The Fiction of Forever (A Stand By Me Novel Book 2) Read Online Free

too loud and toddler-like, but I cannot help it. Tears threaten behind my eyelids. I will not allow myself to get worked up and ruin this damned beautiful day of being fitted for my wedding dress. I’m wearing Vera Wang and this dress demands some composure.
    Silence.
    “Help?” My pitiful voice is barely a whisper.
    “Are you talking to me?” a female voice says.
    Who else? I think crankily. “Yes.” I struggle to get up from the chair.
    “Can I come in?” she says.
    “Yes. Please.”
    The door swings open and it’s not the clerk from earlier. A very pretty woman my age stands in the open doorway, a pearl encrusted wedding headpiece pinned in her hair.
    She holds out a hand to help me up. “Wow, just wow,” she says. “Your dress is to die for.”
    I take her hand and stand. “Thank you. But you don’t have to help me get undressed. I thought you were the lady helping me earlier. Where did she go?”
    “She probably took a break when she saw me come in. The clerk here hates me. Turn and I’ll get the back.”
    I obey and feel instant relief as she unfastens the hooks. She slides the zipper down.
    “Why would she hate you? You’re a client,” I say and glance over my shoulder.
    I examine the girl closer. Her hair is fire engine red, and she has a tattoo of a moon and some stars across her upper forearm and onto her shoulders. The combination of her pale skin, vibrant hair, and blue tattoos makes her pop like an exciting Fourth of July display.
    She chuckles, the laugh deep and so contagious that I know I’m smiling back.
    “I can’t buy a wedding dress in this place,” she says. “I can’t even afford the headpiece. I only love trying this one on until the day I get married.”
    “Oh.” I’m not sure what to say to that. “So you already have your dress?” She pulls the dress over my head. I’m careful to keep my face away from the fabric. The last thing I need is a makeup spot.
    “Yes, I made my own wedding dress. I do alterations for a living and have an obsession with this veil. It’s crazy expensive and such a waste of money.”
    She hangs my gown on the padded hanger inside the protective dress bag, fluffs out the fabric, and grins. “You’ve got killer taste.”
    “Thanks. So do you.”
    “Adam and I decided to marry in a park near here. We’re renting a pavilion and our friends will be there. It’ll be the best.”
    “A park sounds wonderful.” Soon, I’ll be standing at the altar with Mason in the Diamonds Event Hall, a venue that will hold our five hundred guests.
    “I told Adam that we should elope, but he said he wants to let the world know that I’ll be his one and only forever. He’s kind of passionate like that.” She giggles, a husky sound that hints at all kinds of unsaid things. “I’d do anything for him. And I love my dress, but this veil. Ethereal, don’t you think? But maybe I’ll put some flowers in my hair.” She touches the veil, as if to assure herself it’s still perched on her head. “I won’t waste our savings. We need it for a down payment on a house.”
    “So, you’re a seamstress. I wish I had a talent like that. By the way, I’m Kiley.” I step into my beige slacks as she backs out of my dressing room.
    “Yeah. I’m so rude! I’m Zoey. If you need anything altered, I’m your girl.” She reaches into the bag on her shoulder and pulls out a couple of plain white business cards. “If anything comes up last minute at your wedding, call me and I’ll alter it.”
    “Zoey,” I repeat. “Nice to meet you.” I take the cards. “I’ll give you a call if I need something for the wedding. Thanks.”
    “Good luck. With that dress, you must feel like the luckiest woman alive. I bet your guy won’t know what hit him when he sees you walk down the aisle in it for the first time.”
    “Hm…” I don’t bother to say he’s already seen it. Mason didn’t even say if he liked the dress. Dammit. He was too busy making sure I knew what he