Chapter 266: Chapter 270

Chapter 270 Audrey The late afternoon sun was streaming through the shop windows, casting long, golden shadows across the floor as I carefully pinned another section of delicate lace to the bodice of Avis’s welding dress The ivory silk was soft under my fingers, almost impossibly so, and the hand–beaded details caught the falling light, shimmering with every subtle movement of her body.

It truly was going to be the perfect wedding gown.

If she held still, that was.

“Stop fidgeting.” I muttered, a pin held between my lips as I tried to focus. Avis shifted on the pedestal for what felt like the hundredth, maybe even thousandth, time that day.

“I can’t help it,” she whined impatiently as her hand twitched toward her face. “My nose itches.”

Betty swatted her hand away before she could scratch herself. “Touch your face, and I swear, I’ll sew the shape of a big you-

know–what into your veil just to spite you.”

“You’re all tyrants,” Avis declared dramatically, although the sparkle in her eyes betrayed her. She was far too excited to genuinely complain. She turned her head slightly, watching us through the mirror as we worked, the smile tugging at her lips unmistakable.

Tina emerged from the back room a moment later, her arms overflowing with yet another box of beads. “Yep. Just a bunch of tyrants who are making you the most beautiful wedding dress the world has ever seen,” she said, sticking out her tongue as she set the supplies down.

Avis stuck her tongue out right back, but we all knew Tina wasn’t wrong. The dress was breathtaking–a masterpiece of lace, with delicate sleeves and a bodice fit for a queen.

We had been working on it together for weeks, fitting in late–night sessions and stolen moments between Avis’s customers, every stitch and bead sewn with all of our love. When Avis had asked us to make her wedding gown for her, we couldn’t refuse.

And we knew it had to be utterly perfect for our friend.

“Speaking of beautiful things...” Avis’s voice took on a slightly more mischievous quality, her eyes darting toward Betty. “How was your date last night?”

Betty’s hands stilled over the hem of the train, her cheeks instantly turning a delicate shade of pink. “It wasn’t a date,” she muttered, her voice a little too small to be entirely convincing. “Peter and I just got coffee.”

“For the fourth time this week,” I pointed out, grinning as I tucked another piece of lace into place on the bodice. “It’s starting to sound a little date–like, don’t you think?”

Betty’s blush deepened, but she kept her gaze stubbornly on the fabric in front of her. “No, it’s not-”

“Oh my goddess, they’re totally dating!” Tina squealed, practically dropping into the nearest chair as she hugged her knees to her chest. “Spill the details. Don’t leave us hanging.”

Betty huffed, although there was the faintest smile playing at her lips. “There are no details to spill,” she protested weakly. “We’re just... talking.”

“Talking,” I repeated, exchanging a knowing glance with Tina. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”

She rolled her eyes. “Okay, talking and maybe a little kissing,” she admitted, looking like she was about to pass out from the topic.

10:53 Sun, Nov 10 Chapter 270 87%0 Avis grinned. “I knew you two would be perfect together. We’ve all been waiting for you two to finally go out for ages. He was clearly smitten with you the moment you laid eyes on each other, Are you mates?”

“We’re not together yet,” Betty grumbled, but the small smile still lingered. “We’re just exploring our possibilities. And even if we were mates, I wouldn’t tell you three gossip vultures until we’re ready.”

Tina’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “So you are mates,” she teased, carling a well–deserved glare from Betty.

“Speaking of which, Tina,” Betty shot back, her voice regaining some of its usual sharpness. “How’s your love life going.

hmm?”

Tina shrugged, but there was something thoughtful in the gesture as she ran her fingers through the beads in the box she was holding. “It’s... non–existent, actually. I deleted all of my dating apps yesterday.”

My eyebrows shot up. “I thought you wanted a girlfriend.”

She shrugged again. “I do. Someday. But... I’m still coming to terms with everything that went down with my parents. Still learning to accept myself. I’m not sure if I want to subject another person to that mess.”

Her words made us all pause. Betty glanced at me from where we were working behind the gown, and I offered her a slight shrug in response.

“The right person won’t mind,” Betty finally said, “messes and all”

Tina let out a soft sigh. “Easier said than done. Although I would love a girlfriend, don’t get me wrong. Especially since you’re all finding love like it’s going out of style. I want to be swept off my feet and wear a pretty wedding dress.”

Avis suddenly perked up, a little too quickly, causing herself to wobble slightly on the pedestal as she gestured toward her phone.

“Oh! I have someone you should meet! My friend Sarah from high school–the one who does graphic design!”

“The one with the tattoos and the motorcycle?” Tina’s eyes widened slightly.

Avis grinned as Betty handed her her phone. She swiped on the screen for a few moments before turning it toward all of us, showing off a photo of a very attractive girl with hot pink hair and a motorcycle helmet tucked under her arm.

“And she’s single,” Avis said with a wink. “Very single. And very gay.”

The blush that crept up Tina’s face as Avis laughed was priceless. Betty, Avis and I couldn’t help but burst out into laughter at her flustered state.

“I hate all of you,” Tina muttered as she quickly turned away.

“No, you don’t,” I teased, stepping back to admire the progress on the dress. “You love us.”

Tina sighed dramatically at the window. “Unfortunately.”

The room fell into a comfortable silence after that as we returned to our work. The sun had dipped lower in the sky, casting the room in a wash of warm, dusky gold. It felt peaceful–truly, wholly peaceful, for the first time... maybe ever.

When I finally secured the last piece of lace into place, I stepped back and exchanged glances with Betty and Tina. It was finished. Still needed sewing, of course, but everything was pinned and ready to go.

“Alright,” I said, straightening up. “I think we’re done here.”

“Big reveal?” Betty asked.

Tina beamed. “Big reveal.”

Avis’s eyes widened as she stepped down from the pedestal with our help, turning toward the full–length mirror for the first 9/2 10:53 Sun, Nov 10 Chapter 270 time since we’d begun working on her gown.

For a long moment, she just stood there, staring at her reflection in stunned silence. One hand slowly rose to cover her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes.

The dress–her dress–was perfect. The pinkish–hued silk hugged her figure and complemented her mousey hair perfectly, cascading into elegant folds that pooled softly at her feet. The lace on the bodice glittered like frost kissed by the morning sun, delicate and intricate, trailing down the back in a soft, sweeping train.

“Oh.” Avis whispered, her voice trembling. “Oh, it’s...”

“Don’t you dare cry,” Betty warned, her own voice wobbling. “You’ll make me cry”

But it was too late. Tears spilled down Avis’s cheeks, leaving dark streaks of mascara on her skin. She turned to us, pulling us all into a bone–crushing hug that took us all by surprise given her small stature.

“I love you guys,” she whispered, her voice muffled by our clothes as we stood there, tangled up in each other’s arms. “Thank you. Thank you for this.”

We held her close, each of us feeling the weight of everything that had brought us to this moment–the heartache, the battles, the victories.

And standing there together, in that quiet, sunlit shop, it felt like we had never left that studio that we’d once shared in college, where we’d had so many ups and downs and laughter and arguments. And maybe a part of us was still there, in a way. Or maybe we had just brought it with us—maybe it would go everywhere, from now until the end, no matter where we went After all, you never truly leave the place where you