Since I've Been Lovin' You | Happy Lowman/OC (Book 2)

one | Bakersfield

ONE MONTHS AFTER ARREST

"What do you think about this one?" Victoria asked Lyla, holding up a simple white dress, floor length, with just a little bit of lace around the edges.

Lyla shrugged. "I was thinking something shorter. The wedding's going to be at the reservation, and a long one would just get dirty."

"Fair enough." Victoria hung the dress back up and kept looking.

They were at a bridal shop in Stockton trying to find the perfect one for Lyla and Opie's wedding. It was proving to be a bit of a challenge because Lyla's style was very different from Victoria's, and Lyla was also in a mood.

"How's this?" Lyla held one up that seemed to fit the description of what she wanted. Short, scooped neckline, a bit of definition at the waist.

"It's cute. Try it on."

Lyla agreed, and the two women made their way to the dressing rooms. Victoria continued to browse, picking a few more options while Lyla was undressing, throwing them over the door for her to try.

Finally, she plopped down in one of the chairs outside the rooms to wait, pulling out her phone. She had a missed call from Chibs, so she dialed him back and waited for him to answer.

"Where've you been?" he asked without even saying hello.

"Dress shopping with Lyla in Stockton. I checked in with Phil before we left."

"Everythin' alright?"

"Yeah, of course. We're almost finished up here, and then we'll head back." She glanced down at her watch. It was only a little after noon.

"Kozik's on his way down. I thought maybe we could ride out to Bakersfield. Gotta make a drop at Hap's mom and aunt's."

Victoria's stomach did a nervous flip. She hadn't had the chance to meet Mariana Lowman yet, and every time she thought about it, she got anxious. She was the most important woman in Happy's life, he'd said so himself. It was a big deal that she made a good impression.

"Yeah, okay, that would be good," she said, masking the nerves she was feeling.

"Be back as soon as you can. It's a long ride." Chibs hung up, and Victoria let out a breath.

"I hate them all," Lyla said, coming out of the dressing room in her own clothes.

Victoria frowned. "But you didn't even show me one."

"I want to go. Can we just get food instead?"

"Sure, if that's what you want."

Lyla nodded, and they made their way out of the bridal shop with nothing. Victoria glanced over at Lyla every so often from the driver's seat of Gemma's SUV. She was still on house arrest with no use for a car, so for the time being, she'd offered it to Victoria since she didn't have one here. At some point, she would need to make the trip back up to Tacoma to get what she could of her belongings, but her car wouldn't be one of them. It was still in Cameron's name, and she couldn't afford it even if it wasn't.

"Is something wrong?" Victoria asked after they'd driven a few miles through downtown Stockton traffic.

Lyla looked over at her, frowning. "Why?"

"I don't know, you just seem quiet today."

Lyla looked back out of the windshield and went silent. The next thing Victoria knew, Lyla was crying softly, covering her face with her hands. Victoria reached over and placed a hand on her arm, letting her know she was there.