Little Gray Dress Read online

  I turn to follow his finger but she’s not there.

  “Great. How did I end up the soberest out of all of us?” I look over at Jack’s goofy smile.

  “I know, normally that’sh me.”

  “I like it better that way.” I frown at my grown man-child stumbling along next to me, staring at the sky instead of where he’s walking.

  “I need to ssssit,” Jack announces suddenly, lurching towards a giant palm bush and retching all that he’s drank in the last hour.

  I drop my head back and sigh. “Let’s lie down for a few.” I help him to the beach just a few feet away, steering him towards a lounger and making sure he’s not going to fall off before settling myself in the one next to him.

  The sky in Mexico really is gorgeous at night. The moon reflects off the ocean in a way that almost makes it so bright you feel like it’s not night time at all. The breeze is nice, and I can’t help but fall in love with the whole tropical atmosphere. Even though I’m babysitting my drunken boyfriend and all my friends are missing, there is something romantic about this spot.

  “Jack?” Sort of checking to see if he’s still alive.

  He mumbles something to me.

  “If we ever get married I want to do it here, without everyone we know. It’s just… so much easier than all the fuss of a wedding.”

  Jack only groans over at me. I’m kind of glad he doesn’t totally understand me right now, because we haven’t talked about marriage at all. We’ve been together for three years and not once has he hinted that we should get married. He’s always so focused on the next step in his career that I don’t think it’s honestly even on his mind.

  Our relationship is great, so why change it? But with my friends getting married I’m starting to feel a little left out. I mean… I’m 26 years old; I feel like this is the marrying age if there was one. I’ve no doubt that Jack is the one, so maybe I should mention it… preferably when he’s not puking in the sand next to me.

  “Ems…” Jack groans at me, causing me to jerk awake and try to figure out where I am. “Why are we on the beach?”

  It’s not as dark as it was when we sat down here so I pull my phone out of my pocket to check the time. 4.33 am. We’ve been lying out here since just after 1 am and we must’ve fallen asleep.

  “We stopped because you were sick, remember? We can head back to our room. Do you feel OK?”

  “No… But I can make it back.” He sits up and glances at me, his dark hair falling across his forehead. “I think this is the first time I’ve been this drunk.”

  “In front of me for sure.”

  “Well, that’s a change,” he laughs, as I try and pull him off the chair.

  “That it is.”

  “I had a dream that we got married.” His smile is faint, but his eyes are locked onto mine. He must’ve heard me earlier. “We got married right here, with the moon in the background.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah, it was…” he stops walking, obviously searching for a word to use. “Beautiful.” He looks at me again. “Just like you.”

  How could I not be happy to hear that?

  “Thanks, Jack. Let’s get back.”

  I slide the hotel card key into the suite we are all staying in and watch the flash of the green light before the door pops open and Jack pushes his way through like a bull in a china shop. “Hello, bed,” he says as he walks down the hall to our room.

  “Let me just make sure everyone got back,” I say, watching him fall face first into our bed.

  I quietly knock on Corinne’s door. She doesn’t answer so I crack the door open to make sure she’s at least in bed. She is… But so is Evan. Obviously they have been up to no good, considering I’m standing on their clothes near the doorway.

  “Evan!” I whisper, poking him in the back. “EVAN!”

  “What?” He groans, opening one eye.

  “Get back in your room or Lily will kill you when she gets up. What is wrong with you? Corinne is engaged!”

  “So… It’s not like we’re the ones getting married tomorrow.”

  “Just go!” I toss his clothes at him and watch him kick off the blankets, hold his wad of clothes over his nether-regions and tiptoe back to his room across the hall. “Not a word of this to anyone!”

  “Whatever, Mom.” His door clicks shut behind him.

  I glance in at Jack, who isn’t moving but has somehow managed to strip himself and is now lying completely naked on top of the covers, his bare ass exposed to anyone looking in the wall of windows.

