“What the hell are those things on your face?” Dani asked.

“They’re sunglasses.”

“They’re a little… big,” Ellie added delicately.

“I need them to cover my face so that no one will recognize me,” I explained.

“Well it’s working,” Dani said. “I did not for one minute think you looked like a future princess.”

“Keep your voice down,” I pleaded. “This is an incognito shopping trip. I just need to buy a dress and then we can leave.”

“Sounds fun,” Ellie said dryly. Despite what George seemed to think, I hadn’t quite gotten the hang of English sarcasm yet, so I had no idea whether Ellie was excited or not.

“You can each get a dress too. George’s treat.”

“Oh, now it sounds fun,” Ellie exclaimed.

Okay, she was being sarcastic before then.

“Good. I don’t know where the best shops are, so I’ll need you ladies to lead the way. Got any places in mind?”

“How formal is the event?” Dani asked. “Next and Topshop do decent enough dresses that can pass as formal as well at a push.”

“It’s for a small gathering in town. You’re both invited.”

“And who will be at this small gathering?” Ellie asked.

“Just the three of us and George. And a minister.”

Ellie and Dani looked at each and then back at me. “You’re getting married?” Dani yelled.

“That’s generally what happens after an engagement.”

“Yes, but I didn’t know it would happen so soon.”

“What you’re saying,” Ellie broke in, “is that you need a dress for a wedding.”

“Yep.”

“Your own wedding?”

“Yep.”

“So you need a wedding dress,” Ellie concluded.

“I guess so,” I agreed. “But it doesn’t have to be anything too fancy. I’m not wearing white. I just want a normal dress.”

“I don’t think Topshop is going to cut it,” Dani said. “There’s a little boutique place in the mall that doesn’t have a price tag on anything. Let’s start there.”

I kept my “bitch glasses” on, as Dani called them, while we walked through the mall to a small store at the back which was mercifully quiet. They also sold wedding dresses, but there were no excited brides to be in here yet.

Except me.

The lady running the store measured me, and then went to a back room to bring out some styles for me to try. She didn’t comment on the glasses, but I decided to take them off. I probably looked like a woman who’d been beaten, and that was very much not the vibe I wanted to give off.

“We saw the pictures of you online,” Ellie said.

“Oh God, I haven’t even looked. What are they like?”

“Romantic,” Ellie replied. “There are some of you holding hands while walking around the ruins of a castle, and there’s a great one where he kisses you on the forehead.”

“Don’t forget the one of them snuggling up at the top of the castle and looking out at the view,” Dani added.

“Good,” I said. “We’re supposed to look convincing.”

“Oh you looked convincing all right,” Ellie said. “I know I’m convinced.”

“Me too.”

“Alright, ladies. What’s your point?”

“Our point is,” Dani said, in typically loud fashion, “you like him. And he likes you.”

“Obviously we like each other,” I said. “I wouldn’t do this with someone I hated.”

“You nearly slept together,” Ellie helpfully pointed out.

“Nearly being the operative word.”

“So you still haven’t bumped uglies?” Dani asked.

“No, and we’re not going to.”

The manager came back to save me from further grilling, and she hung up three dresses in a fitting room for me. All the dresses looked more expensive than my entire wardrobe put together. George was going to need that inheritance money to pay his credit card bill.

“Can you measure my friends too, please?” I said to the manager. “They are getting a dress each as well.”

“Of course, Ma’am.”

“I’d like one a little more revealing at the front,” Ellie said.

“And just make mine straight up slutty,” Dani said. “The sort of thing you wouldn’t let your daughter leave the house in. Oh, and make sure it’s a dark color. I have this unfortunate habit of getting grass stains on my dresses.”

“I’m sure I can come up with something,” the lady said, before disappearing again.

I ruled the first dress out before even trying it on. Red seemed too erotic for a wedding. The second dress fit perfectly, and was certainly modest enough for a low-key ceremony. It was also boring. I didn’t want to embarrass myself at the altar, but I also had a fiancé to keep interested.

The third dress was light green and trailed down below my knees, but with some ruched styling that revealed plenty of my right thigh. It was sexy; perhaps a little too sexy.

“Can you tie me up?” I yelled, as I stepped out of the fitting room in the third dress, holding the straps that needed to be tied around the back of my neck.

Ellie and Dani stared at me, but made no effort to help.

“What?” I looked down to make sure I didn’t have a nipple showing. “Can I get some help?”

Ellie shook her head and ran over to tie me up. “Sorry, honey. I just can’t believe how perfect you look.”

“If you dare say I look fit for a prince, I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”

“She’s right,” Dani said. “You look stunning. George won’t be able to keep his hands off you.”

My heart skipped a beat, as I imagined George reaching behind my neck and undoing the strap, before watching my dress fall to the floor.

“I should try on some more,” I said quickly. “This might not be the right one.”

It might be too perfect.

“You’re buying that dress,” Ellie insisted. “And I very much suggest you buy some sexy undies to go with it, because you won’t be sleeping alone once George sees you in that.”

“Screw that, you should go commando,” Dani said. “You can’t beat that feeling.”

“I can’t get married without any panties on.”

George would love it though. He’d be drooling all day. Then the second we were alone, he’d have me up against the wall, devouring me with his lips like he had done a few nights ago. This time he wouldn’t stop at my nipples.

“I guess I could buy this one,” I said with feigned reluctance. “Now you two get your dresses sorted out.”

“Shall we go to Ann Summers after for some panties?” Ellie asked.

“No, I’m good.”

Perhaps I didn’t need underwear after all. I never did like a visible panty line.