Three Girls And A Wedding by Rachel Schurig Page B

it.” (Annie had a tendency to swear when she got excited.)
    “I love it,” Ginny said simply.
“This is the dress I want to wear when I marry Josh.”
    The dress was phenomenal. Fitted
ivory lace hugged the curve of her hips before flowing out slightly below her
knees. The bodice, too, was completely lace, stretching up into thick straps
and dropping away into a low v-neck. A silk champagne sash wrapped around her
tiny waist.
    “How did you have a baby ten months
ago, you whore?” Annie muttered.
    “Jen?” Ginny asked. “What do you
think?”
    My throat was too tight to speak.
Ginny looked perfect. Ridiculously, heart- breakingly beautiful. My best friend—a bride. It took my breath away.
    “It’s perfect,” I finally managed
to murmur. “You’re perfect.”
    I wrapped my arms around her,
loving her so much in that moment, and Annie soon followed suit. We stood there
for a minute, the three of us hugging, before Ginny finally pulled away.
    “Um, guys,” she said, wiping the
tears away from her eyes. “Why the hell are you wearing veils?”

 
    ***

 
    I was pretty proud of myself as we
drove home. I had helped Ginny to find the absolute perfect dress. I had done
it without high-end salons or thousands of dollars—in fact, Ginny’s
designer Jim Hjelm gown set her back exactly four hundred
bucks.
    Kiki may have a glamorous
lifestyle, I decided firmly, but I was more certain then ever that those
trappings, in the end, weren’t the only things that mattered.
    When I got home, there was a
message for me on my phone. Kiki had decided to continue her shopping
elsewhere. Her daddy was going to lend her his private jet after the engagement
party. She wanted me to join her for a weekend shopping excursion in New York
City.
    On second thought, maybe there was
a place for glamour in my life after all.

 
     
    Chapter Ten

 
    ‘Choosing your venue
can be a very complicated undertaking. There are many factors to
consider—location, atmosphere, amenities, food—and don’t forget the
all important matter of price! It is important to consider each of these
factors, but it’s also important to trust your gut. When you find the perfect
place, you’ll know!’— The Bride’s
Guide to a Fabulous Wedding!

 
    I was not looking forward to the
venue selection day. If my experience with Kiki at the dress shops was anything
to go by, that girl couldn’t make a decision to save her life. To make matters
worse, Jason would be joining us. The prospect of spending an entire day with
him made me shudder. But Kiki’s parents would be there today, and I knew Jason
wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to seem vital to the process in their
presence.
    We were supposed to meet at the
Barker house at nine. Jason had arranged for us to tour six different venues,
ranging from a country club to a yacht club. It was going to be an exhausting
day.
    Shortly before nine I pulled up
into the driveway—which was so long it felt more like an actual
street—of the most gorgeous mansion I had ever seen. The house was
sprawling, massive, and very opulent. I suddenly felt incredibly self-conscious
of my somewhat battered Jeep.
    The Barkers and Jason were waiting
beside a sleek black stretch limo. Of course, we would have to travel in style.
I parked and got out of the car, determined not to show how awkward and out of
place I felt. My mother had taught me, long ago, that the key to success was
believing you deserved it. Usually I was pretending more than actually
believing, but the effect was the same.
    “Jen, Jen, hi!” Kiki was shouting
before I could take a step toward her. I marveled, not for the first or last
time, how a grown woman could act so much like a ten-year-old, but I forced the
thought out of my mind and smiled brightly as I approached the group.
    Predictably, Kiki hugged me as soon
as I was within arm’s reach. “Oh, Jen! I’m so excited about today. Aren’t you
excited?”
    “I am!” I agreed. “Jason has