Big & Beautiful 6: Plump & Pretty
Auteur
Mary E Thompson
Lezers
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Hoofdstukken
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Riley Williams' life takes an unexpected turn when her bosses at the independent bookstore, READ, announce their retirement and offer her the chance to buy the store. As she navigates the complexities of securing a loan and managing the business, Riley's world is further complicated by the reappearance of Connor Lee, a charming radio host from her past. Amidst financial challenges and romantic entanglements, Riley must decide what she truly wants for her future.
Chapter 1
Book 6: Plump & Pretty
I loved weddings. Always had. I guess it was my closet romantic side, but going to a wedding was a favorite pastime of mine.
It was even better that the wedding I was attending was for one of my closest friends. I’d met Sam about six months earlier when she came into my work, READ, to get some information about losing weight. Sam was plump, or fat as she would say, and her ex dumped her because of it. Yeah, he was an ass.
Lucky for Sam, in her quest to make her ex regret his words, she met Brady. They were great together. Over the last few months we’d all gotten to know Brady and saw what a kind man he was, and how completely devoted he was to Sam.
She was lucky.
My best friend, Carrie Taylor, and I were going to the wedding together. Neither of us had dates and didn’t feel like bringing guys we were only friends with. Four of our other five closest friends and their husbands were going to be there so we knew we’d have fun, even without dates. Our fifth friend, Charlie Black, was single like Carrie and I.
I picked Carrie up an hour before the ceremony. We’d known each other for years having met at University of Winterville as sophomores and only gotten closer over the years. We lived together in college, but as much as we loved each other, living together did not work for us.
Carrie met me outside her apartment wearing a fuzzy black coat that fell to her knees. A January wedding somewhat limited the dress options, but with all of us having winter figures, you know, the ones that looked better if you hid most of them, it worked. Carrie’s wavy brown hair floated behind her as she ran across the parking lot to my waiting car.
“Hey,” she said as she pulled the door closed. “Ooh, it’s nice and warm in here.”
“I’m just glad Sam changed her mind about the outdoor wedding,” I joked. Sam told us her dream wedding was at the gazebo at Winterville Park. When she first announced she was getting married in January, she was considering still going through with that plan, but Brady convinced her, gently, that getting married outdoors in January, in Winterville, wasn’t really a good option.
And he promised her a summer celebration at the gazebo to celebrate the anniversary of their first date. I’m pretty sure that sealed the deal.
“I don’t know what Sam was thinking, but it’s good Brady is more practical. I just hope he has some cute friends at the wedding.”
I shook my head and laughed. Carrie was always on the prowl. She wanted nothing more than to have kids, but she was more than happy to have some fun until she found the future father of her kids. I was just excited to see the love between Sam and Brady, but Carrie wanted to find a little happiness of her own.
St. John’s church was near where Sam and Brady lived, on Snowflake Street. Sam grew up Catholic, and her mom insisted on a church wedding, the only concession Sam made for her mother. Their relationship was rocky, at best, but improving. I struggled with that because I was close to my family, freakishly so it seemed at times. My mom was one of my best friends, and my two younger sisters were more friends than sisters, especially as we got older and didn’t have to live together.
At the church, we saw the limo parked out front and hustled inside. Carrie stripped her coat off as soon as the doors closed behind us to reveal a stunning jewel-toned green wrap dress. It ended a few inches above her knees and covered her ample cleavage, but still looked sexy. The black lace-up high-heeled boots she wore with it added another touch of sexy. Dangling earrings with black and green stones and a matching necklace completed her outfit.
Carrie would definitely be getting some attention.
She stepped up to the ushers waiting to seat us and snaked her arm through that of the man at the front of the line. He smiled down at her, no doubt peeking at her assets, and led her to a seat toward the front of the church. Another usher offered me his arm, and we followed behind Carrie wordlessly.
I sucked at small talk.
I thanked the man when I reached Carrie and paused to remove my own winter coat before sitting down.
“Damn, you look hot,” Carrie whispered when I sat down. “I might have to fight you for the cute ones tonight.”
Carrie and I never fought over men. Partly because she was interested in fun and I was interested in a relationship. We both wanted to find someone to share our lives with, but I wasn’t willing to play around in order to test out anyone who might work. When I slept with a guy, I needed to know there was a potential for more than just sex. Carrie was content with simply sex, but like me, seeing our new friends almost all paired off made it harder to ignore that ticking clock deep inside that said time was almost up.
