The soft chime of the doorbell rang through the shop, signaling our arrival. It was one of those days where I didn’t have to think too much, where I could just let go and enjoy being with my friends. It had been a while since I’d done something this... normal. Something that didn’t involve the tangled mess of my life outside these walls.
Leah and Sophie were already ahead of me, bouncing around the racks with far too much energy for a Saturday afternoon. I was still working on my coffee, lingering by the entrance, observing them. Sophie was holding up a shimmering red dress, her eyes wide with excitement.
“This,” she said, looking at herself in the mirror, “is *everything*. I will have every single person at that wedding wanting to talk to me.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And what exactly is your plan after that? Steal the bride’s thunder?”
Sophie grinned, shrugging. “Well, I *am* a force of nature.”
Leah snorted, flipping through another rack of dresses. “Yeah, a force of nature that’s definitely going to get kicked out of the reception after five minutes.”
“Oh, come on,” Sophie pouted. “You guys know I’m just... making an entrance. Let the wedding planners sort it out after.”
I rolled my eyes, stepping forward to join them, but not before catching a glimpse of a dress on the other side of the boutique. It was a soft, elegant shade of navy blue, simple but stunning. My fingers itched to touch it, but I knew better than to get too attached to something I wouldn’t end up wearing.
“Is this wedding even worth all the drama?” I asked, casually looking at a few more options.
Leah shot me a teasing glance. “Do you *ever* have fun, Brianna? It’s just a wedding. You get dressed up, you drink champagne, and you don’t think about anything else. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Sophie immediately chimed in. “Brianna’s idea of fun is having a wine night while reading about art history. Come on, admit it—you’re secretly excited to dress up.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “I don’t even know why we’re bothering. We’re not the ones getting married.”
Leah threw a dress at me, narrowly missing my face. “Exactly! So stop being a buzzkill and *pick a dress*, Brianna. You’ll look great in anything. Trust me.”
I picked up the dress she threw at me, running my fingers over the fabric. “This is a little too... bold for me.”
“Bold is good!” Sophie grinned. “Trust me. You’ll look like you could run the place.”
I shot her a look. “I’m pretty sure I’ll just look like I’m ready for a business meeting in this thing.”
“You don’t *have* to wear business attire,” Leah teased. “But if you’re serious about stealing the show at the wedding, that’s the way to go.”
I shot them both a playful glare, but they just grinned, enjoying the fact that they were getting under my skin. It wasn’t often they could tease me about something, and they knew exactly how to make me squirm.
“You’re lucky I like you guys,” I said, heading toward a changing room. “Let’s just get this over with so I can go back to my quiet, responsible life.”
“Oh, please,” Leah called out after me. “You’re about as responsible as a glass of wine in a hurricane.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. As much as I pretended to be all business, moments like these made me realize how much I needed this—these little moments of normality, where I could just *be*. No mafia ties. No complicated pasts. Just a girl, her friends, and a few dresses.
Inside the changing room, I slipped out of my jeans and into the dress Leah had insisted I try. It was a deep emerald green that clung to my figure in all the right places. I stepped out to show my friends, and their reactions were immediate.
“Oh, my God,” Sophie gasped, her eyes wide. “You look *insane*. That’s it, Brianna. This is the one.”
Leah crossed her arms, eyeing me up and down with a critical gaze. “Yeah, you look hot, but do *you* feel hot?”
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
She took a step forward, hands on her hips, inspecting the dress like a fashion critic. “You look good, but do you *feel* good? Because there’s a difference, Bri. You could look perfect, but if you’re not owning it, then what’s the point?”
I took a deep breath, looking at my reflection in the full-length mirror. The dress hugged my waist, showing off the curves I usually kept hidden under more modest attire. I felt exposed in a way that was unsettling but also exhilarating. Was this really me? Could I pull it off?
“Okay,” I finally said, straightening my shoulders, “I *do* feel good.”
Leah smirked. “I knew it. Now, don’t go getting all shy on us. You’ve got this.”
Sophie clapped her hands. “That’s the spirit! Go out there and steal the bride’s spotlight. It’s *your* time now.”
I laughed, turning back to the changing room. “I’ll let you know how it goes. But first, we need to find something that makes me feel like *I’m* in control of the night, not the other way around.”
Leah leaned against the wall. “And that’s why we love you, Brianna. Always keeping it real.”
I grinned, feeling a little less serious, a little more *me*. For once, it felt nice to just let go and enjoy the little things—like choosing a dress, teasing my friends, and pretending for a night that I wasn’t carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders.
And maybe, just maybe, I’d end up enjoying the wedding more than I thought.
Author's note:
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Little Flame
Romance*MATURE CONTENT* 18+ She's the most beautiful woman the mafia has ever laid eyes on-an ethereal presence with sharp features and a grace that silences every room she enters. Her eyes are captivating, full of mystery and a quiet strength that no one...
