Free Groomless - Part 1 by Sierra Rose

don’t even need a dress?”
    “Yes, for my reception.”
    “She wants to wear it when she is with her friendly, hot, gay fake groom,” Kate said. She then looked at me and asked, “Or are you having second thoughts and are thinking about taking the nurse?”
    “I’ve known the nurse for two minutes,” I said.
    “You’re right. You can’t base a fake marriage on a two-minute rendezvous. Stick with the gay best friend.”
    “I’m sorry, but I’m quite lost here,” the bridal assistant said. “Do you or do you not need a dress?”
    “She’s having a reception, with a DJ and cake and the whole nine yards, so yes, she needs a dress. She’s really only missing one thing.”
    “And what’s that?” the woman asked.
    “A groom.”
    “Then she should wait.”
    “No she shouldn’t,” Zack said. “The groom is ready and waiting!”
    The bridal assistant looked at Zack, who stood six feet tall, with a powerful chest, massive arms and legs, and a lean waist. He had brown hair and amazing green eyes. It was obvious that she was mesmerized by him, and it was no surprise that his career was taking off; he was one of the hottest models in all of New York, and he landed many high-paying, classy gigs that Kate envied.
    “Have we met?” the woman asked.
    “He’s a model,” Kate whispered. “He’s on the billboard in Times Square.”
    We went on to fill the woman in on the entire story, then tried on more dresses.
    Wedding dress shopping was fun but also a little tough. I really wanted my mother’s approval, but she wasn’t here. Years had passed, but the pain of her loss was still a fresh wound for me, and not having her there was difficult and emotional. We had always talked about that special day, and planning it without my mom by my side made me a little sad, even if the whole thing wasn’t real. I missed her, and I was so lost without her guidance and love. I felt the loss so deeply. She would never meet the man of my dreams, if he even existed.
    The consultant gave me a dress she recommended, and while Zack totally onboard with it, I absolutely hated it.
    “I don’t think I’ll like this one,” I told her.
    “C’mon. Give it a try. It’s one of my favorites, and it’s on sale,” Zack pleaded.
    Not wanting to disappoint Zack, I stuffed myself into it, only to find that it was about three sizes too small. The consultant tightened the corset, like they did for the Southern belles in Gone with the Wind , and I walked out, practically suffocating,
    “That looks a little tight,” Kate said. 
    “A little?” Zack said.
    The bell dinged as another customer walked in, and I realized I didn’t want to be putting on an embarrassing show for strangers.
    “I can’t breathe,” I said.
    When I turned in a circle, Zack about died laughing.
    “What?” I said.
    “I don’t know how to explain it any other way, honey, but crack kills. You’ve got the plumber thing goin’ on back there, practically from your bottom to your shoulders.”
    Kate covered her mouth with her hand as a big smile crept over her face.
    I let out a long sigh. “I’m trying something else on.”
    “Julia!” a familiar voice called out.
    I turned around and found myself staring into the eyes of a past lover. My head began to spin.
    “Luke?
    What do I do? Gosh, what do I do?
    It had been so long since I’d seen him, and even though I’d thought about him from time to time, I had never imagined I’d actually see him again. Just the sight of him lured all sorts of memories and feelings to the surface, and even if I didn’t want to think about them at that moment, standing in a corset in a bridal shop, there was nothing I could do to stop that flood of emotions.
    He seemed taller, and my memory scrambled to readjust, to accept that the man before me was really just the boy who’d left me. He was dressed in a black suit that fit impeccably, as if it was tailored for his male physique, and it made him look sharp and elegant.