We peel out, and she talks the whole way, a running commentary on her coworkers, the legal market, the idiocy of the last guy she matched with on one of the dating apps. I guess she and Adam are off again.
I let her monologue run, letting myself be dragged along by the momentum, occasionally chiming in when she pauses to breathe.
By the time we reach the mall, my mood has improved just from being in Mina’s presence. Our first stop is a boutique that smells like expensive candles.
Mina pulls items off the rack with startling efficiency, holding up a green blouse before putting it back without a word.
“So who all is going to the conference?” she asks as she continues making selections.
“It’s just all the attorneys in the office.”
“Does that include James?” She quirks an eyebrow.
“Yes, James will be there, too.”
Mina puts back every article of clothing she had previously picked out.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
She starts thumbing through the racks again, picking up entirely different pieces.
“I have a vision. Just trust me.”
“Mina, it’s a work conference, not a fashion show.” I huff a laugh.
She cuts her eyes to me.
“I’m not dressing you for a fashion show. I’m dressing you for James.”
The thought of James’s opinion on my outfits spikes my heartrate, and I realize I want him to think I look good. I want him to take one look at my outfit and decide it would be better off on the floor.
So I let her carry on.
I follow her to the dressing room, where she hangs up all my options. She takes the seat in the corner of the room, tossing out opinions as I wriggle in and out of each outfit. The last outfit being a green pencil dress that stops at the knees, professional but still appealing.
“You look so hot. That’s definitely your color. You need something for after hours, too, you know. You can’t be suited and booted the whole time.”
She thrusts a slinky black slip dress into my hands, and I nearly drop it.
“Absolutely not,” I hiss. “Mina. I cannot wear this.”
“Yes, you can. With strappy heels and a teeny purse and every piece of gold jewelry that you own.”
I hold it up, skeptical. “Where would I even wear this?”
She smirks. “Hotel bar? Or, if you’re lucky, someone’s room.”
I shake my head, but there’s a traitorous spark in my chest at the thought.
I try it on. It’s too much. It leaves very little to the imagination, which usually wouldn’t bother me. But for a work trip? I can’t.
“Holy shit, Ave.” She makes me do a spin so she can get the full picture. “I would fuck you in this dress. Just imagine what it’s gonna do to James.”
“This dress is obscene, Mina. And I highly doubt anything will be happening between me and James on this trip. The other attorneys in the office are going too, and it would be way too risky to be sneaking into each other’s rooms.”
“Ugh, fine. But you’re still getting this dress. You look way too good in it to leave it here. We just need to find a way to make it a little more appropriate.”
She studies the dress for a moment before adding, “What if we pair it with those boots we saw in the window and maybe your leather jacket? I want you to look like a problem.”
