I stood there staring at my phone, my hand shaking slightly.
Tessa walked over slowly. “Halo… are you okay?”
“He told me he loves me,” I said, still stunned.
Omni’s eyes widened. “Already?”
“We’ve only been together a few weeks.”
“And?” Omni stepped closer. “My brother doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean. If he said it, he meant it.”
I swallowed, trying to find my balance. “What if it’s too fast?”
Tessa rested a hand on my shoulder. “Do you feel anything close to that? You don’t have to say it out loud. Just be honest with yourself.”
I thought about it. About the way my heart jumped every time I saw him. About how I reached for my phone a hundred times a day just to text him something random. About how safe I felt in his arms, how I felt when he looked at me, how much I trusted him even though I’d spent years not trusting anyone.
“I do,” I admitted. “I really do.”
“Then stop fighting the feeling,” Tessa said softly. “Not everything has to be earned. Some things just are.”
Omni placed a black Amex card in my hand. “Now that we’ve had our morning revelation, get dressed. We’re going shopping.”
Three hours later, the Silverrun Galleria had nothing left to give.
We’d hit every store that made sense. Aritzia for basics, Zara for cute extras, Saks for drama. Everything felt easier with Omni and Tessa. There was no cattiness between us, no competition—just three women enjoying the luxury of trying things on without rushing.
“You keep picking pieces like you’re trying to blend in,” Omni said as I held up a neutral dress. “Look at your life. You’re not blending in anywhere.”
“She's right,” Tessa added. “Get something that feels like where you are now, not where you were last year.”
It was the gentlest read I'd ever received. “So you just said I'm a last season dressing ass bitch?”
“If the shoe fits,” Tessa said, grinning. We laughed at our bookish insider joke.
“And clearly it does, because we’re about to get you some new ones,” Omni added, linking her arm through mine. “Come on. Louis is calling your name.”
The second we walked into Louis Vuitton, I knew this was where I’d find what I was looking for. The store had that quiet luxury energy—soft lighting, pristine displays, and associates who moved as if they were handling art rather than handbags.
“Good afternoon, ladies. Omni, it's good to see you today. How can I help you?”
“We’re looking for a statement piece, Jessie,” Omni said, gesturing to me. “Something bold. Courtside at a Pinnacles game for my sister-in-law.”
The associate’s eyes lit up. “I have just the thing.”
She led us to the back of the store, to a private room with new arrivals. And that’s when I saw it.
A short white fur crop jacket with a big LV logo stitched on the breast area in bold black letters. It was cropped just above the waist, structured but soft, the kind of piece that screamed luxury without being over-the-top.
“Oh my God,” I breathed, walking toward it.
“Try it on,” Jessie urged.
I slipped it, and even with jeans and sneakers, I felt transformed. The jacket was warm but light, bold but elegant. It fit perfectly.
“That’s it,” Omni said, nodding. “That’s the one.”
“It’s perfect,” Tessa agreed.