  “Lil?” I crack her door enough that the light shines directly onto the bed, giving me the perfect vision of her and Josh doing things I never wanted to imagine they did. “OH MY GOD.”

  “EMI!” Lily yells and tosses a pillow my direction.

  “Sorry,” I yell through the crack, quickly shutting the door behind me. “Shit.” I race into my room, shut the door, and close the curtains so Jack doesn’t gain a crowd when it’s light outside.

  Right, then it hits me: not the alcohol, the burrito. I barely make it to the bathroom before the burrito and everything I’ve drank tonight decides to make an appearance.

  I don’t remember sleeping the next few hours on the bathroom floor but I’m awoken by Jack, using the toilet in the same way I last remember using it.

  “I’m never drinking again,” he moans, lying down next to me. “Why are you in here?”

  “Bad burrito last night.” We both lie on the floor for the next hour until Jack finally feels well enough to take a shower and get dressed.

  “Wedding is in eight hours.” He stands at in the doorway looking as handsome as ever in his cargo shorts and a white t-shirt. It’s like he didn’t just have the first hangover of his life.

  “I’m so sick,” I cry from the floor, wishing I’d never have gone to that burrito stand with Evan yesterday. “Is Evan sick?” He’d better be; it’s only fair.

  “I dunno, sweetie. I’ll go get you some aspirin and find out.”

  I hear the door open a few minutes later, but it’s not Jack’s flip-flops in front of me, it’s Evan’s chucks. “What the hell? Jack said you’re sick from the burrito yesterday?”

  “You’re not?”

  “Nope… I feel great.”

  “You’re a disgusting human being.” I push his calf in an attempt to force him out of my bathroom.

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because you screw everything.”

  “Oh, come on now… not everything, I have some standards.” His sly smile makes me feel even sicker.

  “I brought you Evan’s hangover cure.” Jack walks in behind Evan. “Come on…” He helps me walk to the bed and sits a tray of burnt toast, juice, and aspirin in front of me. “Eat, and I’m sure you’ll feel better.”

  I don’t. I throw up until Lily forces me to get dressed for the wedding. I sit still like a statue while she fixes my hair and makeup and Jack practically carries me to the beach and down the aisle. I’m just glad I make it through the vows, all the while holding the prettiest trash-can Lily could find, my bouquet taped to the front of it, without having to use it. I manage to save that until just after the ceremony. Then miraculously, as quickly as it comes on, it’s gone.

  “That was a miserable time, wasn’t it?” Jack asks the next morning as we pack up our bags to go home.

  “Yes. I hope I didn’t ruin Lily’s day?”

  “She’s as happy as she’s ever been, Ems, so it’s safe to say you haven’t.” He walks over to me, pulling me away from my suitcase and out to the balcony with him. “I heard what you said last night about wanting to get married on the beach.”

  For a second my heart stops and my ears turn scalding hot. “You did?” Why did I mention it out loud? Every girl knows not to mention marriage first. It only scares guys away.

  “I did. I agree… It would be perfect.”

  “It would?” My heart is racing in my chest, wondering if he’s going to ask me to marry him.


  “Well… Without the food poisoning and the hangover, yes.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I don’t know if I’m there quite yet, but it’s definitely an idea for the future.”

  My heart sinks a bit, and I have to force my face to not show the disappointment I’m feeling knowing this is not him proposing. Not that I was ever really expecting it, but a girl can dream.

  “Definitely a great idea for then.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Present Day

  Downtown Portland, Oregon

  The Wedding Day

  “Everybody up!” Hannah is storming my room, pulling open the curtains and inviting the rare Portland sunshine to invade my space.

  “What time is it?”

  “7 am.” She stands next to the bed waiting for me to pull the blankets off my face. “I’m getting married today! We have a ton to do so get up!”

  “What do we have to do that can’t get done in the next twelve hours?” She yanks the blankets off me as I say it.

  “Just come downstairs and don’t ruin my day.”

