Not Quite Perfect (Oakland Hills Book 3) by Gretchen Galway

overrated.”
    Rose’s skin flamed hot pink against the white silk. “Oh, baby, let’s get married yesterday.”
    “Okay,” he said.
    April put her hand over her heart and looked away, blinking hard.
    Wow. She’d thought she was way too jaded to care about two people getting it on, but…  
    She hurried to the door, waving over her shoulder. “Three’s a crowd, kids. I’ll meet you out front in a few minutes, how’s that?”
    “I think we embarrassed her,” she heard Rose say.
    And then her brother’s response: “Impossible.”
    He was right. She wasn’t embarrassed. She didn’t know what she was. Jealous? No, she was smiling. Happy?
    No. She was crying. She paused and wiped her face before turning the corner.
    Mark surprised her by joining her outside the dressing room. “It’s never a good idea to start something you can’t—hey, what’s the matter?”
    “I just needed a little air,” April said.
    The store was a small, cramped boutique in Oakland that specialized in plus-sized formal wear—proms and weddings, mostly. The only store clerk was busy helping another future bride and her seven best friends in the world pick out bridesmaid dresses. It looked like it was down to frothy pink or slinky black.
    “I know how you feel,” Mark said with a sigh. “She’s something, isn’t she?”
    Rose had insisted on bringing Mark, not caring if he was surprised on their wedding day—they were inseparable. Rose’s family was back East, and her best friend, Blair, had moved back there last summer with her fiancé, Bev’s cousin. Aside from her future in-laws and coworkers, Rose was alone in California.
    April couldn’t imagine what that would be like. She still lived at home with her mother, for God’s sake. She saw her brothers at least once a week, and embarrassing as it was, had to admit she’d miss them if she didn’t.
    Even Liam. Four weeks had gone by since he’d threatened to fire her if anyone complained about her. If anyone had, Rita had kept it to herself. April’s devotion to Rita grew by the day.
    “I hope she doesn’t change her mind,” Mark said, gazing toward the dressing room.
    April snorted. Love sure could turn a smart guy stupid. “Of course she won’t. I was just kidding.”
    “Every day she still wants me is a surprise,” he said.
    “You’ve got the self-esteem of a baked potato.” April poked him in the shoulder. “Which is crazy, given your accomplishments.”
    “That has nothing to do with anything,” he said.
    “Please. You founded companies before you graduated from high school. You’ve got millions in the bank. Geeks around the world worship you like a god.”
    He flushed and looked away, shaking his head. “It doesn’t matter, April. The only thing that matters is that I met Rose.” He cleared his throat. “And that she’s willing to have me.”
    April felt another wave of unidentified emotion wash over her. Tears pricked at her eyes. What was the matter with her? “You’re a catch. Even if you weren’t kind of good-looking, women would want you. You’ve done big things and still are true to yourself. You’re not just some jerk taking advantage of people to get ahead, you’re a real success.”
    He smiled down at her. “Gee, thanks, April.” He put an awkward arm around her. “I think you’re pretty great, too.”
    The unidentified emotion turned sour. She pulled away. “No, I’m the opposite of you. I’ve always had loads of self-esteem for absolutely no reason whatsoever.”
    He frowned, looking concerned.
    She went on, as much to herself as to him. “I used to be able to comfort myself that you and Liam were accomplished but socially stunted. I, on the other hand, lived a life of emotional and spiritual meaning. I had friends, boyfriends, my art.”
    “I kind of thought the same thing.”
    She shook her head and looked at a yellow taffeta gown with a neckline so low the wearer would need a bikini wax.
    She swallowed over her tight