On the first Saturday in March, all the bridesmaids met Crystal at the All Things Wedding boutique. Finding her wedding gown was my sister’s main goal, but selecting our bridesmaid dresses—in a lovely shade of pink—was also high on the agenda. I’d never cared much for pink, but I vowed to keep my opinions to myself, at least in my sister’s presence.

We arrived promptly at ten. Well, all but Sienna, who was noticeably absent. She came meandering in several minutes later with a massive shopping bag in her hand.

“Sorry!” She giggled. “I just can’t come to the mall without going to the shoe store. They have the best sale going on right now. Aren’t these adorable?” She pulled out a shoe box and opened it to reveal some strappy sandals with high heels. Very, very high heels.

“Shoedipity.” Cassie whispered the word in my ear. When I turned to give her a curious look, she added, “Wearing ridiculously uncomfortable shoes just because they look good.”

I bit my tongue to keep from laughing.

“They’re cute shoes, Sienna,” Crystal said. “But we really need to stay focused. Today’s all about the wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses, remember? We can talk about shoes another time.”

“Right, right.” Sienna gave the shoes another glance and then closed the lid on the box and pressed it back into the shopping bag. “What did I miss?”

You missed being on time, I wanted to say. But didn’t.

“We’re just about to start the hunt for my dress,” Crystal said. “Mama and Grandma are going to be here in a few minutes. This is a special day for all of us, and I really want to—”

“Oh, look!” Sienna squealed. “It’s Derrick and the other guys!”

Through the opening between the bridal salon and the tuxedo shop, I could see all the groomsmen standing with Phillip.

Sienna let out a whoop and took off running in their direction.

“So much for telling her what’s on the schedule.” Crystal sighed. She walked over to Phillip and gave him a kiss on the cheek, then whispered something in his ear.

Phillip’s gaze shifted to Sienna, who stood entirely too close to Derrick. Not that Sienna appeared to care. Her gaze never left the good-looking baseball player. On and on she rambled, her animated voice traveling the distance over tuxedos and bridal gowns.

Derrick’s eye caught mine. He waved and called out, “Morning, Southpaw.” I couldn’t much tell what he said next because Sienna reached to touch his face—Really? Who does that to someone she barely knows?—and turned him, literally, back to her. I remained in the bridal shop, deliberately keeping my distance. Well that, and responding to the snide comments from the other bridesmaids, who all took aim at Sienna. I couldn’t stop thinking about her hand on Derrick’s face. A wave of jealousy washed over me, but I did my best to push it aside.

Minutes later Crystal dragged the reluctant maid of honor back into the dress shop, but the giddy young woman couldn’t stop chattering. “Ooh, Derrick is going to look great in a tuxedo. Almost as good as he does in his uniform. Speaking of his uniform, he’s got a game in just a few hours. I asked if he could get us tickets, but he didn’t answer. Do you think I should text him and ask again? Of course, I’d have to ask Phillip for Derrick’s number. Do you think he’d give it to me? Ooh, I hope so. Maybe Derrick will get me seats near the dugout. That would be amazing.” Off she went, talking about her impending trip to the ballpark.

Crystal clapped her hands together, just a few feet in front of Sienna. “Sienna.” When the chattering didn’t stop, she did it again. “Sienna!”

Sienna startled to attention. “W-what? What, Crystal?”

“We’re not here to talk about Derrick. We’re not here to talk about baseball. We’re not here to talk about shoes.”

“My shoes!” Sienna looked around, her eyes widening. “What did I do with my new shoes?”

I pointed to the floor, where she had dropped the shopping bag before running to the tuxedo shop. She picked it up and hugged it to her chest. “Oh, thank goodness. I’d hate to lose these. They cost me a fortune, even on sale.”

“Sienna.” My sister crossed her arms at her own chest. “Do you even remember why we’re here?”

“Well, duh. To try on dresses that are going to make us look fat.” Sienna rolled her eyes.

Crystal’s jaw clenched. “We’re also here so you can help me choose my wedding dress. Remember?”

