Home > The Mission (Bad Bridesmaids #2)(3)

The Mission (Bad Bridesmaids #2)(3)
Author: Noelle Adams

Serena had gone to Weston Academy, an upscale, exclusive private school in Richmond. Unlike her classmates, her family hadn’t been wealthy or even upper-middle class. She’d gotten in on scholarship, and she’d worked her butt off to get all As and a full scholarship to college. She’d never regretted all that effort. She was still good friends with a number of her old schoolmates, and after getting a college degree and a master’s in history, she’d returned to teach at Weston, making a better salary than she ever could have expected when she’d decided to become a high school history teacher.

Sure, she had to deal with some spoiled and entitled students. And yes, the politics of a private school were unique and sometimes infuriating. But she taught a lot of really good kids, and she loved her job.

Plus she’d met Keith at Weston, and that was one of the best things that had ever happened to her.

“Does anyone have it on yet?” Amanda demanded from outside the dressing room. She was clever and beautiful and generous but also not known for being patient. “What’s taking so long?”

“Stop being so pushy,” Taylor grumbled from the dressing room beside Serena. “It takes a couple of minutes to get our clothes off and zip up this dress.”

Serena had only gotten her zipper halfway up since the position on the back of the dress required difficult contortions. So she opened the door to her dressing room and stepped out. “Here, do the rest of this zipper and I’ll have it on.”

“Oh, it’s gorgeous!” Amanda’s smile was warm and slightly surprised, so there was no doubting the compliment was genuine. “You look amazing!”

Serena glanced at herself in the large three-paneled mirror. She was medium height and medium size, with decent boobs and a bigger butt than she’d prefer. She did like her hair—dark red and wavy—but her hazel eyes and features were pleasant yet unexceptional.

She usually liked what she saw when she looked in the mirror, but she wasn’t used to being blown away. So she froze at her reflection just then.

She looked like a glamorous stranger in the sleeveless column dress in a vivid silk that seemed to shift between blue and green depending on the light.

“Wow,” she said at last. “I do look pretty good.”

“You look better than pretty good.” Ariana Kensington—usually called Ri among her friends—had gone to school with them too, and she’d opened this bridal shop last year. Not because she needed the income (her family was the wealthiest in Serena’s social circle) but because she’d wanted a challenge. To try something new. “You look stunning. That dress is perfect for you.”

Serena’s cheeks warmed with pleasure as she peered at herself again, turning to check herself out from behind. Even her ass looked good. The deep curve looked lush and sexy. “Why haven’t I been wearing this dress all my life?”

As the others laughed at that, Taylor stepped out of her dressing room. She was made like a model and always looked beautiful, so the dress was great on her too. The four of them oohed and aahed over their gorgeousness for a while until Ri had done the fittings for adjustments and they went to take the dresses off.

Serena had been a bridesmaid several times, and none of the dresses chosen had been hideous. But none had been as perfect as this one. She couldn’t wait to wear it, and since she wasn’t a particularly fashion-conscious person, that didn’t normally happen to her.

She was back in her regular clothes—black yoga pants, a fitted T-shirt, and a long green sweater—and sipping the champagne Ri had poured for them when her phone buzzed with another text.

Keith again. This time he’d sent a photo of a cupcake and hot chocolate loaded with whipped cream and sprinkles he must have gotten for Eva.

“Oh my God,” Serena muttered, staring at the sweets. “She’s not going to be hungry for the rest of the day.”

When the others inquired about her comment, she showed them the photo. Then the earlier one Keith had sent.

“That statue is in the town park,” Ri explained. “It’s the founder of Azalea. And the only place they could have gotten that cupcake in town is at the bookstore across the street. It just opened a few months ago, and they have some sweets and coffee drinks.”

“The town is really growing,” Serena said. “When I came here before your store opened, there was hardly anything on this block except that diner and the laundromat.”

“Yeah. We’re getting more businesses in. It’s kind of exciting.”

Serena reached for her phone since Taylor was still holding it, staring down at the photo. Taylor relinquished it without hesitation, but she had a strange look on her face.

“What?” Serena demanded.

Taylor had a kind heart, but she also had a perpetually grumpy demeanor. And she wasn’t opposed to speaking her mind even if it was rude.

“Keith seems pretty fond of your daughter,” Taylor said with slightly elevated dark eyebrows.

Serena curled down her lips. “Of course he’s fond of her. Why wouldn’t he be?”

“I’m just saying they look really close. Like he wouldn’t mind being her stepdad.”

“Oh my God, don’t be ridiculous! Keith and I are just friends. We’ve always been just friends.”

“But that could change, couldn’t it?” Amanda asked, putting down her champagne flute and leaning forward. “Are you sure you don’t want it to change?”

“Yes, I’m sure. I love Keith like crazy, but I don’t think of him that way. I never have. Besides, I’ve told you before. After the disaster my first marriage was, I’m not looking to get married again.” When she’d married her high school boyfriend, Scott, she’d thought she’d known him, but she’d been foolish and immature. She hadn’t realized that his laid-back demeanor was actually laziness and his flirtatious manner masked entitled selfishness. Since she’d gotten pregnant less than two years after they got married, she’d tried to work on the relationship and swallow down her pain and frustration. But two years ago, when she discovered he’d been cheating on her, she stopped running into a brick wall and got divorced instead.

Keith had been right that night she’d shown up at his door in tears. She’d been happier since her divorce than she’d ever been in her life.

“I’m not even looking for a man,” she added since it was clear her friends were listening. “Seriously. I love my job and I love Eva and I love my friends and I’m really happy. Why mess it all up by shackling myself to another asshole?”

Amanda cleared her throat. “Uh, maybe you could find one who isn’t an asshole this time?”

Serena laughed at her dry tone. “I know there are men out there who aren’t assholes. I mean, Keith isn’t an asshole. And Robert seems like a pretty good sort.” She was referring to Amanda’s fiancé, and the mention made her friend’s face soften. “But it’s always a risk. I didn’t think Scott was an asshole when I married him, but he was. And I’m not going to do that to myself again. I’m happy now. I don’t need anything to change.”

“And Keith doesn’t want it to change?” Taylor asked.

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