I smiled at Carrie’s compliment. I was wearing a dress I’d made myself, one I was pretty proud of. I’d spent years teaching myself to sew, and that dress was the biggest project I’d ever completed. The sides were a solid cerulean blue, and down the center, front and back, and the tops of the sleeves was a damask print with the same blue. I’d made the collar high enough so I didn’t feel like my 40DDD breasts would fall out and cut it in an a-line to hide some of my plump belly. It ended mid-calf, and I’d added my favorite silver sparkling heels, the ones that were way too high, especially for someone who was five feet ten inches like me, to complete my outfit.
The dress was exactly like I’d imagined it would be. Of course I’d stayed up late all week to make it in time, but I loved it. It was one time I felt sexy and beautiful next to Carrie. Even though she carried extra weight like I did, there was a visible difference in our sizes, one that always made me feel like the fat friend.
“Brady has some cute friends,” Carrie whispered, winking at a guy across the aisle from us. “I think this is going to be a lot of fun.”
I shook my head at her. Sometimes I felt like I was a frumpy old woman with Carrie around. I was only a year older, but I’d never been as free or adventurous as she was. I couldn’t imagine hooking up with a guy I didn’t know. Not to say I was a prude, I’d had my fair share of dates and more sex than most of my friends knew about, but I wasn’t going to go home with a stranger, no matter how cute he was.
Charlie, Lexi, and her husband, Mike, were escorted to our row. Carrie and I slid down to make room for them. Two more friends we’d met a few months ago, Lexi was a corporate powerhouse, as was Mike, and Charlie owned the best cupcake shop in Winterville, Bite Me! Mike was in a suit that appeared to have been custom made for him, and knowing how much money they had, it probably was. Lexi looked equally impressive in a black cocktail dress that jutted out in flirty waves below her chest and rested at her knees. Her blonde hair was twisted into a knot at the base of her neck, looking both put together and sexy all at once. Charlie rounded out our group with a long black wool skirt and a baby pink sweater. Her chocolate and peanut butter hair fell in loose waves just past her shoulders and her bright blue eyes soaked in the church around us.
“You guys look amazing,” Carrie whispered, not very quietly, down the row. “We’re going to be beating them back with a stick.”
Mike raised his eyebrow at Carrie which earned him a wink. Everyone had already figured out she was the brash one of the two of us. She and Sam had that in common. I was fairly reserved, shy—most people would say—and had yet to come all the way out of my shell with our new friends. Yeah, I loved them, but it took a while to build up relationships that you knew would stand through anything. I was pretty sure I had that with Carrie, but I was still working on that with the rest of them.
Lexi leaned over Mike and stage-whispered back to Carrie, “Too bad I’m not single. Brady’s got some hot friends.”
“That’s what I said!” Carrie exclaimed. Lexi yelped when Mike’s tongue dipped into her ear then he whispered something I didn’t catch. Probably for the best. Lexi didn’t respond to Carrie’s comment as the music changed, indicating the ceremony was about to start.
We all turned to watch Sam’s mom being escorted up the aisle by her brother. Over the months, Brady and Brian had become close friends and he’d asked Brian to stand up in the wedding as Brady didn’t have a lot of close friends. Sam said it meant the world to her brother and you could see the pride in his eyes as he led their mom to her seat.
Brian took his place in the line of groomsmen. Brady’s mentor and father figure, Dave, was his best man. Greg, a trainer from the gym Brady owned, Dave’s Gym, stood next to Dave. Brian stepped next to Greg, and last was Sam’s brother-in-law, Mark. Brady had a horrible relationship with his dad growing up and had walled himself off from getting to know anyone else until Sam came along. Not only did she open him up to love, but she also helped him to move past what happened with his dad and accept the woman his dad had married after Brady left, and the half-sister he never knew about.
Unfortunately, Brady’s dad passed away before they could rebuild their relationship, but Sam said Brady forgave his dad and let go of the anger and pain he’d let control him for so long.
Looking at Brady as his sister, the flower girl, Grace, walked toward him, his eyes were filled with love. Brady loved his sister, and they had come so far in the few months since they’d met. She was adorable in a white princess dress complete with a puffy skirt and red heels that would have made Dorothy proud. A red ribbon snaked around her waist, accenting the shoes and setting off all the white.
Before Grace reached the altar, I sensed someone behind me, ducking into the pew with us. I glanced back and smiled at Xander, Aidan, and Joey. Their wives were the other three bridesmaids, and our good friends. They winked at me, and Xander, who stood beside me, grabbed my hand and squeezed. The three of them looked hot in grey and black suits, red ties to match their women’s dresses, and crisp white shirts.
I wanted one.
Well, not one of them, but a man of my own. One who liked the same things I liked. Someone I could share everything with.