“Your dress? Isn’t that why your mama and grandma are coming? I thought we were here to pick out bridesmaid dresses. And by the way, I can’t stay long. I have to be at the tanning salon in an hour.”

Crystal groaned. “Mom and Grandma are coming, yes. But I need other opinions too. You are my . . . Maid. Of. Honor. Sienna.”

I loved the way my sister stressed those last few words.

“Right, right. But just so you know, it’s not my shift. I’m working on my tan so I’ll look good in my bridesmaid dress. So, really, it’s all for you.”

Crystal groaned again, this time with an added, “Ugh.”

Sienna didn’t seem to notice Crystal’s distress. She appeared to be more than a little distracted by the guys. She turned to give Derrick a little wave, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he and the other guys disappeared behind a group of mannequins. Thank goodness. Now maybe Sienna would pay attention.

My mother and grandmother arrived a couple of minutes later. Crystal headed off with them to start looking at wedding gowns and left Sienna in charge of bridesmaid dresses. Great. Just what we needed—Sienna making the selections.

We looked at a variety of dresses in pink, but the irritated maid of honor turned up her nose at every one. “I don’t want to look like a big ball of cotton candy.” She groaned as she held up a floor-length gown in a soft shade of pink. “Ick.”

“But that’s the color Crystal wants.” Why did I even have to argue this point?

“And the bride always gets her way.” Cassie gave Sienna a stern look.

“Always.” Gillian emphasized the word with a nod.

Sienna’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Unless some clever bridesmaids convince her otherwise. You know what I mean?”

“Um, what do you mean?” Brianna’s gaze narrowed. “You’re up to something, Sienna.”

“Are you saying we need to somehow change her mind?” I shook my head. “That’s not going to happen. She’s wanted a pink wedding for as long as I can remember. We’re not going to ruin this for her.”

“Did I mention I look terrible in pink? It totally washes me out.” Sienna rolled her eyes. “And anyone who’s anyone knows this season’s hot color is teal. You girls can talk her into that.” Sienna launched into a lengthy dissertation about how great teal looked against her tanned skin, but she lost me a few words into it. I would not be sucked into this game, no matter how much manipulation she used.

“Nope. We’re not going there.” I glared at Sienna.

She stopped cold and stared at me. “Huh?”

“We’re not going there. My sister’s going to have what she wants. End of discussion.” I pointed to the rack of pink dresses and pulled out a really cute mid-calf gown in a shade of pink that had suddenly grown on me. “I think Crystal will love this one. What do you girls think?”

With the exception of the cranky maid of honor, everyone agreed.

Soon we had plowed our way into the changing rooms and emerged, a quintet of—I admit—silly-looking, bubblegum-pink bridesmaids. Well, not exactly a quintet. Sienna slugged her way out of the changing room with a scowl on her face.

Crystal loved the dresses and pronounced them, “Amazing! Perfect! Just what I always dreamed of!” Likely she didn’t see the somber look on her maid of honor’s face. Not that it would’ve mattered, anyway. My sister was far too busy narrowing her list of potential wedding gowns.

I slipped out of my bridesmaid dress and back into my jeans and T-shirt. Then I joined the other girls to watch as Crystal tried on dress after dress. Mama sat nearby, tissue in hand so she could dab her eyes, which she did repeatedly.

My grandmother, ever practical, shook her head a lot.

Until she saw the gown. From the minute my sister appeared in the gorgeous princess gown with full tulle skirt and Austrian crystal bodice, my mother and grandmother could scarcely speak a word. They were too busy wiping their eyes and sniffling. I found myself sniffling a little bit too.

So, I was surprised to see, was Sienna. In a moment of endearment, I slipped my arm around her shoulders and whispered, “It’s perfect, isn’t it?”

She shook her head and whispered back, “Perfect? Are you kidding me? It’s the farthest thing from perfect. I look awful in pink.” She rolled her eyes and then pulled out a tube of lipstick and smeared it across her pouty lips.

I pulled my arm away at once and did my best not to groan aloud. If this girl didn’t take her eyes off herself—and Derrick—this irritated southpaw might just have to throw her some fastballs and strike her out.