Fortuitous {WLW}

Chapter Twenty-Two: Dress Shopping

Saylor's POV:

"So, what do you think?" Hadley asks.

I look at her beaming smile, her brown eyes lit up as every sparkle on her dress reflects off of them.

She's stunning.

I think back to moments when we tried on dresses in her mother's closet when we were kids. We practically swam in them, but her eyes were always locked on this ball gown her mother forbid us to touch.

Hadley would stare at it for hours, sometimes making me stare at it with her as she described her perfect wedding.

I remember every detail, we talked about it so much. I often dreamed next to her, what I'd look like, where it would be, who my prince would look like.

We loved talking about our dream weddings. She would get just as excited about my fantasy as I was for hers.

Things were simpler then.

My eyes sting as tears prick them. We were so young, having no idea what life would actually have in store for us. Hadley is chasing her dream and making it a reality, I just wish her Prince 'Charming' wasn't Kyle.

"You're going to make such beautiful bride." I say as a few tears roll down my cheeks.

Hadley begins to cry as well as she steps off the pedestal and wraps me in a hug. I hold her tight, letting her know how proud I am of her because I really am.

Hadley, regardless of her flaws, is so persistent. She has stopped at nothing to make all the dreams that little 9 year old girl wanted, a reality... for the most part.

It almost makes me bitter how easy it seemed to be for her. She found the boy she was going to marry in high school, she didn't have to go through a long list people to figure out what she liked, she found him... as questionable as he may be.

Hadley cries in my arms as well, "you're going to look stunning next to me."

I smile as we part, all of our friends and her mom tearing up as well... everyone except Peyton.

Peyton has been more intense than usual, which is to be expected.

Her eyes watch my every move with intensity, to catch a slip up. I've been careful, not to check my phone, to watch what I say, and how I act. I know I'm under a microscope and the heat from her eyes don't allow me to forget for a second.

Hadley and I part as she brings the dress up to the register, her mom is quick to pull out the money necessary to pay for the piece.

I glance at the other dresses on the rack, imagining what I'd look like in them, wondering what Emerson would wear.

I'd assume she'd want to wear a more masculine fit. Maybe she'd wear a suit, maybe just a dress shirt and pants, or maybe she'd surprise me in a dress.

I smirk slightly at the thought. I imagine an arch out by the ocean, outside of my parent's restaurant. My nieces probably running down the isle, forgetting their main task to toss the flowers, and Asher shyly and nervously holding the rings as he avoids everyone's gaze on him, only focusing on his mom, who would proudly be a bridesmaid.

I wouldn't be a bridezilla because my sister would have no problem sticking up for everything I'd need. Things would go so smoothly, knowing she'd be my biggest advocate and her husband not batting an eye to fix or adjust anything that we'd need.