Dizzy(13)
Author: Nyrae Dawn & Jolene

“If it makes you feel any better, Derrick and Dylan are doing their first fittings today, too.”

I frown so I don’t smile. That does make me feel better. I can’t imagine Dylan will enjoy this any more than me. I also make the fatal mistake of loosening my arms enough for Lora to get a good hold and pull me out of the dressing room.

“Oh!” The store-owner peers over her thin glasses. “Well, aren’t you the sexy little thing.” And then she gives me a wink like this stupid dress was my idea.

I want to growl. Or snarl. Or put my ears back. Unfortunately, I’m Ziah and not an animal. I’m stuck scowling. The woman disappears into the back room again.

“Now here.” Lora holds me in front of the mirror, and I’m stunned for a moment.

I don’t look like me. I am sexy. The color shows off my tanned skin, and my legs look amazing. Not like they do in shorts, but amazing. Tall. I’m tall.

She pulls my ponytail up and tucks my hair in, leaving a messy bun. The small wisps of my hair frame my face and make my neck look long. Wow. I’m not this girl. Only now I am this girl. I didn’t think I could ever be the one who looks too hot to be touched. Wow. Just. Wow.

“And here.” Lora holds out a pair of platform heels, and I laugh.

“Yeah. Right. All sexiness would be gone as I plummeted to my death from those heights.”

“Just try them on, okay?” She pushes them closer. “I want you girls to look pretty, unlike some brides, who are determined to make her bridesmaids fade into the background in cheap satin.”

“I can’t walk in those. If you want me to break my leg before your wedding, I’ll put them on. But Lora…” I reluctantly reach out, and the shoes are practically slapped in my hands.

“If you start practicing now, they’ll be fine. Karissa and Mardie picked them out because every girl needs a good pair of black heels. Don’t be such a grouch. Cake’s next.” She grins.

Cake? She’s playing dirty again. Cake is like… Well, let’s just say that if someone were to put enough nutrition in cake for me to stay alive and only eat cake, I would.

“I forgot we were doing cake.” It’s the only part of this whole mess that I’ve been sort of looking forward to doing. The shock of the dress sort of wiped my brain clean.

“Shoes?” Her smile is too wide.

“Blackmail.” I try to frown, but I’m feeling better about Lora and me, so it doesn’t come off as mean as I want it to.

“I’m here!” Mom steps through the curtain that divides the large changing area from the front of the store. “Sorry I’m late!”

“Hey, Mom!” Lora pulls her into a hug. “I’m glad you could break away.”

“Lora?” Thin-glasses woman is at the edge of the dressing rooms. “I’ve pulled your dress.”

Lora half jumps and claps her hands together. “You put on the heels, and I’m gonna do my dress.”

“Mom.” I point to my dress.

Her brows go up. “I’ll talk to her, but you know your sister. You look stunning.” And then she just shrugs like it’s okay for her daughter to be wearing a miniature dress.

She’s right, though. There’s no arguing with Lora when she’s this determined. I slide my feet into the shoes, but they just feel so wrong. I never wear heels. Ever. All my dress shoes are flats.

They fit okay, so I take one small step and then another. And then another. I’m doing it. Sort of. But they feel like stilts, not shoes. The mirrored area in the dressing room is large. When people are trying on wedding dresses, I guess it has to be. I make a few laps, still not convinced I’ll be able to navigate the aisle without falling.

A bit of the sexiness is gone because my balance is crap in the heels, but it’s good. “No way I’ll be able to walk down the aisle in these—”

But then Lora steps out of the room in a wedding dress. A wedding dress. I know this should seem all obvious, but it didn’t hit me until now. My sister’s getting married!

It’s simple, antiqued lace and slim against her curves. The sleeves go to her elbows, but the cutout in the back is way sexy. The dress looks snug, but it still manages to flow around her as she walks. It’s both simple and complex, and every ounce of it is Lora. It also makes my beige lace bridesmaid dress seem more perfect.

“You’re beautiful.” I hold my hands to my mouth. “I mean really, seriously, beautiful.”

Mom wipes back a few tears as she touches the sheer lace of the sleeves. “Wow, honey.”

Lora takes two big swallows as she looks at herself in the mirror. “Yeah. Wow.”

“Lora?” Derrick’s voice carries from the front of the shop.

“Oh shit!” Lora freezes as she stares at the curtain that separates the two rooms.

Mom picks up the small train. “Go, Lora.” She points to the dressing room. “He can’t see you like this.”

Mom and Lora head to the dressing room.

I glance down and feel nak*d again.

“Go, Ziah! Keep him out of here!” Lora’s eyes are wide.

Yes. Me. Feeling nak*d. Again, not really feeling this dress.

“Lora?” Derrick calls again.

“Ziah! Go!” she hisses.

Mom gives me a stare, which feels wrong. I’d think she’d want to protect me from being seen by anyone in this miniature outfit.

