Free #Heart (Hashtag #6) by Cambria Hebert Page B

blinked furiously. “I’m not wearing waterproof mascara,” I hissed low. “Now I’m gonna look a mess!”
    Rimmel laughed. “I’m sure you have an arsenal of products in your bag to fix yourself.”
    “Of course.” I sniffled and waved away the silly makeup talk. “I’ve definitely had a lot of support the past few months, a lot of it from you. You’ve taught me a lot about self-acceptance and how to be the real version of me. Thanks for always being a real friend.”
    Rimmel pushed at her glasses and sniffled. “I’d been wanting to ask you something. I think now is a really good time.”
    “Of course,” I said and dabbed under my eyes.
    “Will you be my maid of honor?”
    Well, there went what was left of my mascara. “Really?” I said, my voice wobbly.
    Rimmel nodded. “There is honestly no one else I’d rather have standing there with me when I marry Romeo.”
    “What about B?”
    Rimmel laughed. “I think he’ll look better in a tux on Romeo’s side than on mine in a gown.”
    “Seriously, though.” I deadpanned. “You should totally ask him to stand on your side. Can’t you just see his face?”
    Both of us dissolved into a bucket of giggles.
    “And the best part is he’d totally say yes because he’d never tell you no!” I added and laughed some more.
    We laughed so hard people started to glance our way, but I didn’t care. It felt so good to laugh.
    Once the laughter subsided, Rimmel groaned. “Speaking of. I haven’t even thought of dresses. Or flowers. Or anything.”
    “I’ve got this,” I said, sitting up. “I can totally help you with everything.”
    “Would you?” Rimmel’s eyes were hopeful. “Because Romeo’s mom is totally on me about everything. What do I want for this? What do I want for that…? That woman is like in total wedding mode.”
    “Things any better between you two?” I asked.
    Rimmel made a face. “I’m trying. But you know…”
    I nodded enthusiastically. “I get it.”
    “I really would appreciate your help. With my mom not here…” Her voice trailed away, and sadness squeezed my heart. I hadn’t even thought about what it must be like for her to plan a wedding without her mother. “And my grandma is so far away. I’ve kind of been on my own with it.”
    “You’re never on your own,” I insisted. “I’m always here. And so is B. And Drew. Trent, too.”
    Her eyes grew soft and she smiled. “Thanks.”
    We launched into a full-fledged wedding planning conversation. From the look on Rimmel’s face every time I brought up another detail, she looked more and more overwhelmed.
    Finally, I sat back and said, “Are you sure you want a big wedding?”
    “Honestly? I’d go to Vegas in a heartbeat. But Romeo wants me to have the fairy tale, and I think his mother would be heartbroken if we didn’t include her.”
    I nodded. I understood that. My mother would be heartbroken if I went off and got married without her. Especially since I’m her only daughter and my brothers are boneheads who will likely never find women to put up with them. But I didn’t say that out loud because I didn’t want to make her feel worse about her own mother not being there. And on that note, I was going to have to come up with some way to make Rimmel’s mother a part of her day. It would mean so much to her.
    “Well, let’s keep it simple, then. We’ll give his mom some things she can control and you can pick out the rest.”
    “Really?”
    “Simple can be very elegant.” I smiled. “I can’t wait to go dress shopping!”
    She grimaced. “Oh, and don’t forget the engagement party his mother insisted on throwing us is next week. I need to come to the boutique and get something to wear. I know she’s gonna have press there. I think she invited the entire NFL.”
    She said the last part with trepidation, and I laughed. “Sounds very formal.”
    Rimmel put her head in her hands.
    “You know what?” I said.
    She glanced up.
    “What you guys