Rain Check on Forever

Molly stared at me like I'd lost it.

"Daphne, don't buy her act. Those cuts were made with a craft knife. She did it on purpose—"

Before she could finish, a bridal shop employee stepped out.

Molly looked at the bridesmaid dress in her hands, her eyes going red. "The wedding dress is already wrecked. What's even the point of trying this on now...?"

I squeezed her shoulder. "It's fine. Go try it on. The wedding's still happening."

The second Molly walked away, Gigi spoke up.

"But a new dress will take at least a month. Your wedding with Mr. Jablon is next week, right?

"This is all my fault. I should've been more careful..."

Mason gave her a small smile.

"It's not a big deal. Don't blame yourself."

Not a big deal.

Don't blame yourself.

The words echoed in my head as I looked at him.

He wasn't standing next to me.

Gigi was.

He never took his eyes off her. There was even a hint of a smile on his face.

As for my wedding dress—the one slashed to pieces—he hadn't looked at it once since we walked into the bridal shop.

Molly walked out in the dress.

The sight of her finally made me smile.

"Molly, you look gorgeous.

"When I get married, you have to wear the hairpiece I gave you with that."

She let out a quiet huff. One look at Mason and Gigi, and the words died on her lips.

The sales associate rolled over a rack of wedding dresses for me to try on.

Mason walked over, automatically reaching for my purse.

I pulled it away and set it on the floor instead.

He stopped short.

Not long after I pulled the fitting room curtain closed, Mason spoke from outside.

"The first dress you picked didn't really suit you.

"It showed off all the wrong places. A mermaid style would look way better.

"So one dress got ruined. Is it really that big of a deal?"

I didn't answer.

A second later, he pulled the curtain open and stepped inside.

He zipped up the back of my dress and let out a quiet sigh.

"It's just a dress.

"Try to be a little more understanding. Don't make such a big deal out of it."

Be more understanding.

There it was again.

When Gigi screwed up the guest list for our engagement party.

When she got drunk at the party and hung all over Mason.

When she showed up at my mom's hospital room without asking and brought mangoes that triggered her allergy.

Every single time, Mason brushed it off with that same detached tone.

"Gigi's new. She doesn't have much experience. Be more understanding."

I shrugged off the arms he tried to wrap around me and let out a slow breath.

"Can you leave?"

Mason watched me for a few seconds.

Then he nodded and walked out.

"Take a minute to calm down.

"I'm driving Gigi back. The office is far, and getting there on her own would be a hassle."

After he left, I sank onto the fitting room couch. The strapless bodice was so tight I could barely breathe.

Molly broke the silence.

"What's going on with you two? You've spent a whole year planning this wedding.

"What is he even thinking?"

I looked down, running my fingers over the stiff fabric as my mind drifted back to the hospital a month ago.

The doctors had said Mom probably wouldn't make it.

She lay in the hospital bed with tears in her eyes.