Chapter 2

By the time I stepped out of the fitting room, no one was looking at me.

Dirk was crouched beside Katherine, gently handing her a tissue to dab away her tears.

He stayed down there next to her, telling her corny jokes to coax her out of it, until Katherine finally burst out laughing.

Only then did Dirk laugh too.

"Carissa's out."

Katherine caught sight of me out of the corner of her eye and stood up right away, looking me over in the gown with open admiration.

"See, I told you I have good taste. It really does fit you."

Dirk took one glance and frowned.

"It fits, sure. But it doesn't look as good on her as it did on Katherine."

"That burn scar across her chest is honestly a turn-off."

"So stop being so picky."

"The gown looks fine. It's the person that's the problem."

Katherine's brow creased and she quickly cut Dirk off.

"That's going a little too far. You'll hurt Carissa's feelings."

"Carissa, don't listen to him, this gown really does suit you. As for the spot on your chest..."

"Don't worry about that either. I'll find a foundation that matches your skin tone, and we'll cover it up on the day so no one will even notice..."

I pressed a hand over my chest and looked Dirk straight in the eye.

"Tell me the truth."

"Does this really look good?"

Dirk was still digging through Katherine's bag for the foundation, not even lifting his head.

"You look good in anything."

That offhand.

Katherine says one throwaway line and he takes it to heart and acts on it immediately.

But the wedding I looked forward to and cared about was, in his eyes, just a game to be brushed off.

Now the whole thing felt utterly pointless.

I didn't say anything. I went back into the fitting room, changed out of the gown, and picked up my bag from the side.

"Something came up at work. I'm heading out first."

Dirk just gave me a flat glance.

"Such a workaholic."

"If Katherine weren't helping you out, when would you ever find time to plan a wedding?"

Dirk complained, and Katherine hurried to smooth it over with a smile.

"It's not like our Carissa got this busy overnight. She loves her work, she's famous for being a career woman."

"Overtime is no big deal. Just remember to show up on time on the wedding day."

"Actually, even if you don't come, it's fine—"

Dirk's lips curved.

The look he gave Katherine was too complicated for me to read.

"I've still got you, don't I?"

"There you go teasing me again!"

Katherine laughed and gave Dirk a light kick.

That got him going, and he grinned and reached over to tickle her.

I couldn't stand to watch them carry on like that.

I turned and went outside to grab a ride.

The weather was scorching, and after a good ten minutes, still no driver had accepted my request.

Katherine got a phone call and had to leave on short notice.

Dirk picked up his car keys without a second's hesitation. "I'll drive you."

Katherine shot an awkward glance at me, standing in the doorway. "It's fine, you should drop Carissa off first."

"It's nothing, she's used to grabbing her own ride."

Dirk walked off toward the parking lot without looking back.

He didn't care at all why I'd been standing here this long.

"Besides, her office isn't far from here. She can walk back in a few minutes."

Then he went and opened the front passenger door himself.

As Katherine ducked inside, he kept his palm over the top of the doorframe, careful she wouldn't bump her head.

The passenger seat used to have a "Little Princess's Reserved Seat" tag I'd stuck on it.

I don't know when it had been peeled off.

Even the stuffed-animal cushion I always used had long since been quietly tossed to the back seat.

No wonder that side was always piled with heat pads I never used.

Katherine often got cramps. They were hers.

Only in that moment did I see it clearly.

It wasn't just the gown.

The passenger seat, it turned out, had stopped being mine a long time ago too.

Katherine waved at me through the window. "Rissa, we're off first."

Dirk hit the gas, and all he left behind was the exhaust.

My phone buzzed twice again.

It was HR at the company, pressing me.

"Ms. Simmons, have you made your decision? There's only one slot left for the overseas posting..."

I gave a self-mocking little laugh, then typed my reply.

"I've decided."

"I'm signing up. I accept the posting."