Read A Lil' Less Hopeless for Free Online Page B

huge bathroom, leaving me no choice but to delicately hang the dress on the wall hook and strip.
    I hear muffled voices through the door as Jean and Charlie make small talk. Once the dress is settled on my shoulders and I'm not in danger of flashing anyone, I step out into the bedroom.
    The girls have their backs turned discussing a framed picture of Jay as a child when I awkwardly clear my throat.
    They end their conversation mid-sentence and turn to stare at me. I... I really like the way the dress looks in the mirror. No, I fucking love the way the dress looks. But, neither one of them are saying anything. Maybe it's just hopeless and I have no clue what I'm doing.
    “You. Look. Stunning.” Charlie exclaims, finally blinking and walking over to me.
    Ma hasn't moved, hasn't spoken. She's just standing there watching me. But then I see the tears start to fall, and I come dangerously close to falling apart... in the best, most perfect way possible.
    “I... I need a zip.” I turn, exposing my bare back, and hiding my strained facial muscles. Very few people cry pretty in this world. If you are one of them, count yourself lucky. The rest of us... well, we have to struggle with it.
    I wipe the happy tears on the back of my hand before Charlie discreetly hands me a tissue, and I feel the bodice close itself around me snuggly while the zipper is secured.
    Ma guides me over to the full-length mirror and we stare at the reflection, her hands resting protectively on my shoulders. “Perfect fit. I don't think we even need to do any alterations.”
    I exhale deeply. What a relief. It's been a week since Jay made the announcement to the club that we were moving up the wedding and I was seriously running out of time to find a dress. Not only did I finally find a dress... but I found the dress. Everything was falling into place.
    ******
    We drop the dress off at the cleaners to be freshened up, and make our way back to the clubhouse. Jean heads inside to escape the heat, leaving us behind. I grab my purse and close the car door, stepping in the direction of the clubhouse entrance, but notice Charlie hesitating from my side-view.
    “You coming?”
    She chews on her lower lip, mulling over the choice. “I... I think I'm just gonna head home and catch a nap before tonight.”
    I eye her carefully. I've gotten to know Charlie pretty well over the last few weeks since first meeting her. She's spent more than handful of nights here at the club with Clink and she set me up with a really great OBGYN over at the hospital. We may not be besties yet, but I know her well enough to know something was off.
    “Ok. You want me to go tell Clink?” I volunteer.
    She shakes her head thoughtfully while rummaging around in her purse. “No, you don't have to do that. I'll see him whenever.”
    She fiddles with her keys and leans forward to kiss my cheek. “I'll meet you at your house at nine.”
    I nod.
    “And, Lil's?”
    I perk up.
    “You looked gorgeous in your dress.”
    She heads off toward her car, and I back into the shade from the overhang. Nice girl. But just a bit strange.

CHAPTER THREE
    CLINK
     
    The chick is crazy. I know she's not from around here, and doesn't know the lifestyle, but I think she's plain old crazy some times.
    According to Lil's, she's having some sort of freakout session. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear she must be on the rag. But, I can safely say that's not possible. I made that girl scream my name so fucking loud last night, the prospects even blushed when they saw her the next day.
    Not only did she leave without saying a word to me after dress shopping with the girls, then I come to find a folded check wedged under my helmet when I get to my bike.
    A perfectly neat check in the amount of $238.67 from a Miss Charlotte Anderson made out to cash. I tear up the check into a dozen pieces and throw it into the wind. I stomp back into the clubhouse and step just far enough into it to spot Jay sitting at the bar,