Chapter 26

"I found this awesome vintage shop while I was walking around during the time you were with the doctor," Nadine chattered Thursday afternoon. "They have this dress that would be great on you for your wedding."

"Are you sure it's even my size?" Briana laughed. "Besides, I need to stop at the pharmacy first and get this filled."

"Get what filled?" Nadine gave her cousin a concerned look.

Briana pulled the prescription from her purse Dr. Edwards had given her after the exam and the long discussion that had followed.

"Good God, Bree, are these what I think they are?"

Briana nodded. "Let's hope it works. I'm not big on chemical solutions; just taking an aspirin is a pain in the ass, something left over from my days of natural living with Gary. And you know how I feel about Brian and the whole pot thing."

"Certainly," Nadine agreed, handing back the prescription. "Does he know why you went to the doctor today?"

Briana shook her head. "As far as he knows it's just a routine checkup before the wedding and I was going to hunt for a dress with you afterward."

Nadine grinned. "By the way, after I show you the dress at the vintage shop, the shoe place down from there is having a sale."

"Is there anywhere you didn't check out?" Briana asked, laughing again.

"The cook in the pizza parlor is kind of cute too." Nadine gave another wide grin.

"I'm sure, but just remember you already have a date for the wedding."

"Oh yes, how can I forget the tall, dark and handsome one that dances in his underwear down a bowling lane and whispers sexy things in Spanish? Never mind I didn't understand a damn thing he was saying."

"In Paul's case, sometimes you're better off not knowing," Briana joked.

"Is it true he's doing the barbecue after the ceremony?"

"Yes, though he's been warned to take it easy with the spices. You know those Hispanics and their hot food. He about killed poor Brian one time putting Cajun spices in Bri's macaroni as a practical joke."

"Ugh. I'm getting heartburn just thinking about it. Speaking of which, where do you want to go for lunch after we hit the shoe store?"

"Doesn't matter, as long as it isn't Taco Bell," Briana laughed as they went into the pharmacy.

Meanwhile:

Paul howled with laughter, pointing at Brian as he came out of the fitting room.

"Dude, I thought doing this instead of basketball was going to be boring as hell, but I got to admit this was better after all!" He laughed harder. "You look like a kid dressed in his dad's clothes!"

"I'm glad my agony is your amusement," Brian glared at him. "I will admit, though, this thing isn't working. Make yourself fucking useful and grab a couple more things off that rack, will you?"

Paul nodded, still snickering as he picked off a couple more suits. "Try the brown one first," he suggested.

"Oh, are you Mr. Blackwell now?" Brian sniffed, going back into the fitting room.

"Just a suggestion. Brown's supposed to be the color now."

"That was last year, fuck-o. But since you're so insistent, I'll try it on."

A few minutes later, he came back out, glaring at Paul once again. "Jesus Christ, I look like a giant turd in this thing. No way am I getting this. Ugh."

"Not sure about giant, but I'll go along with the turd theory," Paul agreed, laughing again.

"Just quit being an asshole and hand me something else. If we're going to get court time and a game in before the girls get home, you need to quit goofing off."

"Okay, okay; such a demanding little shit," Paul sighed, staring at another rack. "Oh wow, I think I may see something good!" He excitedly pulled a suit off a display.

"Oh, this should be a barrel of laughs," Brian groaned. "I swear to Christ, Paul, if you give me another crappy thing, I will come out there and fucking kill you where you stand. I should have saved the headache and brought my sister instead."

"No, man, you'll dig this one." Paul handed it over the door. "It's like the one Jericho wore the other night for one of his promos. That thing was sharp as hell. I've been wanting to get one like it. Check it out and see what you think."

"If it shuts you up, why not?"

"Put it on and let me see," Paul insisted.

A few minutes went by. "All righty. Ready?"

"Anytime you are, man."

Brian came out, a huge grin on his face. "If I didn't know better, I think you were on to something here, holmes."

"Dude!" Paul approved. "That is so the one! It's all Bree's going to do to keep from raping your ass when she sees you in it. And not that I'm gay or anything, but your ass is working those pants just right."

Brian looked at the tag. "And it isn't even going to set me back a king's ransom." He patted his best friend's shoulder. "Good work, Pedro."

"What would you do without me?" Paul gave a goofy grin.

"You can stop looking at my ass, for starters. Let's go pay for this thing and take it to altering. Then we can get some basketball in."

A short time later:

Briana emerged from the changing room wearing an ankle length ivory satin and lace dress. It had fit her perfectly, just as Nadine had predicted.

"What do you think?" she asked

"I think once Brian spies you he'll want to skip the ceremony and go straight to the molesting," Nadine teased. "Really, though, you look gorgeous."

"You know, I think you have an eye for something like this. Did you ever think about going into business?"

"With what, my looks? Bree, that only gets me dates."

"There's lots of good organizations that help women get into business. You know, I was even thinking of doing my own salon someday. I could use some of my investment money to get you started."

"Oh really, Bree, I couldn't–" Nadine began to protest.

"Think of it as an investment," Briana smiled. "Now, let's get this dress and you can go help me pick out shoes. I may also need a second opinion on flowers too. And once we get home, we can discuss your new adventure further."