Read Online Groomless - Part 1 by Sierra Rose - Free Book Online Page B

After the horrible day I had, I’m drinking dinner tonight!”
    “Cheap liquor, I bet.”
    “Hey, don’t judge.”
    “What happened?”
    “Nobody takes me seriously as a model. In a nutshell, I guess that’s it.”
    “Another bad job?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Just think of it as survival, a temporary annoyance. Who hired you?”
    “Some motel chain. They’re using Times Square as the backdrop for their big promotion. I was delegated as a brand ambassador and had to pass out chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate.”
    “That’s not so bad.”
    “In a robe and striped pajamas, with their logo on it?”
    He laughed. “But it gets better. While I was handing out cookies, I had to say, ‘We’ve got the best night of sleep you’ll ever get!’”
    “You’ll get better jobs. I promise,” he encouraged.
    “I want to be a runway model, but that’s not happening. How do you land so many glamorous jobs anyway?”
    “Hey, I paid my dues too.”
    “But you moved up so fast. It’s probably because you’re so gorgeous.”
    “So are you, girl! You’re funny, sweet, smart, and beautiful. You’ve only been here a year. Give it some time. You’re a triple-threat, girl, and you’ve got what it takes.”
    “Aw. Thanks, Zack.”
    “Hey, you want to go to yoga with me? It’s the perfect way to find balance and happiness…and some damn fine hotties in tight pants!”
    “Nah. I’ve got all the balance I need in these drop-dead-gorgeous heels I got on sale last week.”
    They both burst out in laughter.
    After the first dress, I looked in the mirror, then walked out and spun around. “Well? What do you think?”
    “Whatever you do, do not say yes to that dress,” Kate warned, scrunching up her nose in disapproval, as if the dress reeked of rotten sardines or something.
    “You’re right. It has too much bling.”
    “It’s not you.”
    The bridal consultant smiled. “Don’t worry. We’ll find the perfect dress. That’s what we do.”
    “I’ve got all day,” I said, then walked back into the fitting room. When I tried the next one on, it was so gorgeous that I literally teared up looking at it. “This is the one,” I said, my voice filled with awe.
    Kate had tears in her eyes. “It’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen! It’s like it was made just for you.”
    “Don’t make me cry,” I said. “I swear, I’m gonna start bawling. The sad thing is, I’m completely groomless.”
    “That doesn’t matter. This is just the proof that you’ll make a beautiful bride one day.”
    “Thank you.”
    When she lifted the price tag, her eyes bulged. “It’s $10,000!”
    Disappointment flooded my face, for the cost was way outside my budget, my “price point,” as the bridal consultant liked to call it. I couldn’t spend that much for a pretend wedding reception. I had already racked up my credit cards and was living paycheck to paycheck as it was, and I didn’t want my dad to have that exorbitant expense for a faux celebration.
    “How is everything? Do you love it?” the consultant asked, grinning greedily at the thought of her commission.
    “Do you have anything exactly like this, only cheaper?”
    “I do. We have a wide assortment that will fit everyone’s budget. When is the big day?” she asked.
    “August 1,” I said, “right around the corner.”
    “And who is the lucky man?”
    Kate chuckled. “Well, she’s actually had two different offers.”
    “A love triangle, huh?” the woman said. “Which love will win your hand, my dear?”
    I bit my lip hard. “I’m afraid I don’t love either of them.”
    She looked at me, shocked.
    “How can she?” Kate chimed in. “One is a nurse she just met, and the other is gay.”
    “Um, ladies, with all due respect, this is not some sort of prank, is it? Are you sure you’ll need this dress?” she asked, sounding a bit steamed.
    “I’m not getting married,” I said.
    She cocked a brow, even more confused and irritated. “So you