Chapter 8

Jana

I shook my head as I climbed into the cab, thinking about what happened the night before at the engagement party. It was almost like a dream at this point, and I didn’t see it coming. Jason had pretty much asked me to be in a relationship with him, and though we didn’t speak the words, we dove head first into acting like a couple. It just came so naturally to both of us. Though I trusted everything he said, I couldn’t help but be just a bit apprehensive after his whole adult life was spent in an anti-relationship mindset. But still, even through the weariness, it was just mind blowing I was now in a relationship with Jason.

The cab pulled up in front of the bridal store where I was meeting Megan. She poked her head out of the door and waved feverishly at me. We were here to find the wedding dress of her dreams, and I can’t even explain how freakin’ excited she was. When I walked in, I gazed over at the entire rack of dresses being pulled to the front. This boutique was by appointment only so she had the whole shop to herself. Apparently, Ryan paid for the whole day so she wouldn’t have to rush and we could look at bridesmaid dresses as well. Originally all the bridesmaids were going to come, but after some thought, Megan decided she just wanted to have her and me. She felt like seven women in the same shop would get crazy.

I put my bag down and smiled as the sales woman handed me a glass of champagne with strawberries in the bottom. I guess it was never too early to start celebrating in the bridal world. Megan was standing on the small stage surrounded by mirrors, swishing the bottom of her dress back and forth in front of the mirror. The dress was hideous, like something from the early 90’s with giant puffy sleeves, a huge skirt that took up the entire floor of the platform, and worst of all, a bow right above her ass.

“What do you think?” She posed like a beauty Queen and pouted her lips.

“Um, no,” I said scrunching my nose.

“What? It looks like Princess Diana,” she said laughing.

“And we are going to let her keep it,” I replied.

She laughed and pulled the front of it off, stepping out of the skirt. The thing was so huge that the skirt stayed standing on its own. She walked down the platform and stood beside me as the woman scurried around collecting gowns and bringing her the next dress. This one was much simpler, and Megan stood there while they slipped it over her head and pulled and tugged at the seams.

“So I had a good conversation with Jason at the party last night,” I said, trying not to show my excitement. “I guess he is as calm as you said he was. He asked me to be in a relationship with him.”

“He did?” Megan squealed and pulled away from the woman, running down to give me a hug. “That is such great news. I am so happy for you two.”

“I’m pretty excited about it,” I said chuckling as she climbed back up the stairs.

“Are you guys going to go public with it right away? You know he has a following in New York since he is rich, handsome, and WAS single,” Megan stated, shaking her head no after looking at the long silk dress. “You should probably be strategic about how you handle this. I know the politics of it really takes a toll on the romance but trust me, you’ll be happy you did.”

“We haven’t really had a chance to go over all that yet,” I said realizing what a big deal it was. “I just want to have some time to enjoy each other, you know?”

“I know,” Megan said with a sigh as she pulled off another dress. “And you will, I promise. I mean just by what I have seen so far, Jason has really changed for the better. I actually started to consider him a good friend after he started to calm down. It’s been an amazing transformation, and it was all because of you.”

“He seems different, but the same sweet Jason that drew me into him in the first place,” I said watching as Megan pulled another dress over her head. “And the sex, well, yeah that hasn’t changed a bit.”

“So I guess the pile of pussy comment is now thrown out of the window?” The ladies helping Megan get dressed tried to hide their giggles. We really had very little space for private conversations.

“I guess so,” I said laughing.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and clicked the screen. Jason had texted me.

Go with the big puffy sleeves and the ruffles. It’s timeless.

I laughed to myself picturing an 80’s themed peach colored bridesmaid dress. Jason knew we were doing the girly stuff today while the men got fitted for their tuxes. We were supposed to call the shop when we knew the color of the different dresses so they could match their vests to the girls’ dresses.

“Was that the lover boy?” Megan stood up on the stand sipping her champagne as the saleswoman cleared another dress away.

“That it was,” I said beaming. “He says go with the 80’s theme.”

“Uh, not even over my dead body,” Megan laughed, handing her glass to the lady and stepping into a gown.

Megan’s dress shopping went on for three more hours until the sales women were sweating. Megan’s attentiveness had dropped fifty points, and I was laid out on the sofa reading bridal magazines. I skimmed over the million different options for bridesmaid’s dresses, and my stomach started to rumble.

“I’m starving,” I said still looking at the magazine. “We should order something.”

“Well, I think we can take a break,” she said excitedly. “I think this is it.”

I looked up from my magazine, and my mouth fell open. Megan was standing in front of the mirror looking like an absolute princess. The dress was strapless, and the top was covered in small sequins, almost making it look like she was wearing nothing more than a layer of glitter. The skirt was billowing layers upon layers of tulle, accented throughout with the same shimmering sequins that sparkled in the show room lights.

“It may be a little risqué with all this cleavage, but I just am in love,” she said turning to me for reassurance.

“Megan,” I replied, speechless. “I just don’t know what to say. That dress was made for you. You look amazing.”

“And look,” she said showing me the train. “It can be dipped in my colors, so the train has a hombre effect.”

“That is amazing,” I replied imagining a shimmering burst of peach at the end of her dress. “That is the one!”

“Yay!” I could tell Megan was more than excited and love twinkled in her eyes as she stared at the dress in the mirror.

“Okay,” she said turning around and putting her hands up as the women took the dress carefully away. “Time to pick out your dress!”

“Can we please shove food in our mouths first?” My stomach was doing flips and flops it was so hungry.

“Yep,” she said looking at the front door. “There is the delivery guy now.”

We sat at the guest table to the right chowing down on an assortment of different sandwiches and salads. Ryan had sent lunch over while he and the guys grabbed food at the pub. Megan was serious about Ryan not coming anywhere near the bridal shop since she was hell bent on him not seeing her dress until the wedding. When we were done we packed it up, and I jumped up on the stage, ready to get my dress on. Megan laughed as the women pulled out another cart of dresses, making my eyes bulge. I thought one or two and done, but it looked like I was in it for the long haul.

“It’s gotta be perfect,” Megan said smiling. “You are my best friend, and I want you to look and feel absolutely amazing.”

“Alright,” I said trying not dampen the mood. “Let’s get this show on the road. What do we have first?”

As I went through the dresses, I no longer looked in the mirror wondering what eligible bachelors might think. I looked into the mirror desperately wanting to completely blow Jason’s mind. That look on his face when I walked out onto the floor had to be even better, in my mind, then the one Ryan gave Megan.