Sam’s sister, Heather, stepped onto the aisle in a fire engine red velvet dress. Cap sleeves and a fitted chest with sweetheart neckline was a touch of modesty for the church wedding, but as she walked, I got a glimpse of her thigh as the loose, flowing skirt parted and showed the flirty, sexy side of the dresses. Heather, who favored their mom, had dark blonde hair curled and pulled up on the sides, secured with a single red rose. She carried a bouquet of white roses with a long red ribbon tying the stems together.
And wore black thigh-high Louboutin boots, the red soles matching the dress perfectly.
Damn, they were hot.
Claire and Mandy, the other two bridesmaids, followed Heather in matching outfits. Aidan and Xander, their husbands, each got blown a kiss from painted red lips as my friends walked by, something they were both clearly pleased by if the groans behind me were any indication. Then Addi, Sam’s best friend and matron of honor, finished the procession with a wink for her new husband, Joey, on her way past.
The music changed, and the double doors whisked open to reveal Sam with her arm looped through her dad’s. He was in a black tux that matched Brady’s, but every eye in the place was drawn to Sam. I gasped at how beautiful she was, not that Sam ever looked bad, but holy fuck, she looked hot. Her signature red glasses framed chocolate brown eyes that twinkled as they met Brady’s. Cherry lipstick drew attention from her silver-dusted eyes, but her sleek chestnut hair, left straight and long, was classic Sam.
A lace bodice with sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves like the bridesmaids’ dresses was accented by a ruby necklace. A red velvet ribbon tied under her chest with the ends trailing behind Sam as she walked. The rest of her dress had the same lace overlay, giving her a traditional feel despite the pops of red.
Then I saw her shoes. Forget Dorothy, Sam had on killer red velvet heels that matched the red sole. A lace pattern that matched her dress accented the red heels that I knew were boots, probably thigh highs like the others. Just above her toes, a white cord laced the boots, and I knew Sam picked those so Brady could unwrap her later.
I’d never seen a bride that looked equally demure and sexy, but if anyone could pull it off, it would be Sam.
Her dad kissed her cheek and handed her over to Brady, then took his seat beside Sam’s mom. Sam smiled at Addi as she handed over her bouquet, a collection of red roses tied with a white ribbon.
The priest welcomed us all to the ceremony and talked about the love he’d witnessed between Sam and Brady over the months that he’d gotten to know them. A couple readings, a unity candle, an exchange of vows and rings, and the priest was announcing them as Mr. and Mrs. Wright.
Brady cupped Sam’s jaw and whispered, “I love you,” before his lips came down over hers. Sam’s arms slipped under Brady’s jacket as their kiss tipped slightly past church-tongue to get-a-room. Everyone clapped and cheered, and when Xander let out a loud whistle, they broke apart, grinning like fools.
Brady held her hand as they walked down the aisle, a touch of Sam’s lipstick darkening his lips. The others followed, then we all gushed over how beautiful everyone looked.
“Leave it to Sam to make red look so good,” Carrie said.
“I know, right?” Lexi agreed. “Sexy but not slutty. Brady’s going to have fun unwrapping her later. Did you see those boots?”
“Ten bucks says she’ll keep them on for sex,” Carrie laughed.
I saw Mike’s eyebrows go up as he looked behind me, and I knew the guys were all imagining their women in those boots. Yep, the boots would stay on. For all of them.
I just shook my head.
“I’ve gotta make sure the cake is set up,” Charlie said, pushing past us to duck out the side door so she could make it back to the reception hall, an old Victorian house that had been converted to a banquet facility a few years ago. It was always a place I loved the look of, being a sucker for older homes, but had never been inside. I couldn’t wait to see what they’d done to the place. It seemed to hold a touch of magic, like anything could happen there. There was no doubt it would pass some of that magic on to Sam and Brady.
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m planning to have someone to go home with tonight. All this sweet, happy, love stuff is making me sad. I need someone to fill that void,” Carrie declared, sounding like she was joking, but I recognized the pain in her eyes. She hated weddings because they were a reminder that she was still looking. If Carrie were married she’d be one of those women who got pregnant on her honeymoon, or at least tried. She joked around the guys, but she wanted everything the rest of them had.
“You’ll find it,” Xander said, “when you least expect it.”
I nudged Xander, silently thanking him for easing the pain in her eyes. He’d gotten to know us well enough that he knew when we were full of shit, and Carrie’s eyes were definitely brown.
“Ooh, I think I see a willing participant now. Riles, look, two rows back across the aisle. Tall, dark hair, blue eyes, sexy as sin, and built like he can handle a woman like me. Even better, he’s looking over here.”
I looked across the aisle to find the man Carrie was ogling and my gaze connected with his. My breath burst from my lungs as though a Hoover had been installed. It couldn’t be. Not after all these years. What was he doing there?
“I wonder what his name is? I think I’ll go find out,” Carrie said, still grinning.
“His name is Connor Lee.”
