Free Twisted Reality (Blind Reality #2) by Heidi McLaughlin

pushes me out of the way and exits my trailer. Even though she doesn’t slam the door, I still jump when I hear it latch and rush to my small bathroom to expel the contents of my stomach. Everything I’ve worked for, everything that I’ve achieved with Joey is gone. I don’t care how forgiving or accepting she is, Jules has already ruined enough for Joey and this will be the defining moment.

A fter hanging up with Josh I finally decide to heed his words about getting out of the hotel and enjoying myself. It’s truly easier said than done, but I’m making an effort, even if the alligator pond freaks me the hell out.
    Luckily Josh is picked up every day and taken to set so our rental car is free for me to use, otherwise I’d be hoofing it. Walking does sound better because it affords me the opportunity to stop and smell the roses, but it’s unsafe and the last thing I want to do is put myself in danger or upset Josh.
    Parking along Main Street, I check out the cute little shops along the road. One is a bridal store that I linger outside the big glass window contemplating whether or not I should go in. I don’t know what I’m afraid of with having a real wedding with Josh. We’re already married and having a ceremony with our friends and family wouldn’t be that big of a deal, except I can’t wrap my head around it. Josh doesn’t have much in the means of family so why is it so important to have a big wedding? Surely a party would be enough. Maybe he doesn’t remember that I planned a wedding before. I was weeks away from getting married, only to have my heart ripped out of my chest. I had the perfect dress, flowers, and location. My honeymoon was planned and apartment ready to move into. Some wounds are hard to get over, but I get where he’s coming from. He wasn’t a part of that. He’s not the one who hurt me.
    The door to the store opens and a young woman with her mother come out. In the young woman’s arm is a dress bag, but it’s her expression that catches me off guard. She’s beaming and it’s not an ordinary smile. By looking at her, you can tell she’s happy—that whatever she’s holding in her arms is part of her dream and her mother … well, her smile matches that of her daughters.
    Maybe this is what Josh was talking about, the elation that comes with having a wedding. It’s something neither of experienced and something I’ve always dreamt of. I decide to go in and welcome the cool air inside the store. Actually, it’s a reprieve to be in air conditioning.
    “Hello, how can I help you?”
    “Hi,” I say, shrugging my shoulders. “I was walking by and saw the store and thought I’d come in and look.”
    “When’s your wedding?”
    “We haven’t set a date yet.” I try to play it off as nonchalantly as possible.
    “You’re about a six?”
    “Sometimes a four.” I don’t tell her that when it’s my time of the month I can push an eight. Thankfully we’re not there yet.
    “Have a look and let me know what you want to try on. Is it just you?”
    I look around, wondering if people followed me in. I nod. “Like I said, this is a spur of the moment browsing session.”
    The clerk seems to buy my excuse and lets me look through the gowns without being bothered. The first set that I come to are so intricate and heavy I can’t imagine that they’re at all comfortable. I think that’s what I’d want; something that’s comfortable yet drastically different from what I had before.
    “Cinderella,” I mutter to myself.
    “Oh, her dress is over here,” the sales clerk speaks up, causing me to jump. She takes my hand, as if we’re suddenly best friends, and pulls me toward the back of the store. Before my eyes a dress is pulled from the rack and set out before me.
    “This is an off white version which I find a bit classier.”
    I run my fingers over the beadwork and my hand down over the layers and layers of tulle. I can picture myself being spun around on the dance floor in