CHAPTER 11

KYLE

As we leave the salon, Julia glances at her phone, scanning the list of places we still need to hit. "So, we've got two options for wedding attire in this itty-bitty town. Bridal Boutique and Boutique 101."

I raise an eyebrow. "Two whole shops. Impressive."

She laughs. "Hey, with a population this small, we should be glad to have any at all. Be thankful we don't have to do a road trip."

"Could've been fun," I retort with a crooked smile.

"I'll keep that in mind for the next one then, shall I?" she deadpans.

Walking down the main street, cinnamon and pine dance delicately on the breeze. There's no doubt Christmas is approaching fast. Each Shopfront is decked out for the season with sequined dresses and sharp suits, cooking utensils with cartoon reindeers and Santas, and Christmas trees of all sizes, filled with designer baubles, lights, and tinsel.

Passing a sign that says, 'Santa's Coming Soon', we enter the first boutique. Racks of cocktail dresses line the front of the store in a flurry of greens and reds, with hints of black, silver and gold intertwined between the bold Christmas colours.

Julia runs her hands through the stream of fabric, pausing when she finds one that takes her interest. She pulls the dress's skirt out straight, taking in the cut, then checks the tag for size.

"That dress doesn't say 'wedding' to me," I say playfully.

She turns, frowning at me. "My work Christmas party's coming up soon," she returns the dress to the rack, and pulls out another. "I don't know if I'll go, though."

"Oh, really?" I ask, sifting through some suits on the neighbouring rack. "Why not?"

She shrugs, glancing away. "It's not that I don't want to go. I just...," she sighs. "I don't have a plus-one. Working from home means I don't see my colleagues in person much, so going alone would just feel a little - awkward."

I study her closely, surprised she even cares about that. Julia, the self-assured, doesn't-need-anyone type.

"Who says you have to go alone?"

She pulls her brows together, considering my words, before brushing it off. "Anyway, let's get back to what we're supposed to be doing-wedding attire."

We split off, meandering about the store, before selecting a few options from the bridal racks at the back. The first suit I try on is a deep charcoal with subtle pinstripes. It's sleek and reminds me of old school gangsters. Pulling the jacket on, the buttery silk lining makes me feel like a million bucks. I grab a nearby hat, balancing it on my head to really turn it up.

"Eh," she says, wrinkling her nose. "You look like the CEO of a criminal enterprise."

"And?" I tease, raising an eyebrow.

"Really, Kyle? You want to look like you launder money for a living?" she tips her head to the side, raising her brows.

Shrugging, she laughs and disappears back into the dressing room.

A large mirror stands in the dressing room area. Taking another look, I realise she's right. It's suave, but not the right vibe for a groomsman. Julia reappears in a simple silver dress. It's nice enough, but it doesn't 'wow' me.

"Nah, it's not quite right," I say.

"What's wrong with it?" she demands, placing her hands on her hips.

"Nothing is wrong, per se, it's just not... you."

"Me? What does that even mean, Kyle?"

Oh shit! I know when I've put my foot in it. I practically run for the dressing room and change into another suit, hoping we can move on from the conversation. A few minutes later, I'm wearing a navy suit, checking myself in the mirror. Julia's rummaging in her dressing room, but she finally returns in a deep green satin dress. It hugs all her curves in precisely the right way. Something tingles inside of me, watching her spin before the mirror, while she checks out her own ass. The straps fall around her shoulders in an off-the-shoulder style, revealing her bare skin that almost begs to be kissed. When she's done smoothing the dress down, she spins around to face me and waits for a reaction. She's absolutely beautiful, yet I'm lost for the right words to say without insulting her.

"Is it bad?" she asks with a grimace. Her vulnerability shakes me from my daydream.

I clear my throat, shaking my head. "No, it's amazing," I pause, finding courage. "You look incredible, Jules."

Her face flushes, then narrows her eyes, scrutinising me. "Kyle, are you feeling alright?"

"Uh huh," I say, but then I realise I'm still staring at her, and frantically look away. Shit. I'm such an idiot.

