Foul Ball

After hanging up the phone with Jayce, I slipped back under the dark cocoon of my covers. I'd already drawn the shades, because even the slightest hint of too much light made my head spin with agony. It was a migraine, a real one, and what I hadn't told Jayce is that I'd been throwing up all morning on account of it.

For the next eight hours I slept again, in and out of reality and exhaustion. I woke up in a cold sweat more than once, confused and disoriented each brief second before I'd fallen asleep again.

The sound of my bedroom door opening along with the zip of the curtain as someone pulled it aside to let dusk trickle in woke me hours later. I groaned and opened one eye, still hiding under the covers, barely catching sight of the alarm clock through a crack in the blanket. It was after five.

"Rise and shine, sweet pea," a familiar voice said. Candace. "Someone forgot that they were going dress shopping today, apparently."

A second voice spoke, another familiar one. "How are you feeling, Mace? I hope it's okay that I tagged along."

"p?" I mumbled, throwing the blanket weakly off my head. It wasn't even bright outside, but the little bit of light assaulted my eyes and I had to close them for a beat before opening them again. Candace stood across my bedroom floor, one hand still on the curtain as she grinned at me, free hand on her hip. Standing at the foot of my bed was Paisley, who was ringing her hands anxiously, as if concerned that I might actually be angry that she was there. "Hi, P," I said, clearing the frog from my throat. "Did Candace make you come?"

"I didn't make her," said Candace. "I invited her. She wanted to come. Apparently you have, like, friends or something."

"Okay," I struggled to sit up, wincing as my stiff limbs screamed awake. "But why were you two together anyway?"

"Funny story," Candace said, and Paisley chuckled. "The salon I work at had a, um, fire emergency this morning. One of the techs left a curling iron on top of a stack of magazines." "Jesus," I said. "Was anyone hurt?"

"Just Tiffany, but only because she tried to save the magazine with Gerard Butler on the cover and got burned."

"Yes," Paisley added before I could respond. "We did ask why she couldn't just find another copy."

Candace shrugged. "She didn't have an answer. Tiffany was never the brightest tool in the ground."

"The "

"Anyway," said Paisley, grinning with embarrassment. "I knew you weren't feeling well last night, but Jayce mentioned to us that you were going to still try to go." Damn you, Gregory.

"So, what do you think? Are you feeling up to it?"

I wasn't, not really, but I wasn't about to tell them that. I knew how excited Candace was for this, and I was actually glad that Paisley was there. With Paisley to mediate the night, I might get home in a timely manner so I could fall back into bed.

"Fine," I groaned, sliding off the mattress to get to my feet. I hadn't the energy to change, so I was still wearing my jeans and Eagle River EMS t-shirt. I slipped my shoes on without untying them and straightened my shirt, brushing some lint from the fabric of my shirt.

"Okay," Candace said. And for a moment, she looked like she wanted to say more. She opened her mouth, caught the quick, subtle shake of Paisley's head over mine, and closed it again. "You look great, sweetie." "Thanks."

"Jayce is a lucky, lucky man."

Much to my dismay, Candace refused to just stop by Walmart and call it good. No, in fact we ended up driving all the way to Denver to hit every single downtown boutique and see probably close to one hundred dresses. "Why are your torturing me?" I asked as Candace pulled into the parking lot of the first store of the night. "This is going to take all night long."

"Don't worry, that's why we're here," Candace said, giving me a once over with what I could only assume was loving judgment as I stepped out of the car after her and Paisley. "Besides, Macey, you won't be difficult to dress. You have hips for days."

"Childbearing hips," Paisley piped up, and I rolled my eyes.

"Why can't Jayce go in the floozy dress and I go in the tux?"

"Because you're a female," hissed Candace. "Act like it."

"It's going to be fine, lady," Paisley said, linking her arm in mine with a tender squeeze. It was simple, but it made me feel better. "You'll have fun, I promise."

"I think our definitions vary greatly," I mumbled, but it became pretty clear to me as the night went on that I had about point five percent of a say that had anything at all to do with which dresses to try on, pick out, and wear.

In other words, I was just along for the torturous ride.

On our way to the fourth shop of the night, we stopped off at a small hole-in-the-wall diner for burgers and fries. In my opinion, that and that alone had been worth getting out of bed, if even just barely.

