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  Natalie turned and glared at him. “It is a big deal,” she argued. “Harper already annoys the crap out of me and picks on me all the damn time. Now I just handed her ammunition.”

  Jayce put the remote down, took the phone from her hand and looked at the picture. He let out an appreciative whistle. “Nice one, babe. You know I love the red lace.”

  She smacked his arm. “This is serious!”

  But he laughed. “It’s really not, Nat. You need to chill out. You’ll see Harper on Saturday while you’re out shopping for gowns and you’ll make light of it to show that it’s not a big deal to you and then just move on. If she knows it doesn’t bother you, then there’s nothing she can do.”

  “But it does bother me!”

  He let out a patient sigh. “Natalie, things like this happen all the time. You guys go shopping together and go to the gym together all the time. Your friends have seen you in your underwear. It’s not like you’re doing anything sexual or obscene in the picture. Now if you had sent her the one where you were sprawled out on the bed and using the…”

  She put her hand over his mouth. “Don’t! Just…don’t even bring that up. You know I hate that word.”

  “It’s a vibrator, Nat. And again, it’s not a big deal.” He pulled back and looked at her. “Why are you freaking out so much over everything? Why are you in such a mood?”

  Jumping to her feet, she cried, “Because I had a romantic night planned for us! I made a lovely dinner and we were going to eat by candlelight and you were supposed to bring home the wine! Afterwards, we’d go into the bedroom and…and…”

  The sigh he let out next wasn’t quite so patient. “Is this some sort of weird anniversary I don’t know about?”

  She frowned. “No.”

  “Some sort of holiday or special occasion I forgot?”

  “No.”

  He thought for a minute and then began to smile. “Oh…you were hoping we’d do the whole wedding night thing, weren’t you?”

  Unable to help herself, she blushed. “Well, maybe…”

  Jayce stood and placed a light kiss on her cheek. “I don’t have a problem with that but…after the game, okay?”

  “After…? Wait, what?”

  He walked over to the corner of the room and pulled out one of their snack tables. “Can we eat in here? It should be over by ten. We can do…” The referee’s call on the TV grabbed his attention for a minute before he finished. “We can do your…wedding night thing after that.”

  Natalie willed herself not to cry.

  She watched as her husband sat back down on the sofa and yelled nonsensical insults at the TV.

  “Bring me a beer too, Nat. Okay?”

  He didn’t even look at her as he asked.

  Slowly, she turned and went to the kitchen. She pulled an apron out of a drawer and put it on to protect her dress. With an efficiency she was known for, she made up Jayce’s plate and made it look like something out of a gourmet food magazine. When everything looked perfect, she went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of beer, then poured it into one of the mugs he liked to keep on ice.

  Wordlessly, she served him.

  He offered a distracted word of thanks but that was it. She shot a glance at the TV and mentally willed it to fall off the wall or for the cable to go out or…or…something! Of course, neither of those things happened, and she made her way back to the kitchen where she prepared her own plate of food and sat down at the table alone.

  It was happening, she thought to herself. They were becoming one of those couples who are more like roommates than husband and wife. The honeymoon was clearly over. When a man doesn’t seem upset over his wife sending sexy pictures to someone else – even if it was a friend and by mistake – then what did that say for their marriage?

  Her appetite was gone and she pushed the plate aside, fighting the urge to simply throw the whole damn thing against the wall.

  All her work. All the time and effort she put into planning a perfect night for them and look at where it got her? Eating alone while Jayce watched some ridiculous game on TV. Maybe Harper was right - being involved with a sports fan should be a deal-breaker.

  How on earth was she supposed to face Harper in the morning? They had Zumba and then dress shopping and probably lunch after that…ugh. It was going to be beyond mortifying. Jayce could be on to something, however. Maybe if Natalie just laughed and played it off like one big “oops” – which it totally was – then they could just move on and forget about it.

  Maybe.

