Keeping Secrets in Seattle - By Brooke Moss Page 0,43
money for three wedding dresses?” I asked with a smirk.
“No.” She pressed her lips together as the clerk behind the counter took my card and swiped it.
I felt incredibly justified in my hatred of Miss Von Longorial. “And how long do you plan on keeping it a secret?”
Alicia’s eyes flashed. “Not long.”
“Because he really needs to know how much of his money you’re spending on this dress. He’s already having to work extra hours to pay for this extravaganza.” I signed the receipt and returned my card to my wallet.
Alicia’s eyes narrowed. “I know that.”
Dropping my wallet back into my purse, I turned to face her head on. “Then I guess you’d better tell him soon, so that I won’t be compelled to do it.”
I waved gaily at the girls, who all stared at me like I was an alien, then pushed the glass door open without another glance at Alicia. I had to get to Gabe’s house and didn’t want to miss my bus.
All’s fair in love and wedding planning. This. Was. War.
Chapter Twelve
September 10, 2003
His lips were every bit as soft as I always thought they would be. And though he simply nipped at my lower lip, just a nibble, it made all of the air escape from my lungs. When I sighed and tried to deepen our kiss, Gabe jerked his head back half an inch and looked at me with a satisfied grin. He didn’t say a word. His thrilled expression said it all. Our first official date started off so perfect. Who knew what a disaster the night would turn into…
“Holy crap. Is that bulgogi?” Gabe held open his apartment door.
“And bindaeddeok.” I held up another box as I breezed through the door. “Isn’t Alicia home from the fitting yet?”
He shut the door behind me. “No, she and Marissa had to take the ferry to Whidbey Island to talk to some guy about his string quartet to play at our rehearsal dinner. She’ll be gone for the rest of the day.”
I smirked and hurried around the corner into the kitchen before he could see. “A string quartet? Fancy. If that’s what we’re in store for at the rehearsal dinner, then I can’t wait to get to the reception.”
“Tell me about it.” Gabe plucked some chopsticks from my armload and grabbed a box. “This fiasco is taking over my life. And bank account.” He popped a piece of meat into his mouth. “Thanks for the food. You always know what I like.”
“You still planning a wedding to rival Will’s and Kate’s?” I pried open my own box of food and started poking around in it.
He shrugged and leaned against the kitchen counter. “Alicia is.”
I bit back all of the less-than-savory things I wanted to say about his fiancée and popped a giant bite of kimchi into my mouth. I’d always felt like Alicia’s friendliness toward me wasn’t exactly genuine, but now I knew it. Those icy glares she shot at me when she thought I wasn’t looking confirmed that fact. And lest I not forget the things Shawn told me about her. I needed to get to the bottom of this. Did she really love Gabe, or was there something else she was after?
“What did you get?” He looked over at my box. I showed him, and he shuddered. “I don’t know how you can eat that stuff. It smells like feet.”
I accepted his effort to change the subject. “Oh, this from the guy who eats pork rinds? Those things are repulsive, and they smell like farts. Are you kidding me?”
“Pork rinds have nothing on kimchi.”
“Oh, please. You just say that because you’re too chicken to try it.”
His forehead wrinkled. “I am not. I just don’t like eating things that smell like gym shoes.”
I scooped out a giant spoonful of the fermented cabbage. “Whatever, dude. You can’t eat hot stuff. You’ve got no tolerance for hot food, but you play it off like you don’t like it, to appear more manly.”
“Whatever, Vi.”
“It’s true! You can’t eat your mother’s enchiladas, either.”
He wiped his face on a napkin, then tossed it in my direction. “You think you’ve got me so figured out. I’m plenty manly.”
“Are you? Then take a big ol’ manly bite of kimchi to prove it.”
He glared at me, the corners of his full lips twitching. “You’re such a jerk.”
I held the spoon underneath his mouth. “Whatever. Take a bite, and prove me wrong.”
He snatched the spoon from me and savagely jammed the blob of kimchi