“Gee!” Rosie’s voice sounds from the other side of the changing cubicle. “Open up!”
With a flick of Aurelia’s wrist, the door to my changing room opens for a second time, revealing my still fully clothed best friend. She stares at me for a heartbeat, before clapping her hands together loudly.
“Oh my fucking god, Gee! You look like a knockout! Hudson is going to lose his mind, oh my—”
“And Hudson is…”
“My—” I pause. Hudson and I haven’t really gotten around to talking about labels quite yet, but I’m not sleeping with anyone else – ha – and neither is he.
“Her boyfriend,” Ro replies for me, sweeping her eyesight down my body. “And he is going to freak the fuck out when he sees you, Gee. I’ll be surprised if you can even walk straight.”
Rosie and Aurelia dissolve into a fit of giggles whilst I roll my eyes playfully.
I’m hoping they’re not wrong, but I’m happy keeping that little titbit of information to myself.
Grabbing another lingerie set from the rail, an electric green coloured one this time, I usher them both away, still able to hear them laughing like schoolgirls from the other side of the door.
Setting the red underwear set aside as a definite yes, I shimmy my way into the lime bra, grimacing as the underwire digs into my sternum.
It’s pretty – the colour complimenting my pale skin and dark hair – but the material digs into my flesh. If I wear this for any more than a couple of minutes, I know for a fact it’s going to leave red indent marks across my hips and beneath my breasts.
Stripping, I gather the lime green bra and knickers into a definite ‘nope’ pile, reaching for the third item Aurelia has picked out for me.
Time rushes by in large dollops while I play dress up, sipping champagne and giggling with the girls. Confidence dances through me as I find pieces that fit my body like a glove, highlighting the dip of my toned waist and the slight flare of my hips.
Hanging the last article of clothing – a luxurious silk robe Aurelia chose for me – in my ‘maybe’ pile, I slip back into my regular day clothes with an extra bounce to my step. It feels good to treat myself.
“Happy with your choices?” Aurelia asks, taking my three definite ‘yes’ items from my arms and into her own.
I nod. “Very.”
“Good.” She smiles toothily, peering down at the expensive laced goods in her hands. “You’re not buying the lilac set?”
Pressing my lips together, I reach back into the changing cubicle, plucking the lilac underwear set from where it had been hanging from the rail, almost subject to being left behind, and place it in Aurelia’s outstretched palm.
“You’re a bad influence, you know that?”
She smirks at me, all big doe eyes round with faux innocence. “Oh, I know.”
Aurelia flounces off to the tills, leaving me to knock on the door of Rosie’s cubicle. “You okay, Ro? I—”
“Pink or red?” she calls.
“Um… pink?”
“Pink it is,” she singsongs. “I won’t be too much longer! I’ll come find you once I’m finished.”
Leaving Ro to her own devices, I wander away from the front of the store towards a section at the back. A glance over my shoulder tells me Aurelia is busy with another shopper, so I take the chance to look around by myself.
Quietly singing along to the words of a pop song playing from the overhead speakers, I run my fingers along the smooth boxes standing proudly on the shelf.
Plucking one at random, I turn it around so I can read the details embossed onto the back.
Hm.
Five different settings. Guaranteed long battery life. Waterproof for underwater…fun.
My interest is piqued. But then I make the mistake of glancing at the price, and I set the sleek looking box containing the vibrator back down.