  Hopefully.

  “Babe! Can you bring me the salt?” Jayce called from the living room.

  She was tempted to tell him to get it himself, but weren’t they already on a slippery slope? Did she really want to give him even more of a reason to put some distance between them?

  The answer was a bold and definitive no.

  With a sigh, she stood up, took off her apron and smoothed her dress. Head held high, she walked into the living room and put the salt shaker on Jayce’s table then turned and walked away.

  He never uttered a single word.

  At least not to her.

  Just the television screen.

  Back in the kitchen, she threw the remnants of her meal in the trash and then scrubbed the entire room until it sparkled. Cleaning made her feel good, accomplished. By the time she was done, she was tired and no longer feeling sexy or romantic. Without a word, she bypassed the living room and went up to her bedroom.

  She slipped off her dress and hung it up.

  She peeled off her sexy underwear and put the garments in the hamper.

  Going to her dresser, Natalie picked out one of her most well-worn night shirts – one she hadn’t worn in almost a year – and slipped it on. Moving around, she turned out the bathroom light, closed her bedroom door and crawled into bed. Her Kindle was sitting on her nightstand so she picked it up and scrolled through her selection of books until she found something that appealed to her.

  A murder mystery.

  Seemed fitting right about now.

  She fluffed her pillows and made herself comfortable, then began to read. The story was gripping, the characters were well-defined and soon she found herself deeply engrossed in the story. When she could no longer hold her eyes open, she put the Kindle down and stretched. It had to be close to ten, right? She thought. But when she turned and looked at the clock, she saw she was wrong.

  It was after midnight.

  And Jayce never came looking for her.

  A tear rolled down her face as she reached to turn out the light.

  Her last thoughts as she lay down and pulled the blankets up around her were of how tomorrow, while she was shopping with Julianne and the girls, she’d keep her opinions to herself. After all, what difference did it make if you had the perfect wedding when your marriage was certainly less than perfect?

  Four

  “Good morning! I’m Julianne and this is Zumba! Do we have any first-timers here today?” Julianne asked as she began her spiel. Several people raised their hands. “Awesome! I am so glad you decided to join us today! This is a cardio dance class but don’t worry if you don’t have any dance experience – you don’t need any. And don’t worry if you don’t pick up the steps right away because we’ve all been there!”

  The class started and Kayla looked around, wondering where Harper was. It was Saturday, right? She had gotten to the gym late and didn’t have time to ask Julianne so she was curious. Beside her, Natalie was doing her thing and dancing to Julianne’s instructions but she seemed a lot more reserved than normal too.

  What the hell was going on this morning? Everything just seemed…off.

  By this point, she and Harper would begin their cha-cha toward the back, but now Kayla wasn’t sure what to do with herself.

  “Where’s Harper?” she whispered to Natalie.

  Beside her, Natalie nearly tripped over her own two feet and then replied, “Um…I don’t know. I haven’t
seen her.”

  “Oh. Okay.” So…no new information there.

  Maybe she was sick? Or maybe she was running late too?

  Kayla had planned on calling in sick this morning – actually, she felt sick ever since she left Adam’s office the other day. And rather than drag her happy friends down with her sad tale of getting dumped, she sat at home and had a pity party.

  There were many, many pints of Ben & Jerry’s, pizza, burgers and way too much Starbucks.

  So really, she needed this class this morning.

  Like really, really…

  “You guys are doing great!” Julianne called out. “Put a little extra pop in that hip action! Come on!”

  Kayla had no extra pop in her. She was totally dragging ass and if she thought she could get away with it, she’d slink to the back of the room and out the door.

  And to the nearest Krispy Kreme.

  Okay, that was enough. It wasn’t helpful and it wasn’t going to change anything. So Adam ended their relationship. So what? It wasn’t as if they were in love and planning a future together. They were casual. They were sex buddies. Nothing more, nothing less. Sure, she was going to miss him and the time they would spend together, but he wasn’t the only man on the planet. She could totally go out and find someone to hang out with, hook up with and just…be with. People did it all the time.

