Bending the Rules (The Rules, #1)

Brenna

My breasts are on full display for Ella, Melody, and Catina.

Chelsea Smith is in the corner. Her back is facing us and she's complaining about being left out. "I'm not a kid! We're all ladies here. Let's not contribute to the stigma about breasts. Hell, my breasts are bigger than most of yours!" She pauses, her voice turning sympathetic. "No offence, Melody."

"None taken," Melody chuckles. Her gaze drops to her flat chest. "Any jokes are a kick in the ass for breast cancer. It didn't take my life, so it deserves to be made fun of."

A round of grateful chuckles echoes through the spacious room. Watching Melody go through all those treatments for breast cancer without knowing if they'd work was stressful.

"But seriously!" Chelsea continues. "Why can't I help? I'll hold the dress in place."

"I could just wear a bra," I mutter. This is mortifying, but I need their help. Gauging how the dress will look when it's zipped up plays major role in the placement of my breasts. Not wearing a bra and using body tape instead makes things complicated.

Catina's mouth drops open. "So everyone can see the band of your bra? Fuck that, Brenna! The back of your dress dips low to show off your wicked back muscles. Not to see a gaudy, uncomfortable bra band that cuts into your skin."

I stick my tongue out at her. It's childish, but I'm feeling overwhelmed. Within the next hour, I'll be walking down the aisle.

"Brenna is marrying your brother," Ella says. She's holding a roll of transparent body tape. There's a piece of it sticking to her finger, the one end fluttering has she talks with rapid hand gestures. "She feels like you seeing her breasts would make things uncomfortable, as they're only meant for one set of Smith eyes. There's nothing about stigma here, Chels. Just family issues."

Chelsea snorts. "At least Shea and I would have something to talk about."

My cheeks turn pink, and I avert my gaze to the mirror. Sometimes, it's creepy how similar Shea and Chelsea are. She turned fourteen last month, and she's as stubborn and cocky as her brother was in high school, while also being a sweetheart. She's also ten times better at hockey than either of us were. Boys and girls in her class have nothing on her. With her smart mouth, kind heart, and outstanding hockey skills, Chelsea Smith is a force to be reckoned with. 

I stand in the middle of them, my wedding dress pulled down to my waist while the girls try to help me fix the body tape. There's one piece that won't adhere to my skin and hold my breast up. Catina's right. I can't wear a strapless bra. Not with this flawless dress and my hair and makeup, and the overall atmosphere tonight.

Chelsea snorts. "Stop adding to the stigma around nipples. You've already gone too far by covering them with tape. It's not—no, you know what?" She turns around and storms over to us. Her wavy blonde hair flashes beneath the lighting, and her silk robe swirls as she walks. She doesn't stop until she's standing behind me and holding the back of my dress up, near my lower back. This allows Melody to step away and join Ella and Cat before me.