Page 109 of Possessive Ink

“Family card, family money,” he reminds me.

After Atticus told me that he and Felix share a bank account and pool their money, I was a little surprised, but given how close the brothers are, it makes sense. Since I officially moved in, I’ve been having my wages paid into it too, and Atticus put my name on the account alongside his and Felix’s and got me a credit card that is linked to it. Honestly, whenever Atticus and I are together, he pays for everything, but it still feels a little strange to be spending money out of an account that isn’t just mine.

“There’s plenty of money, so buy what you want. Don’t look at the price,” he says.

“We get married in two weeks. Most wedding dresses have an order time of six to nine months. I’ll be lucky if they have a sample in my size at all. I don’t think I’ll get to be picky,” I admit. “But I do have to go. Wish me luck.”

“Good luck. I love you,” he says, reluctantly releasing me.

“Love you too.”

Kissing him again, I dart away from him and toward the door, swallowing down the nerves that have thickened in my throat. In the last month, my friendship count has gone from zero to…well, a lot.

After my first day at work in Tori’s store, I’d gone to the tattoo studio where I’d met Betty, Etta, and Leo. Betty had insisted that we join her and her family for dinner, where I’d met Bonnie, Cora, Alice, Lulu, Juni, and Missy. Within an hour, I’d been added to a dozen group chats, and I was invited out for drinks where I met James, Parker, Henry, and Verity.

Somehow, in the space of a few weeks, I now have a huge group of friends, and I’m honestly not sure how it happened. As I step out of the warehouse and into the warm morning sunlight, I’m shocked to find a huge black bus full of my new friends waiting in the courtyard.

“Come on,” Bonnie beckons from the driver’s seat just as the sliding rear door opens and a gaggle of excited cheers herald my arrival.

Beside Bonnie in the front seat is James, then in the back of the van are Tori, Missy, Verity, and Cora with her newborn baby in a car seat beside her.

“Get in. My boobs are starting to drip,” Cora shouts.

Climbing into the final empty seat, I slide the door closed, then pull my seat belt across me.

“Knight is driving Octy, Betty, Leo, and Etta and meeting us at the store, because he doesn’t trust any of us to keep her safe,” James says, rolling her eyes even as she smiles widely.

“Do you think I’ll be able to find anything? I know I’ll have to get a sample, but I don’t know how many they keep hold of,” I ask no one in particular.

“We’re not actually going to a bridal store,” Cora says, reaching over to touch her tiny baby boy.

“Where are we going then?”

“I have a friend who is a buyer for a department store with a huge bridal section. They usually only hold samples for three months, and then they change out the stock and put all the samples into a holding room until they have a huge sample sale once a year.”

“Okay,” I say slowly.

“Their sample sale is in a couple of weeks, but she owed me a favor, so she’s letting us into the sample room today. There are hundreds of dresses for you to choose from,” Cora says excitedly.

“Are you serious?” I gasp.

“Yep. This is going to be so much fun.”

Instead of going to a mall, we arrive at a huge outlet store in an industrial unit with shutters pulled down over what I’m assuming is the entrance doors. Knight’s car is already parked outside, and when we slow to a stop beside him, Etta, Betty, and Leo all spill out of the back seat, followed by Octy, who waits in the car until Knight opens her door. As a group, we all follow Cora around to the rear of the building, where we’re greeted by a smiling woman who introduces herself as Jill. She leads us into the back of the store through a small service door.

“Cora, I can’t believe you have three children now,” Jill says, peering longingly into the baby carrier Cora is carrying.

“I know,” Cora sighs, unstrapping baby Jerico and bringing him to her chest.

“We haven’t told anyone yet, but I’m pregnant,” Jill whispers, like she’s worried saying it too loud will make it not true.

Cora’s expression softens. “Jill, I’m so happy for you guys.”

“The doctors said it wouldn’t happen. It doesn’t feel real yet, except for the fact that my boobs are enormous and sore.” She giggles.

“You just wait until you’re crying and laughing and furious all at the same time. Being pregnant is insane,” Cora says, and most of the women around me nod in agreement.

“I’ll take insanity if it means I have a baby in the end,” Jill says softly, stroking a finger over Jerico’s tiny hand. “Okay,” she says, turning away from the baby. “The rails are through here.” She opens a door and steps into a huge store filled with rails full of wedding dresses. “There’s a changing room in the far corner. I have a load of admin to do, so I’m going to set my laptop up in the back office. Shout at me if you need anything.”