"I think it might be more party than wedding. Thoughts?" she asks, looking in the mirror again.

"Maybe you should wear it to your Christmas party."

"Yeah, maybe. It's got the right vibe, doesn't it?"

I nod again, watching her in the mirror as she glances back at me. Our eyes catch in the reflection and for a moment it's as if time itself has paused. Like it's just Julia, and me, surrounded by a bubble that's keeping us from the rest of the world. In here we could be anything, do anything.

"Would you like me to be your plus one?" I ask.

Her cheeks redden again, but her eyes don't move from mine. "You would do that? For me?"

I nod. "Why not? Besides, you wouldn't want your colleagues to think you're all alone for the holidays, would you?"

She looks at me for a long moment, then a smile tugs at the corner of her mouth. "Alright, Kyle. You're on."

She extends a hand to shake it. Her hand feels warm and soft in mine, remaining after I let go.

"Perfect," I say, trying to ignore the way my hand still tingles. "Now let's see if we can find a bridesmaid's dress and a little something for Penny to wear." She laughs at that, and we return to the bridal racks.

After a few more rounds, I grab a deep navy suit, similar to the previous one, but with a subtle silver trim fitting for the winter wedding theme. When I step out of the dressing room, Julia looks me up and down before nodding in approval.

"That's the one," she says wistfully, but the way her eyes fall over me makes my pulse race. I'm taken aback by the lack of teasing and banter, and for the briefest of moments, the thought runs through my mind that maybe I'm not imagining this 'thing' between us.

She dashes back into her dressing room, returning a few minutes later in a pale blue bridesmaid dress. It shimmers subtly in the light as she spins, reminding me of snow in the sunlight. The dress flows around her, hugging her in just the right places. It gives me a strange sense of accomplishment that we found something perfect for her. Hopefully the other bridesmaids will love it just as much.

She stops in front of me, glancing up with a hesitant smile. "What do you think?"

"It's perfect," I say, unable to look away. "You're breathtakingly beautiful."

Before I can catch myself, the words are out, the air between us growing thick with tension. Our gazes lock, and she seems to search for meaning behind my statement.

My body takes over, leaning in towards her, caught in her magnetic pull. She shifts closer, eyes searching mine, daring me to close the gap. Her warm breath so close it warms my lips, beckoning them to inch closer.

What if I kissed her? The thought races through my mind, unstoppable. What would she do? And what would that mean for us? She's not exactly the relationship type-hell, neither am I-but there's something undeniable here, something neither of us has words for.

My resolve crumbles. As I close the gap, my phone rings. It snaps me back to reality. Under my breath, I curse the caller as I pull it out. Chase flashes on the screen. Great timing, bruh!

"Sorry," I mutter, answering the call.

"Hey, Chase. What's up?"

"Man, I've got a situation at the reno house," he says, sounding stressed. "The new toilet's leaking all over the place, and I can't seem to stop it. Can you swing by and give me a hand? Like, ASAP?"

I glance at Julia, feeling a pang of guilt for having to cut this short. "Uh, yeah. I'll be there soon." Even I can hear the disappointment in my voice, so I wonder whether Chase or Julia have, too.

Hanging up, I turn back to her, rubbing the back of my neck. "I've got to go help Chase with - a problem."

She raises an eyebrow. "Is everything okay? Is it Penny?"

"Uh... not exactly." I fumble for a way to explain without giving away the reno secret. "It's... a plumbing issue. Just a bit of a mess, you know?"

She's not convinced, but lets it slide. "Alright. If you say so."

We gather up the outfits and head to the register to place the orders. There's a weird vibe, like we're not done here. As we step out onto the sidewalk, she glances back at me, her eyes narrowing playfully.

"Good luck with your 'plumbing emergency,' Kyle."

"Thanks. I'll need it."

A smile plays on her lips and she shakes her head, but as she walks away, I'm left with the uneasy feeling that I just let my chance slip away. Whatever just happened ... it's definitely not over.