Today, the girls are in Dallas to go dress shopping for Riley. Her whole wedding date is depending on finding a dress, so she sets up the first appointment and tells us all to make time. It’s been a few days since the dinner where Colt and I told everyone about us, and things are still going well.
Today Riley had me, mom, Megan, and her friend Lilly here to help pick out dresses. This is the kind of place that pampers the bride to be and gives champagne out. Riley says she plans to spend the afternoon with us, so I’m kind of excited.
I guess Riley had been on the phone with the dress consultant because she has a few dresses pulled to try. They hang on a rack in the room we’re brought to.
After we introduce ourselves, the dress consultant asks Riley what she is looking for in her dream dress.
“Well, I want something that is a little boho, a little country. I plan to wear cowgirl boots and I don’t like tulle.”
“Okay, I have a few dresses pulled from talking to you on the phone. I’d like all of you to look around and pull a few dresses you think Riley would like, then you can peek through and decide what to try on.”
We all walk through the store and thirty minutes later, Riley is trying on her first dress. She steps out and while she looks beautiful, I know this isn’t the dress, but I want to see what she says. She steps up in front of a three-way mirror and looks herself over.
“What do you guys think?” she asks.
No one says anything, so I speak up, “I can tell by your face it isn’t the dress.”
“No, it’s not.”
This process repeats but when she steps out in the sixth dress, my jaw drops. I watch her face light up as she looks in the mirror.
“Oh Riley, that’s the dress. You look stunning,” Mom says.
The dress consultant takes her cue and gets a veil to place on Riley, and I look her over. She’s in an A-line dress made of chiffon with a ruched, off the shoulder, short sleeves. While it’s floor-length, there are different layers to the bottom of the dress. It’s very flowy and completely Riley.
“Who picked this one out?” the dress lady asks.
“That was me,” Lilly says, and I watch Riley’s eyes water.
“It’s perfect. The girl who gave me the start to a new life, picked the dress to start it in. Sage, take my phone and get a few pictures, please.”
I decide to text Blaze.
Me: Your girl found her dress. Blaze, she looks stunning.
Blaze: God, I can’t wait to marry her. When will the dress be ready?
I listen in to the conversation between the dress girl and my mom, who insists on buying the dress for Riley. The dress needs a few alterations, but it will be ready in about three weeks.
Me: Four weeks. But, Blaze, this girl has been through a lot. I know you want to be married, but she’s so happy today. Give in on this. Let her take some time and plan this wedding.
I see the three bubbles pop up and go away multiple times before his response comes.
Blaze: You’re right. I want her to be my wife so bad, but I want her to enjoy this too. I want it to be perfect.
Me: I promise to do everything I can to make your day perfect. You both deserve it.
Blaze: Thank you, Sage. You will get your day soon if the way Colt looks at you is any indication.
I can’t help but smile.
Me: I hope so, but we’re taking it slow.
Riley interrupts me, saying she wants to check out a few shops for some wedding décor while we’re in the city, so we head out from store to store then decide to have dinner before driving back.
Since Mom has driven us, she is a bit hesitant to stay out too much later, but Lilly steps in, offering to drive home since she drives these roads all the time being a truck driver. We agree. I decide to spoil Riley and take everyone to dinner at the Reunion Tower Restaurant owned by Wolfgang Puck. It has a bird’s-eye view of the city, and the food is amazing.
Everyone is excited as I use an app to get us a table, and we’re seated right away. I expect the conversation to go to Riley and the wedding, so I’m shocked when Riley asks about Colt.
“So, how are things with Colt?” Riley asks.
I smile. “Good.”
“Come on, it’s girls night. Give us more than that,” Mom says.
“He was an amazing teenager, but as a man… Wow. He isn’t the unsure boy figuring things out as we go anymore. He’s this man who knows what he wants and won’t let anything stop him from getting it. He’s protective and strong, but he still remembers my favorite ice cream and how I like extra gravy on my meatloaf.”
I shake my head and look around the table. Everyone is smiling. “You’re in love,” Mom says.
I look down at my lap. “I’ve always been in love with him. It never went away. I was just able to shove it behind a locked door. Now, he’s back, always there, always touching me. I can’t hide it anymore. I don’t want to. I’m still scared, still second guessing myself sometimes. But I’m not running again.”
They all nod. “Have you, ya know?” Lilly asks.
Mom covers her ears and hums, looking out the window. I laugh. “No, not this time. He’s been very adamant at taking things slow and telling me he wants me to know this isn’t about sex; it’s about us.”
“He’s one of the good ones,” Lilly says.
“He is,” I agree, and Megan taps Mom’s shoulder. She looks around the table.
“There are some things a mom just doesn’t need to know.”
We all laugh then fall into easy conversation about Riley’s wedding. My family is expanding, and I couldn’t be happier.