Author's note: Bridesmaid dress shopping happens in this! I'll make a post on my Tumblr (booksrockmyface) with the dress chosen. I hope you like the one that was ultimately picked. It was a close one. And the next chapter will have more shopping, including looking at tuxes. Let's all say a collective "Unf!" at that thought.

Happy reading!

Chapter Sixteen

I could see the muscle working in Adrian's jaw before I saw Rose through the window laughing with Eddie on the couch in the living room. I cupped his cheeks in my hands and brushed a kiss across his lips. He started to relax.

"How was your day?" He asked softly, pulling me to him.

"Long. I helped Mom drop a rebuilt engine into a very beautiful old Buick. That's why I'm so late. We did that this evening."

"Nice." He kissed me softly. "I stayed awake all day, worrying about this evening when everyone woke up."

"And now they all are."

"Yeah. And it's not as bad as it could be." He gave me a forced smile. "I'm over it. I am. It's just…"

"I know. Old wounds heal, but they still hurt when the one who has done the harm is present."

"I mostly worry about how you perceive her." He rubbed my arms.

"I've always liked her. When I found out what she did to you, I was angry for you." I touched his cheek. "But I don't see any reason to hold a grudge against someone who led you to me in the end."

He rested his forehead against mine. "It all comes back to you."

"Of course. You've said so yourself. So let's go in there and hang out and have a good time. Jill has to leave in a few hours."

He stepped back and sighed. "I hope this works."

"Me too." I took his hand and led him into the living room.

After Jill left with the others for Pennsylvania, Adrian and I went back to his place. He stood in the middle of the living room and looked around for a long time. He seemed lost after a month of so many people in the house.

And Jill was gone. She was part of him. I was close with my sisters, but I was used to being away from them. He wasn't so used to being apart from Jill and I could see the prospect of not getting to see her whenever either of them felt like it was worrisome for him.

I dragged him to bed and held him silently until Jill called to say they were safely home. He fell into a fitful sleep, waking me every few hours when he shifted. I held him and assured him that everything was going to be fine.

I embraced Adrian tightly. After so many nights sleeping beside him and all the time we had spent together completely alone, I wasn't ready for him to fly to Pennsylvania. I knew he had to go and see Jill. I had been seeing the signs in him that Spirit was bothering him and his phone went off constantly with desperate texts from her.

"Be safe." I said as I finally let him go.

"I will." He kissed me. "I love you. And I'll be back in a few days."

I nodded. "I know. Just something I'm going to have to get used to."

"One of these days, Jill will be able to come to me."

"She will." I pushed myself up on my toes and kissed him. "You better get going. They won't wait forever and there are other flights leaving."

He brushed his fingers down my cheek. "Have fun dress shopping with your sisters."

I grinned. "I really don't want to make this choice without you."

"It's your choice, honey."

I sighed and put my forehead on his shoulder. "I hate when you do that."

"I'm sorry. You know I'm not big on fashion."

"I think the place has a web cam."

"Good."

"Hey, are we leaving or not?" The pilot called from the door.

"Yeah." He brushed another kiss across my lips. "I'll call when I land."

"Okay."

He finally left and I stood on the private tarmac until the plane took off.

Back at my house, I wondered from room to room. I was restless. Eventually, I got back in my car and drove to Adrian's. I climbed in his bed as my phone rang.

"I'm here." He said on the other end.

"Tell Jill hello for me. And all the others."

"I will."

"I'm in your house, by the way." I snuggled into the mattress and breathed in his scent.

"I figured." His warm voice floated through the line. "If Jill didn't need me so badly, I would have waited until you could come with me."

"Yeah. And since this is the only weekend Carly will be free for a while…"

"Are you in bed?"

"Yes."

"I'm almost to Court. Just close your eyes and breathe me in and remember that I'm only a phone call away."

"Okay." I yawned. "I'll send you pictures."

"You could send me pictures now. Of you lying naked in my bed."

"Who said anything about me being naked?" I giggled.

He laughed. "Oh, sorry, that was me wishful thinking. You could still send a picture, though."

"Okay, wait." I took the phone away from my ear and put it on speaker. "Can you still hear me?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. I am taking a picture now." I turned the camera on and held the phone away. I was surprised at how well the picture turned out. I'm not very good at taking pictures of myself. "Okay, now I'm sending it."

"Mm, nice. I'll look at it while I fall asleep." He paused. "I'm at Jill's."

"Then I'll let you go."

"Sleep well, love."

I smiled to myself. "I'll try."

I turned out the lamp and curled onto my side. I got a text from Adrian later, "Jill's better. I'm going to bed. The worst thing about a vampire marrying a human."

"Sorry, sweetheart."

"No you're not. I can see your evil grin from here."

"Whatever you say. Just get some sleep."

"You too."

I rested my phone on the bed beside me with a protective hand on top of it. I fell asleep staring at it, hoping he was okay.