“But—” I gesture to the dress, which gets me a finger point and a frown.

I carefully step across the room and through the large curtain into the front of the shop. But it’s not just Derrick. That would be only slightly uncomfortable. It’s also Dylan. Of course. Definitely feeling nak*d.

So I might not be great with guys or whatever, but there’s no mistaking the way Dylan’s looking at me. His mouth isn’t open, but his jaw is slack. And his eyes are definitely not on my face.

I have no idea if I should be offended or totally soak it in. I go for the second, because walking on stilts has me feeling reckless.

Eleven

~ Dylan ~

Damn. I knew she had a good body, but… toned legs. Lots and lots of toned legs. Long, lean waist. Perfect, slender curves. And if I thought her neck was sexy before, it’s nothing like how it is now. The single strand of hair I wanted to touch has turned into several, and I can’t decide if they should all be put up or if the way they touch her cheekbones and neck would make it worth keeping them down.

I’m seriously close to embarrassing myself, so I shift to make sure nothing’s poking out.

Derrick coughs, and I jump. Her eyes are on me. Shit. I definitely wasn’t looking at her face. Hopefully, I’m not supposed to be answering a question, because I definitely didn’t hear anything.

“I just stopped by because we have a cake appointment, and…” Derrick trails off like he not only takes orders from Lora, but from Ziah, too.

“Well, I’m not missing cake testing, and I really want out of these shoes.” I swear she stands up even taller than before.

I take that as an invitation to check her legs again. I mean, they’re right there. A guy can only be so strong.

“So, we’ll see you guys there?” she asks.

“Sounds good,” Derrick says.

“Wait. Weren’t you supposed to be doing this today, too?” Ziah’s hands go on her perfectly curved h*ps as she shifts her weight.

“The tailor said he wouldn’t be ready until tomorrow,” Derrick says.

“Damn.” Ziah sighs. “I really thought you two were being tortured today—just like me.”

I am. She just doesn’t know it.

“We’ll see you girls in a few then.” Derrick’s hand grabs my shoulder with a little too much force.

“Yeah. See you.” I glare at my brother before smiling at Ziah.

When she turns, it’s all curves again, and a lot of bare back. Derrick slaps the back of my head as Ziah steps back behind the curtain.

“What the hell’d you do that for?” I ask as I rub my head and try to get my hair to sit right again.

“Wipe the drool off your mouth, and don’t. Even. Think. It.”

I start to protest, but it’s probably pointless. “Whatever,” I mumble. “She’s not my type.”

Derrick snorts as he pushes open the door. “Her and her sister have the same body. That’s everyone’s type.”

I want to make a smart-ass comment about Derrick checking out his fiancé’s sister, but I keep it to myself. Maybe I’ll save it for later. Instead I go back to thinking about Ziah and her mile-long legs and wondering what they’d feel like under my fingertips.

***

Lora steps into the cake shop followed by Ziah, and even though she’s in jeans and shoes, all I can see is that damn dress. Her long waist. Her perfect body. Toned calves, shaped thighs. And the shoes. Holy hell if girls knew what shoes like that did to their legs… actually, maybe they do. It’s a pretty good weapon for them to have.

I need to kick this girl out of my head and run as far away from her as I can get. Mary and I need to find an open road somewhere and forget about brothers, sisters, and T-shirt wearing girls who should not be sexy, yet somehow are.

Oh, and said girl is going to be my sister-in-law? It’s not creepy and against the law, I remind myself. It’s not like we’ll be related by blood, but I also don’t think my blood should be flowing to specific parts of my anatomy so powerfully when I’m around her either.

I need to focus on her jeans instead of those bare legs.

“I got lured into lame wedding stuff with the promise of cake, didn’t I?” Ziah sighs, keeping her eyes on Lora.

“You’re not the only one.” I give my brother what I hope looks like a friendly slug, but he winces. I hit my mark just right.

“You did.” Lora grabs Ziah from the side and kisses her temple as she laughs.

“Eww. Weren’t your lips JUST on his?” Ziah makes a face and rubs the side of her head.

“Grow up, Ziah.” Lora rolls her eyes, and then leans close to her sister. “Let’s start with the chocolate…”

They ooh and aah over flowered cakes that don’t look like food. Lora more than Ziah, but they’re definitely getting along better. And Ziah looks happier. I figured I was stepping over a million boundaries when I said something to Lora, but I really didn’t want any more of Ziah crying in Mary. And I was trying to be nice to her since Derrick has it in his head that I’m not. Maybe he doesn’t realize how much I’m not saying. That could shut him up.

I look over and see Derrick and Lora interacting with their typical vomit-inducing sweetness. Ziah’s got a scowl on her face again, but this time I know it’s not for me. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to give her a hard time.

Or study her lips.

Yeah, that sounds pretty fun.

“You should definitely taste this.” I hold a piece of cake out to her. I’m totally screwing myself over here, too, because I’m tempting myself with something I can never touch. But damn it would be fun.