  She disappears through the door as I sit up on the side of the bed trying to wake up. “What? I’m not even in the wedding party,” Lily objects from her room next door.

  I throw on a bra, because when you have C-sized boobs no bra is a no-go, before heading downstairs to the smells of heaven wafting my direction. A man in a black jacket and black chef’s hat greets me with a wave.

  “Good Morning, miss. Is there anything I can prepare for you this morning?”

  “Prepare for me?”

  “Yes, Miss Cabot has hired me to feed you throughout the day. Whatever you’d like I can accommodate.”

  “You can make me whatever I want for breakfast?” I ask, knowing this is a bad deal for my imaginary weight loss plan.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He nods his head enthusiastically.

  “Um… What do you suggest?”

  “I have an omelet that most clients love.”

  “Let’s do it… And for your information… I love cheese. I’m not one of these dieting girls you normally cook for.”

  He smiles, showing all his teeth. “My favorite kind of girl. I’ll bring it out to you as soon as it’s done.” He nods towards the counter filled with everything needed for gourmet coffee or hot chocolate. “Help yourself to some coffee if you’d like.”

  “That I will.”

  “Oh good, there you are.” Hannah looks panicked already and we’re still many, many hours away from the wedding. “Listen, as soon as you’ve eaten I need you to shower, because the spray tan lady will be here at nine.”

  “Spray tan lady?”

  “Yeah, you’ve never had one?” She watches me shake my head. “Oh, it’s so cool, she actually brings all the equipment right to the house and does it here. It’s quick and subtle, and when it’s over you’ll glow like you just got back from somewhere tropical.”

  I’ve never had a spray tan before, and I’m a little nervous with my natural skintone being not much darker than the color of snow. What if something goes wrong? No, it can’t, people do this all the time with no issues.

  “OK,” I say with a shrug of the shoulders, while I pour a little too many coffee flavors into my cup.

  By the time I get to the table Mr Chef is following me over with a plate heaped full of cheesey goodness. “Your omelet, Miss.”

  “Are you going to eat that?” Greta comes sauntering into the room and takes the chair across from mine. “Do you have any idea how many calories are in something like that?”

  “I do, actually.” I nod my head pretending I don’t hate her.

  “Those are calories you definitely don’t need.”

  “I do, though. I’m not trying to put on a show for the whole world. I actually enjoy life, and food.” I shove a giant forkful of eggs and cheese into my mouth as she watches in disgust.

  “No wonder you lost Jack.”

  “I didn’t lose him. For your information, I dumped him. If anything, you should be thanking me.”

  “Why would I thank you?”

  “Because without me, you’d not be wearing my old ring.”

  I watch her glance down at her ring and purse her lips together. “Whatever. Where’s Hannah?”

  I intentionally fork another pile of eggs into my mouth and shrug my shoulders at her.

  “Oh good! May, you’re here. The girl you recommended will be here any minute, maybe you could do your tan first since you’re ready to go?” Hannah glares at me over Greta’s shoulder as if I’m not eating fast enough. Does she honestly think I’m going to rush eating the best omelet I’ve ever tasted? I think not.

  “Sure! I’d love to. Isn’t she great?” I watch the two of them walk off together, chit-chatting as if they’ve been best friends forever, leaving me in peace to eat my delicious omelet.

  When I’m finally done with my second omelet I head upstairs to attempt the start of getting ready for this wedding. I look through the basket of expensive toiletries Hannah left in my room and grab the shampoo and conditioner before jumping in the shower. I take extra time shaving every part of me that may or may not be exposed today and I can feel my irritation washing away with the conditioner. Maybe all I needed was a good shower? Or maybe it was the omelets.

  “Hey Em, Hannah wanted me to—” Lily stops midsentence as I walk out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around my chest.

  “To what?”

  “What did you do to your hair?”

  “Uh, washed it, don’t act so surprised.”

  “With what?” Her face is anything but amused by my sharp wit.

  “What do you mean? Shampoo… Actually, I used the stuff Hannah left in here.” I point over at the basket of goodies.

