Audrey’s wedding dress, though, was still under rush development with the designer, but if she’d gone a little unexpected with the bridesmaid dress, her own gown was almost an exact replica of her childhood dreams. Its bright white layers upon layers created an enormous ballroom skirt, and the fitted bodice was hand beaded with tiny pearls.

Audrey figured if she didn’t get the fairy-tale marriage with a husband who was head-over-heels in love with her, she was at least having the fairy-tale dress.

Naomi and Claire obliged Audrey with photos for her Instagram Stories. Audrey was delighted that even with the artificial light of the dress shop, the photos turned out surprisingly well thanks to Clarke’s thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift.

“You look happy,” Claire told Audrey.

“Hmm?” Audrey looked up. “Oh, I am. The photos turned out great.”

Claire’s smile was gentle. “I’m sure they are, but that’s not what I meant. You look happy happy.”

“She’s right,” Naomi said. “You’ve been glowing lately. This whole bride-to-be thing really suits you, even if your situation is a little atypical. And speaking of glow, is anyone as relieved as me that Scandal Boy’s been keeping his mouth shut? I’ve been half expecting him to start whispering about this being a shotgun wedding, and I was ready to go Annie Oakley on his ass.”

“Shotgun wedding?” Audrey said distractedly, sliding her phone back into her purse.

“You know.” Naomi mimed a pregnant belly. “Old-fashioned cliché where the bride’s dad gets the groom to the altar with a shotgun because the guy knocked up his daughter.”

“Oh!” Audrey rested a hand to her stomach. “I didn’t even think of that. Guess we’re lucky Scandal Boy didn’t, either.”

She caught Claire watching her with a slightly narrowed gaze.

“What’s that look?” she asked, giving Claire her own look.

Claire pointed at Audrey. “Your hand.”

Audrey glanced down, lifting her hand and looking at it. “What about it?”

“When Naomi mentioned the rumor of you being pregnant, you put your hand on your stomach.”

“So?” Audrey said with a laugh. “It’s a rumor that doesn’t even exist.”

“Right, but…” Claire broke off. “Never mind.”

“No, what?” Audrey asked curiously. “I was just surprised.”

“Of course you were surprised,” Naomi groused. “Since you’re not having any damn sex.”

“Except,” Claire said slowly, “if she weren’t having sex, she’d have merely laughed and rolled her eyes because the suggestion of being pregnant would have been ludicrous. Instead, she put her hand to her stomach, as though suddenly realizing it were possible.”

Naomi’s head whipped around to stare at Audrey, and she braced herself, knowing the gig was up.

Naomi gasped. “You are having sex!”

Audrey laughed and held up her hands. “Don’t sound so accusatory, you’ve been the one ordering me to get laid for a year now.”