  Glancing over at Natalie, she thought about her and her husband. They obviously met at some point in time and gave it a go. True, they were both of that forever variety – gravitating toward marriage from their first kiss, no doubt.

  Just the thought of that was enough to make her break out in a cold sweat.

  And then there was Jules and Gavin. They’re making it work. They’re not joined at the hip and they have a great relationship. They were another forever kind of couple but…

  Where the hell was Harper?

  Harper would be the perfect one to talk to because, in theory, Harper wanted forever but she always walked away before the vows. That had to say something, right? Maybe she got caught up in what other people told her she needed to believe – like women have to get married and have babies – when the reality was that not everyone was cut out for that! Dammit! Of all the days for Harper to bail on Zumba, it had to be today while she was having a complete mental breakdown?

  “Are you all right?” Natalie murmured as they twirled to the left.

  “I’m fine. Why?” Kayla replied as they twirled to the right.

  “You’re kind of mumbling over there and you just seemed like…like you were mad.”

  If they weren’t in the middle of transitioning to Kung Fu fighting – wait, what? When did this become a thing in this class? – she would consider talking to Natalie and getting her take on things. But it felt too good to be kicking right now.

  “Sorry,” she replied instead. “Just…thinking.”

  She braced herself for some kind of lengthy reply from Natalie and was almost disappointed when she didn’t get one.

  Something was definitely up with her.

  For the remainder of the class, Kayla made a conscious effort not to mumble or speak out loud as she followed Julianne’s lead. By the time the music ended, she thought her legs were going to give out. All around her, people were walking toward the exit, but Kayla just let herself sink to the floor.

  And then laid back and stared at the ceiling.

  “What’s going on?” Julianne asked a few minutes later as she stood over her. “Are you feeling okay?”

  “Too much pizza,” Kayla said, her hands on her stomach. “Just leave me here. Save yourself.”

  Julianne laughed and the next thing Kayla knew, Natalie was peering down at her too.

  “Are you going to be okay to shop? I called ahead and Hailey’s got a dozen gowns pulled for me. I’m hoping this will be quick and painless and by the time we leave there, I’ll have found my perfect gown.”

  “Will there be muffins?” Kayla asked.

  “Are you asking because you really want one or because the thought of one makes you sick?” Julianne asked with a smirk.

  “I wouldn’t say no to one if that’s what you’re asking…”

  “Hailey said there would be refreshments out again so I’m guessing that means muffins.”

  “And the mimosas?” Kayla asked, forcing herself up on her elbows.

  “God I hope so,” Natalie muttered and both Kayla and Julianne looked at each other with surprise.

  “I’ll call and ask her when we’re on our way,” Julianne said. “I think we’re all going to need it.”

  “I know I do,” Natalie said quietly.

  Okay, if Little Miss Sunshine needed alcohol at nine in the morning, something was definitely up and it served as the perfect distraction for Kayla. She slowly got to her feet and stood between her two friends. “I don’t know about you ladies, but I’ve had a shitty week. Let’s go and get cleaned up. The sooner we’re out of here, the sooner we can drink champagne and eat muffins.”

  It surprised her that no one corrected her.

  A hot guy with an armload of towels and bottles of water walked in and all Kayla could think was…nice. He was attractive and had an amazing body but…that was it. Her brain was yelling “Check out those arms!” while her heart was like, “Meh…”

  “Hey, Jules,” the guy said. “How was class?”

  “It was good – full as usual,” she said with a smile. “Oh, Brady, these are my friends Kayla and Natalie.”

  “Nice to meet you,” he said as they shook hands. Then he looked around. “Your sister doesn’t take your class?”

  Julianne frowned. “Normally she does, but she decided to opt out today.”

  He nodded. “You want to meet up again on Tuesday night after class?”