"If we don't find this perfect dress at the next place," I said through a mouthful of burger. "I'm going home." I hadn't eaten since the night before, so I felt ravenous, but even as the burger and potatoes hit my stomach, bile rose in my throat and I had to choke down some water to keep from vomiting it back up.

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"We'll see," Candace said, glancing at her Fitbit. "It's only nine. We still have some time."

"Nine?" said Paisley. "It's past my bedtime."

With a chuckle, we finished up our food and paid the check, then got back into Candace's car for another short drive down the road to another boutique. I checked my phone before sliding out of the car this time, seeing a text I'd apparently missed from Jayce.

I hope you're feeling better. Send the girls away if you need to.

I laughed, typing up a quick reply. So much for that.

They already have me. Food helped. I told Candace this is the last stop of the night :)

No luck finding the perfect dress?

Not yet. Like I said, I'll go in a potato sack by the end of it.

That's fine. It wouldn't matter.

"Earth to Macey," Candace said, snapping her fingers in my face. I hadn't realized we were inside already, and a nice middle-aged woman with a tight hairdo and too much makeup smiled at us.

"Do you know what you're looking for?" she asked me. I shrugged, glancing over at Candace, who rolled her eyes and stepped up.

"We want the perfect dress," she said, settling her hands on her hips. "Can you help us?"

Somehow, and I still don't know how, we did find the perfect dress. After all those shops, after more than a dozen costume changes, we finally found the flipping dress.

"It's gorgeous," Paisley gushed, her eyes popping wide as I stepped out of the changing room, tense and waiting for their reaction. Candace, who had been admiring some wedding dresses a few feet away, turned to look when Paisley gasped, and for the first time all night I saw the approval in her eyes.

"Well, shit," she said, dropping her hands to her side dramatically. "We found the dress."

And indeed we had. The stunning aqua blue gown was studded with jewels all down the back, draping over my shoulders like silk. A half slit showed plenty of leg but was just modest enough to keep him guessing. I loved it.

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"I think this is the one we'll take," I said to the employee with a small smile, and even she nodded in sincere approval.

"That dress has been here for months, and you're the first person to try it on that actually seems made for it."

I was giddy as I went back to the changing room to change clothes and pack up my dress. I had never been one for material things, as I'd choose sweats and a hoodie over a dress any day, but I was excited about this one. I felt good in it; really good. And I knew Jayce would love it on me. I loved it on me.

"What about some shoes, Mace?" Paisley asked as I came out of the changing room with the dress draped over my arm.

"And look here," said Candace, admiring a row of brilliant diamonds that were probably fake, but expensive. "You're already set for the bracelet, but maybe we can find a necklace to match?"

"It's all lovely," I said, digging into my back pocket for my wallet. "But I can barely afford the dress, let alone anything else." "Oh, that reminds me," Paisley said, reaching into the pocket of her zipped jacket to pull out a credit card. "It's on Erik." "What?"

"Yeah, he overheard Candace talking about it to me," she said. "He really wanted to do something for you to show how proud of you he is."

A lump rose in my throat and my hand fluttered to my heart as yet another wave of adoration for my uncle overcame me. I had known for a long time that getting through life without his guidance would be nearly impossible, but he cared for me in such a way that my own father should have cared, or even my mother.

"No crying allowed," Paisley said, reaching out to squeeze my upper arm. "This is going to be the best time of your life. Embrace it."

I looked between Candace and Paisley, realizing right then just how lucky I was to have not only two good friends, but sisters; sisters who looked out for me when I needed it the most. Sisters who got excited for me about the things that I should be happy about, too. Sisters. Family.

We settled on a stunning pair of lacy silver heels that glimmered under the light. I picked out a pair of teardrop diamond earrings and a beautiful necklace and we purchased what we needed before heading out of the little boutique, bags in hands, and my mood rising, just a little bit.

"Thank you, guys," I said, putting the bags in the trunk of Candace's car before sliding into the backseat so we could head home. "I needed this today."

"That's what we're here for," said Candace, pulling through a coffee shop drive-through so we could all order a drink before the drive home. "I love having a new friend. Honestly, most of the guys on Dalton's team don't keep a girlfriend long- term, so every time I get to know a girl it's only a matter of time before she's broken up with and never seen again. It kind of sucks."

"I can't guarantee how long I'll be around," I said with a chuckle, sipping my iced chai. "But you can enjoy me while I'm here. I'm happy to have you both in my life. Sincerely."