Page 19 of Shameless With Him

And if my fate really fucked me over, I wasn’t going to have a future at all.

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Zoey

“I love weddings.”Amelia sighed from my side, and I barely resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

I was a florist. I loved everything about that special day. However, seeing two of my best friends walking on clouds as they discussed their own nuptials was a bit much, even for me. Not that I begrudged them their happiness. In fact, I was just as excited as they were usually. However, it was when they went all Disney princesses and sighed dreamily into their clasped hands that I wanted to laugh.

“I know you love weddings,” I said, shaking my head.

“Don’t you shake your head at me. One day, you too will be engaged, and you will have bride fever. I didn’t even realize I was going to get bride fever. I honestly don’t know how I feel about it. I’ve become this monster, and I’m not even truly planning the wedding yet.” She wiggled her fingers, her engagement ring sparkling in the light. “I can’t believe two weddings are coming. Other than your sister’s!”

Erin snorted and shook her head, too. “I do not have bride fever.”

Amelia and I met gazes before we burst out laughing.

“What? I did not have bride fever for my first wedding, and I’m not going to have it this time either.”

“First, you were like a zygote the first time you got married,” Amelia started, and I just went back to working on the hand-tied bouquets at my workstation. I had a million things to do, and only a few short hours to get them done. I’d finish on time, but I also needed to focus.

“Nice,” Erin said, her voice a little biting. But still full of love. We were friends, after all. It’s what we did.

“Second, you are already like three notebooks into your wedding planning.”

“Well, that might be true, but we’re all newly engaged, so I’m having fun with it. We haven’t actually started the real planning.”

I closed my eyes and groaned. “Let’s not talk about wedding plans until I’m done with Lacey’s. And then we can work in an orderly fashion on the two of you. How’s that?”

The girls looked at me and frowned.

“Lacey is worse than us?” Amelia asked.

I cringed. “I don’t want to say worse. But that’s because it’s rude.”

“Saying I had bride fever was rude,” Erin said and then laughed. “Okay, you’re right. I didn’t realize I’d become a Bride.” She said the word bride as if it had a capital B and was emphasized.

“You guys are great. And I know you’re both really newly engaged and are having fun with it. When the wedding plans come, I will be right there for you. But please do not have me on speed dial, ready with text alerts that say 9-1-1 when it comes to bridal emergencies.”

“We’re not even close to the date. How does she have a bridal emergency? She afraid she’s going to get a zit on the wedding day?”

I shrugged at Amelia. “Well, I’m sure that will come up too once we get closer to the ceremony. However, right now, she’s worried that they’re not going to have everything we need in the time we need it once she picks her color palette.”

Erin nodded. “It’s going to be a big wedding, and there’s not a lot of time to get everything done with the big move right around the corner.”

“Nope, but she’s a drill sergeant, so we’ll get it done. However, she’s making me be part of every single decision. Even though I don’t have an actual say, I have to be there for it. And I love my sister. I truly do, but I did not realize that I was going to be this much a part of the process when I signed up for this.”

“Did you really sign up for it, or did she sign you up?”

“Touché,” I said, and then the three of us laughed.

“All I know is when we get down to the nitty-gritty for your weddings, I am here for all the help you need. But please don’t need as much help as Lacey does.”

“We won’t be that bad,” Amelia said, then grinned over at Erin. “Maybe. However, we do have to decide on maids of honor.”

“Please don’t make it be me,” I said and then laughed at the affronted looks on their faces. “I’m kidding. Just, you know, don’t be Lacey if I am. I love her, but dear God.”

“I’m pretty sure that you’re going to cross-stitch that on a pillow for your house.”