  Kayla and Natalie exchanged wide-eyed glances.

  “Definitely. Thanks, Brady. I’ll see you then.”

  It wasn’t until they were out of the room and halfway across the lobby that Kayla playfully shoved Julianne from behind.

  “Oof!” Jules muttered as she tried to regain her footing. She turned around. “What the hell was that for?”

  “You’re hanging out with a sexy trainer and you haven’t told us?” Kayla asked with a big grin.

  “What about Gavin?” Natalie asked, looking like she was ready to cry.

  So. Many. Stories.

  The thought of dress shopping with an audience meant they weren’t going to get to talk about any of these issues in great length any time soon.

  Talk about frustration!

  When they were in the locker room, Julianne mentioned how she was learning kickboxing as a way to alleviate some…tension.

  “Right…” Kayla said with a wink. “Tension.”

  Julianne threw her towel at her. “Yes. Tension. Anger. Rage. All this wedding stuff is getting to me and I was starting to feel like if I didn’t find an outlet, I was going to go crazy.”

  “But you work out all the time,” Natalie commented as she grabbed up her shower bag. “Doesn’t that help?”

  Julianne shook her head. “No, not the way punching and kicking the bag did. I’m telling you, I may ask Gavin to hang one in the basement because it’s so helpful.”

  “Really?” both Kayla and Natalie asked at the same time and then exchanged awkward glances again.

  Kayla spoke first. “Do you think Brady would be willing to…maybe…take on a small class of maybe two or three of us?”

  “Oh,” Natalie said nervously. “I don’t know if I’d want to do that. I mean…it sounded interesting but…”

  “Nat?” Kayla interrupted.

  “What?”

  “You – more than anyone else I know – would probably benefit the most from punching a bag.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” she demanded.

  “It means you’re always so wound up! You run around trying to be so damn perfect all the time. It’s okay to relax once in a while!” Kayla said, amazed at how passionate s
he felt about this. Normally, she tried to find ways to exclude Natalie and here she was practically demanding she take a class with her.

  “I…I guess it could be kind of fun,” Natalie said shyly. “What do you think, Jules? Would Brady be willing to do that?”

  “I…have no idea,” Julianne replied slowly. “This was just something I was sort of doing alone. You know…just for me.”

  For a minute, Kayla felt bad and then exclaimed, “Screw that! If anything, a group boxing class could be just what our little squad needs!”

  “Why?” Julianne asked.

  “Look, you’re always getting on us for shit – for me and Harper giving Natalie a hard time or for all of us not being in agreement and stuff like that. Maybe we can come to this boxing thing and for an hour a week, we can take out our aggression on a punching bag while talking about all the things that are keeping us from getting along.”

  “Not everything that’s wrong is about the wedding,” Natalie said as she stepped into one of the shower stalls.

  Kayla waited for her to turn on the water before she moved in close to Julianne and whispered, “I’m sensing there’s trouble in paradise. We really need to encourage her to punch the bag.”

  And much to her surprise, rather than answer, Julianne pulled her in close and hugged her. She had no idea why, but went with it and hugged her back.

  ****

  “Are they going to put that banner up every week until you pick a gown?”

  “I hope so. It’s kind of cool,” Julianne said as they walked through the door of Enchanted Bridal. “How often do we get celebrated with a sparkly sign?”

  Kayla laughed. “Not nearly enough.”

  It wasn’t much, Juliane knew, but it was something that made her smile and this morning had not left her feeling very smiley. Harper hadn’t returned any of her calls and besides not coming to class, she had left word, through their mother, that she wasn’t coming to shop for dresses with them. How was she supposed to do all of this without her sister?

  Okay, fine. The whole thing on Tuesday night got a little out of hand. What no one seemed to realize was how much stress she was under. And hitting that bag for an hour had been like eating an entire chocolate truffle cake while having a continuous orgasm.