"Can you get on a computer?" I asked.

"Yeah." Adrian said around a yawn.

"Good. They'll set up a web cam if you want to join us virtually."

"I'd love that. Thanks. I'll wake Jill so she can join too, if you want."

"Don't force her. It's the middle of the day. I bet she's exhausted."

"Probably. Hey, Jill."

I heard her mumble, "What?"

"They're looking at bridesmaid dresses. Want to see?"

"Of course." She said enthusiastically.

"Did you hear that?" He chuckled in to the phone. "I'm heading for the computer now."

"Okay." I said, sitting down to their computer and typing in Adrian's email address. "I'm sending you a link right now."

"And as soon as this damn thing is booted up…" There was a pause on the line and I heard him typing on the keyboard. "Okay, I think we're in. I can see you."

"Great. Okay. So, we've got a few picked out and they're changing into a couple of them. They should be out in any minute."

"What color are you looking for?"

"I think they'll look best in emerald with our beautiful golden hair and eyes." I teased. "Here they come. I'm putting you on speaker."

"Okay."

They stepped up to the podium and I moved to sit beside my mother a few feet away. Both dresses had skirts that brushed the floor. The top of Carly's was similar to my wedding dress with cap sleeves and a shallow V. Zoe's was a single strap. The strap was sheer and beaded.

"I like the one Zoe's wearing." Jill's voice said through the phone.

"I think both of them work." Adrian said.

"I like Zoe's too." Mom said.

My sisters agreed that Zoe's dress was the favorite.

"And what does the bride think?" The consultant asked.

"I agree with everyone else." We all knew that Carly's dress was far too similar to mine. We all exchanged looks to confirm that. "But I don't like it enough to want it to be it just yet."

"Of course you wouldn't make it so easy." Adrian teased through the phone.

"Sit back and relax for a little bit longer." I said, turning and winking into the camera. "We've still got quite a few more."

We nixed the next few. They were too short and strapless and neither of my sisters seemed too comfortable in strapless gowns. A couple had pleats and ruching in awkward places that did nothing for their figures.

And then both Carly and Zoe stepped out wearing one strap gowns. The strap over the shoulder of Zoe's had a fan detail. Carly's strap had flowers and was ruched perfectly over the bust and waist.

"I really like both of those." Adrian said.

"Carly's. Hands down." Jill proclaimed.

"Yeah." I said. "I'm leaning toward the one Carly is wearing too."

Everyone else seemed to agree.

"I still like the one Zoe was wearing first, though." I said uncertainly.

"Let's put her back in the first one, then."

Carly sat down in an empty seat beside me. "This is really comfortable."

"It looks like it. And that's pretty important for dancing all night." I spoke into the phone. "Are you still there?"

"We're here. I'm here. The back of your head is nice, by the way."

I laughed and turned toward the camera. "Good to know. I don't have weird hair happening or anything?"

"No, it's perfect. Like you. Like always."

"I'm far from perfect." I turned back around.

"I know. And your imperfections are what make you perfect."

"Stop it. We're already engaged. There's nothing else you need to butter me up for."

"Oh, there's plenty, baby. And it doesn't involve putting clothes on."

"Other people can hear." I snapped as Carly snorted beside me. I felt my cheeks turning red.

My mother was trying to hide her smile.

"Ouch! Okay, Jill punched me for you." Adrian said. "Ow, that stings. Maybe you need to stop working out with Eddie."

"No, definitely not. I like being able to defend myself. Especially from you." She said smugly.

Zoe came back in wearing the first dress and Carly took the spot beside her.

Zoe looked to our older sister. "I think I like hers better."

We all agreed and my sisters were taken away to get their measurements.

"Take me off speaker." Adrian requested.

I did and pressed the phone to my ear. "What's up?"

"I transferred money into your account before I left. It should cover them, but if not, let me know."

I stepped away from the others. "You don't have to do that."

"Of course I do. I said I'd pay for this shindig and I plan on it. Don't forget the shoes."

"Whatever you say, sweetheart." I sighed. "Has Jill got any ideas?"

"We discussed that last night. We'll go with brown since you've got the green covered. Jill likes strapless. She has a store in mind that she's visited and tried on a couple. They've got a men's section, too, so I'm going to check that out."

"Let me know something. Carly and Zoe are excited. Well, Carly is. Zoe's still apprehensive."

"That's understandable." I could hear him yawn. "Jill came over and kept me up all night. Well, not that it's her fault. I could have slept. But once I healed her, she was kind of giddy and it rubbed off."

"I'll let you go, then."

"I love you, Sydney."

"I love you, too." I sighed. "Go to sleep. And send me pictures if you and Jill go shopping."

"Will do."

I rejoined my family. "Are we set? Other than the bill?"

"Yes, I think so." The consultant said. "Follow me."