Read Online Dying To Marry by Janelle Taylor - Free Book Online

the seesaws, and Lizzie’s launch into Boy Talk reminded Holly of the old days when the cousins would discuss their crushes for hours in this very spot.
    â€œHe and Jake came into Morrow’s one night about a year ago to watch the Yankees,” Lizzie explained. “They ordered a platter of wings and a pitcher of beer, but instead of watching the game, Dylan kept asking me for things—another napkin, an extra plate. At first I thought he was making fun of me, enjoying ordering me around, waving around his money, but he kept engaging me in conversation, asking me cute questions, complimenting me on this or that.”
    â€œDid he remember you from high school?” Holly asked.
    â€œYup. He said he always thought I was beautiful and vibrant and he always noticed me, but he had a steady girlfriend, Arianna, the quote unquote right girlfriend, and back then he’d been so under his father’s thumb that he hadn’t thought to do anything but toe the line. And then something terrible happened in his family several years ago—I still don’t know quite what—and Dylan said it changed him, he broke free of who he thought he was supposed to be and started being who he was , who he wanted to be. His own person. So he started doing pro bono work, which enraged his mother, he moved out of Dunhill Mansion, and a few months ago, he started dating me.”
    Holly let everything sink in. “So what’s he like?” she asked, and Lizzie’s eyes lit up.
    â€œOh, Holly, he’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of. Romantic. Kind. Sweet. He calls me five times a day for no reason, just to hear my voice. He brings me little gifts—wildflowers that he picked in the woods, a book of photography that he thought I’d like. He makes me feel like the most special person in the world.”
    â€œOh, Lizzie, I’m so happy for you,” Holly said, and meant every word. “You deserve this.”
    Lizzie squeezed Holly into a hug. “He proposed last month, and we decided to do it as fast as we could. In just a few days, we had the invitations printed. It was the happiest day of my life.”
    â€œWell, I’m honored to be your maid of honor, Lizzie. Is the bridal party just the four of us?”
    â€œWell, it would have been five,” Lizzie said, frowning, but—”
    â€œBut what?” Holly asked.
    Lizzie stared down at the ground and didn’t answer.
    â€œLizzie?”
    â€œI asked Dylan’s sister to be a bridesmaid. But Pru declined,” Lizzie explained. “I asked her in person, too. I told her I’d be honored if she’d stand up for me as one of my bridesmaids, and—” Lizzie took a deep breath.
    Holly let her cousin take her time. Clearly, this was painful for her.
    â€œPru just stared at me for a moment, and then she laughed. She actually laughed, right in my face. ‘You’re not serious,’ Pru said. ‘You can’t possibly be serious.’ And then she walked away.”
    Holly’s mouth hung open. “That bitch.”
    â€œHolly ...”
    â€œHow dare she!” Holly growled. “Did you tell Dylan?”
    â€œI prettied it up for him,” Lizzie said, “but he got the idea. He was upset about it and said he was going to have a word with her. I told him it was okay, that we might never be friends, and he said that Pru and I were going to be family and that his sister had better start showing me respect.”
    â€œHas she?” Holly asked.
    â€œIf dirty looks and innuendos could be construed as respect,” Lizzie said, then giggled. Clearly nothing could sink her buoyant mood.
    Holly shook her head. “Well, you don’t need Pru Dunhill. You’ve got your three best friends as your bridal party.”
    Lizzie hugged Holly. “C’mon. Let’s go. I can’t wait to show you my house!”
    They hopscotched to the end of the walk as they