Free Inside Out by Lauren Dane Page B

struggling because then Elise didn’t want to choose a dress that would stretch Ella’s budget.
    In the end, they’d chosen the more expensive dress that Elise wanted for them originally, and she’d agreed to let it be a gift while also putting a lot more energy into the planning of the party and wedding as her way of saying thank you.
    “You look so pretty. The dress fits you perfectly and makes you look all hubba hubba and stuff.” Elise sidled up to Ella and put her arm around her shoulders.
    “I don’t know how I let you talk me into this dress.” She looked at her reflection and then back to Elise. “And speaking of pretty, good lord, Elise, you look amazing.”
    “ Pffft. I look fine. Brody’s gonna love this dress because my boobs are on display. You know how he feels about boobs.”
    Ella snorted. “I’m pretty sure it’s a basic male preference. Most of the time anyway.”
    Raven came into the room, the scratchy velvet of her voice filled with concern as she spoke to Erin.
    Elise and Ella’s eyes met in the mirror. “She’s really good to Erin, you know. And she loves Brody,” Elise murmured.
    “Not in that way,” Ella said, then remembered that moment with Cope earlier when he’d said the same thing.
    Elise laughed. “Doesn’t matter if she does. She can’t have him.”
    “You make him happy when you make an effort with her.”
    “Don’t tell her this, but she’s not half bad once she stops being such a bitch. It’s just that for her, apparently it takes like two years to warm up to a new person. She and I actually had a fifteen-minute conversation wherein not a single bit of sarcasm or biting commentary was used. I don’t think we’ll ever be as close as you and I. And there’s only one you, so there’s good reason for that. But I think we’re beginning to achieve some genuine like for each other.”
    Elise put her head on Ella’s shoulder a moment; the tenderness of the gesture made Ella reach up to squeeze Elise’s hand. “Thank you for being my friend. Truly, Elise, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
    Elise sniffled. “You’re going to make me cry. Stop it. Rennie will be here shortly and then Brody and there’ll be more tears.”
    “Time to face the makeup music,” Raven called from the other room.
    “Onward and upward.” Elise dabbed her eyes with a tissue and headed out into the room where Raven was.
    Raven had a huge train case opened up and set on a table near the large wall of windows. “Elise, you first. Adrian just poked his head in to say Brody was on his way to pick up Rennie and your parents, so let’s get you set so you’re ready when they arrive. There’s a photographer milling around down there too.”
    Elise sat in the chair, and Raven began to work on her.
    “I think you should put hot rollers in your hair, Ella. So it’s all sleek and poofy without looking like you’re rushing a sorority. There are some on the counter in the bathroom already heated up. You know, just in case you decided you needed them. I like to be prepared like a Boy Scout.” Erin smiled sweetly.
    “You’re bossy.”
    “I know. But I’m pregnant, and no one is going to stop me. This here’s what’s called taking advantage. You’ll look pretty either way, but why not knock Cope off his feet?”
    With a snort, Ella opened the door for Todd who, true to his word, brought a sandwich in for Erin.
    “It smells way better in here than any other place in the house. Can I stay?” He looked to Erin, trying to appear pitiful, and Ella laughed, heading into the bathroom to deal with those curlers.
    She watched them in the mirror, laughing when Ben strolled in, tossed a bakery bag to Erin and then got on the bed on her other side. “If he gets to stay, I do too.”
    Some time later, Raven did her makeup, even doing something to Ella’s hair to keep it smooth and in place.
    “You’re good at this.” Ella looked at the other woman. “Thank you.”
    “My aunt ran a