. The other is the size of the wedding.”

Of course she’d be angry I’m getting things done.

I frown. “It’s exactly what Holly wants. Small and intimate. Practically an elopement.”

“Think about it, Ella. She’s got one of the most famous music stars in history right now, planning a wedding through our firm.”

“I know,” I say.

“How does that help her business if this enormous star keeps a low profile?”

“I don’t care.” The words are unsettling because I rarely talk negatively about this job. But it feels good, so I try again. “I’m not planning a wedding Holly doesn’t want just to appease.”

“You’re not.” Laila turns enough so she can peek through the curtain. “Luke is about to stare a hole through me. I’m really digging the backwards baseball cap and the flannel. ”

“Stop ogling Luke.”

“Are any of his brothers single?”

“Stop it. Please, just explain why you’re here. And maybe finish tying up this dress.”

She adjusts her designer bag on her shoulder and shifts her weight to her other hip.

“Two fold, I guess you could say. I’m here to keep the attention off you as much as I can. And I’m testing the waters as a full-time influencer.”

My brain flies right over the first comment and I hug her, almost dropping the dress between us in the process.

“Oh, whoops. Are you leaving Gilded Vows? Finally?” I pull back, yanking the bodice up as the space widens between us.

“Not yet. But your updates got me thinking. I’m not happy where I am, so why should I stay?”

“Go back to the keep attention off me part. Why would you need to do that?”

“Did you miss the part where I said Charlotte was angry? You know how she gets. The only way to get her off your back is to shoulder it myself.”

“You’re not taking over, are you?”

“No. Of course not. I’m invested in watching whatever this is, play out. I’m going to tell her that Holly reconsidered and do a little switcheroo with your plans and send her new ones.”

My eyes widen. “That’s a lot of work.”

“If we’re going to play Bridal Barbie, can you at least tuck those bra straps in before I finish this off?” she sighs. “At least fully embrace the look.”

“Are you telling me you wouldn’t be trying on a dress if you were in my shoes?” I wiggle and shift so this beautiful gown doesn’t have maroon straps attached.

“Oh, no. I’d definitely be in here playing dress up, too.”

She motions with her hand for me to turn around, and continues what Luke started.

“You were saying?”

“It got me out of town and it’ll get her to leave you alone for a bit. Hopefully.” She shrugs, like what she’s offering isn’t a big deal. “While I’m planning this fake wedding, I’ll try to figure out what I want to do with my social media channel.”

“You know, it won’t be this easy.”

“But I make it sound that way, right?”

I would love to be the level of unbothered Laila appears. She’s not actually this laid back, but for a moment, I’m jealous that she can even act like she is.

“You do.”

“Alright, done,” she says, running her hands across the finished ribbon at the top. “I want to hear how this all came about later. Do you want to go out and see yourself?”

I’ve come this far.

She shoves the curtain aside and steps out, so I have room to maneuver with all this fabric. The mirror is only a few steps away, but my first instinct is to look for Luke. Blame it on the emotional high all these field trips have given me today.

I’m not prepared for the jolt when my eyes find his.

Luke is a man that’s usually steady on his feet. When he stands and takes a few steps toward me, they’re anything but. I once wished that someone would look at me like I was beautiful; for that magical moment where I was his everything.

Exactly how Luke is looking at me now.

Heat blooms across my cheeks. This moment feels anything but fake, and I’m trying too hard to not tumble into the fantasy. I can see it so easily.

I turn and face the mirror, my breaths shaky.

It’s literally everything I’ve ever wanted. If Luke were to ask right now—crazy as it might be—I’d hand over my hard-earned money and buy this dress on the spot.

“You’re not going to pass out on me, are you?” he asks, stepping up behind me.

“Maybe. But I can hang on a few minutes.”

But it’s not because the corset is too tight. It’s the image of the two of us in the mirror, Luke’s soft smile as he stares at my reflection.

“What would you wear with it?”

I glance over my shoulder at him. “Well, there’s a tradition, right?”

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,” Laila chimes in.

“That’s the one.” He chuckles. “The dress would be the something new. And then,” he says, lifting my left arm. “Your something old would go here.”

“What would be my something old?”

His fingers skim my skin before he reaches around with his other arm and dangles something in front of my face. Something I haven’t seen in over a decade.

“Your mom’s bracelet. Your dad gave it to her on their tenth anniversary. And he gave her a new charm every fall.”

“How do you know that?” I whisper.

“Well, he wasn’t exactly stealthy about it. He gave her a package every October first, when we were having our pumpkin party. He’d usually slip her a package while they were telling a story.”

Memories of fire lit evenings on his family farm drift into my mind. Every year we gathered our families together and cut pumpkins, made snacks, and listening to stories.

Emotions clog my throat. It’s been so long since that era of my life; a whole other lifetime .

“Where did you find this?” I reach to take it, afraid it’s a magic trick.

“It fell out of the time capsule, I think. I saw it on the ground when I went to put it away for safekeeping.”

My fingers travel over the charms: the pumpkin, the Texas, the flowers, the ‘mama’. Each piece tells a story of who my mother was, and by extension, my father. He picked them all out, so she’d have them around her wrist. He continued the tradition with me until he passed away, and it was one of my treasured possessions.

“I hid it there so Charlotte couldn’t take it.”

Luke delicately takes it from my hand and quietly fastens it around my wrist. Then he surprises me and presses his lips to the sensitive skin there. It’s an explosion of emotion. Perhaps it’s where we are, or the moment, or our day so far. But I have to close my eyes while the wave crashes over me.

When I reopen them, he’s gazing down at me.

“She won’t win, Ella. We will.”

Sniffling comes from behind me, and when I risk a quick glance backwards, Laila, Susie, and Holly are all sniffling. Side by side. It would be almost comical except that I’m too caught up in this moment.

It’s real. Maybe not the wedding part, but whatever exists between Luke and I.

And I want to believe him.

Because the prize at the end of this is a dream come true.