Keeping Secrets in Seattle - By Brooke Moss Page 0,24

distractedly while they discussed all the different ways one could be draped in silk. Alicia pulled out pictures of the different dress designs she was considering and passed them around, to which the girls started ooh-ing and aah-ing. I allowed myself to be dropped out of the conversation, sitting back in my seat and digging into my omelet—yolks included—wondering how these girls could afford to pay forty bucks for a buffet they’d only eaten one-sixteenth of.

“How about you, Violet?” Alicia’s question cut into my thoughts.

All four of the bridesmaids were now staring at me, waiting for me to agree with Alicia.

I set my last slice of crispy bacon back on the plate. “Pardon?”

Alicia slid a picture down the length of the table to me. “What do you think about wearing a simple black dress?”

I held my breath. This was where the real Alicia was bound to come out. The resentment I’d picked up on from the first day I met her would drive her to pick out the least flattering dress out there. Alicia wouldn’t want anyone to outshine her on the big day.

The picture hit my fingers, and I looked down. Surprise washed over me, and my mouth dropped open. The dress she’d picked out was beautiful. A vintage-inspired strapless tea-length, with a full skirt and a satin sash around the waist. It would complement my curves and looked like something I might have picked out myself.

I was relieved that I wouldn’t be wearing a chicken suit, and that Alicia had picked the right dress for my figure. Did she always have to do everything right? No wonder Gabe was marrying her. She was freaking perfect.

“That dress is great.” I slid the photograph back to Alicia. “Who doesn’t like black? Black is slimming, right?”

“Good thing.” Rose whispered into her mimosa.

Marissa examined me with a grin. “Will you be bringing a date to the wedding?”

I silently thanked God that I had a boyfriend. “Yes.”

Alicia blinked in surprise. “Who?”

“His name is Landon. We’ve been seeing each other for a few weeks.” I popped a stray grape into my mouth.

Alicia’s mouth twitched. “Wow. That’s great, Violet. Does he, you know, have tattoos and stuff?”

Rose frowned at me. “Should make for some interesting wedding photos.”

I took a bite of my bacon and chewed it slowly, trying to think of a good response to that.

Kate looked up from her BlackBerry and announced, “You can’t let just anybody in your wedding party. These pictures will be on your wall forever.”

Alicia nodded. “True. I wanted to have my cousin in the wedding party, but—”

“Naomi?” Marissa barked. “Ugh. She’s fat.”

“Well, I wanted you girls first, of course,” Alicia said.

Rose propped her chin on her hand. “You told me she would stick out like a hippo amongst swans.”

Alicia glanced at me, her cheeks turning pink. “I didn’t think she was a good fit.”

And…there was the girl I knew was inside of Alicia. It was clear by the way she shifted in her seat that I was starting to see the bitch underneath her super sweet candy shell.

“Are there going to be any hot groomsmen in your wedding?” Kate asked, pushing her plate back.

Rose grinned wickedly. “I second that.”

Alicia laughed. “Well, Gabe’s friend, Lyle, is married. But Greg is single. Or at least I think he is.”

“Is he cute?” Shawn called, fingering her licorice braids.

“Sort of.” Alicia brushed her hair off her bony shoulder. “Not as cute as Gabriel, though.”

All the girls nodded like obedient robots. “Not many men are,” Marissa pointed out, flashing her giant teeth.

That’s for sure, I thought, looking down at my discarded bacon, forcing myself to picture Landon’s tousled faux-hawk and shining eyes. I needed to focus on the now. And Landon was the now.

“And then, of course, there is Cam.”

“Cam, who?” Marissa asked.

Alicia’s gaze landed on me. “Cameron Hakes.”

I saw a flash of light in my peripheral vision, and it felt like I’d been punched in the gut. I swallowed down the lump in my throat and squeezed my eyes shut. She couldn’t have mentioned another name that would have conjured up such a violent reaction. There was only one person on God’s green earth I hated so much it coursed through my veins with my blood, and that was Gabe’s other best friend, Cameron Hakes.

“Tell us about him,” Rose squealed. “Is he rich?”

Alicia’s eyes shifted back to her friend. “He’s very good looking. Blond, muscular, works as a sports writer in San Diego now. We flew there a few months ago to see