  “I don’t think it was shampoo…”

  “Why?” I walk past her back into the bathroom and glance in the mirror. “OH MY GOD! Oh my God, what in the holy fuck?” My once dark ash hair is now a muddy purple color.

  “What’s wrong?” Hannah walks in, her mouth dropping opened in shock. “What did you do?”

  “I didn’t do anything, Hannah, except using the shampoo you gave me.” I point to the basket.

  “Why would it do this?” she asks me, getting closer to inspect it.

  “I don’t know.”

  She grabs the shampoo off the shower shelf and squeezes some into her hand. “It’s purple?”

  “Why is it purple?”

  “You didn’t notice this while you were showering?”

  I watch her squeeze the conditioner into her hand. It is also purple.

  “No… I had my eyes closed, and then I was shaving.”

  “You shower with your eyes closed?” Lily asks.

  “Sometimes, when I’m trying to relax. How do you shower?” I snap at her, wondering why my showering techniques are suddenly to blame for my hair turning purple.

  “Beside the point.” Hannah waves at her. “It’s not so terrible, it’s kind of a purply color. When the hairdresser gets here we’ll just have her fix it.” She forces a deep breath, obviously a little more stressed out than she’s letting on.

  “Right.” I take a deep breath and glance in the mirror. “Of course, she can fix it.”

  “How about right now you go do your tan and then as soon as the hair lady gets here we’ll get your hair fixed?” Hannah is doing her best to stay calm, but her voice keeps cracking when she speaks. I am going to single-handedly completely ruin yet another wedding day.

  I walk towards the den where the tanning lady is supposed to be set up. And, of course, right before I walk in, Greta walks out.

  “Whoa… New hair for the wedding? It’s an odd day to go purple isn’t it?”

  “Funny… Shampoo mishap, that’s all.”

  She nods her head and rolls her eyes.

  When I walk into the room there is a tall tent and next to it is a contraption with hoses coming out of it. It looks more like a science experiment than a tanning booth. />
  “Hi, there! And you are?” A perky girl in super-short shorts and a skin-tight sleeveless top turns towards me.

  “Emi.”

  “Emi! Perfect. I just need you to strip and stand in the tent and do exactly as I say. Have you ever done this before?”

  “No.”

  “It’s easy-peasy, so no worries there.”

  “You want me to strip naked?” I ask, hoping she says no, but fully expecting to hear a yes.

  “Don’t worry, I’ve seen it all before.” She waves a hand at me as if there is absolutely nothing to worry about. There is, though. She just did Greta’s tan – and her naked is a tad smaller, and probably smoother, than my naked.

  “OK.” I shut the den door, lock it and strip down to nothing. “Just in the tent then?”

  “Yup. This is super-quick, maybe ten minutes. Great. I’ll start at your feet and spray upwards so when you feel it on your chest close your eyes lightly and hold your breath for a moment until I’m done with your face. Then I’ll take a second and do another spray then we’ll do your back.”

  “Easy enough.” I stand as she instructs me and she starts to spray a cool mist over my skin.

  “Is that it?” I ask her ten minutes later.

  “Yup.”

  “But it didn’t do anything?” I’m still looking at my ghostly-white skin.

  “It takes a few hours for it to set in. Don’t worry, you’ll be glowing.”

  “I’ll take your word for it.”

  I walk back towards the food bar, which is the last thing I need but secretly I’m hoping it’s time to eat again. Hannah stops me just short enough to smell everything but not see it. “Delilah is here.”

  “Delilah?” I ask, hoping it’s another chef.

  “The hair girl. Actually, Heidi is the hair girl but when I told her our problem she called in a backup to take care of just you.”

  “Great… I look so terrible I need my own team of beauticians.”

  “Not what I mean, she’s setting up in your room. That way no one will wonder why you’re getting special treatment.”

  “Is it really special treatment, though, Hannah? Or it is fixing a problem that might ruin your wedding?”