“You do realize I’m a redhead, right?” I asked.
She sighed. “Redheads are wearing pink right now. It’s a trend.”
“Not this redhead.” I hated the color pink almost as much as I hated shopping.
“What about this one?” She held up a sheer baby-blue gown, accented with crystals.
“Do I look like Elsa? Don’t you have anything in black?”
She eyed me, then addressed Addison. “Her skinis far too pale for black. It will only make her look ghastly.”
“I know, I know. Have her try on that lavender chiffon dress.”
Irritated at the way they were talking like I wasn’t even in the room, I plucked the purple dress from the rolling clothes rack and stormed into my room to try it on. It was strapless, sequined, too tight around my boobs (pushing them up almost to my neck), and lookedprom-ready. “No,” I said, stomping back into the living room so they could experience this nightmare with me.
Addison giggled. Monique looked the other way, but don’t think I didn’t notice the smile she was trying to hide. I ignored them and headed back for the rack, selecting the only gown that didn’t make me want to throw myself from the roof of the building. It was emerald chiffon, with thinshoulder straps that widened as they descended to merge right before the high waist. It would show more cleavage than I wanted, but the skirt was long and layered like a waterfall on each side. I put it on and looked myself over in the mirror. My bra was showing... everywhere. And without it, I worried that the girls would tumble loose every time I bent over or moved too quickly. Other than that,it fit perfectly, and even managed to soften my features and brighten the green of my eyes. Still, no bra was a deal-breaker.
“Nope,” I shouted, preparing to take it off.
Addison rushed into the room with two adhesive-cup thingies. “I know what you’re worried about, and I’m here to tell you we have options.”
“Stay out of my brain, Addie, it’s creepy.” I eyed the cups. “And I seriously doubtthose can support me.”
“They will, I promise. Here try them.” She put them in my hands and stepped out without saying anything about the dress.
Wondering what was up, I removed my bra and wrestled the girls into the cups. They weren’t exactly comfortable, but they weren’t painful either. I checked myself out in the mirror and fantasized about Asher’s reaction to seeing me in it. I could almostpicture his hand against the bare skin of my back and his lips brushing my collarbone with kisses. A thrill went up my spine, warming me everywhere. Desperate to make those fantasies a reality, I stepped out into the living room and conceded, “Okay, this one.”
Addison and Monique shared a knowing look before turning all-too-innocent smiles on me. That’s when I realized I’d been played. Addisonhad always loved green on me, and she’d set the whole thing up.
The anticipation of Asher’s reaction was the only thing that kept me from freaking out and telling them what they could do with their dresses. Still, there were ways to get them back for their underhanded manipulations.
“This will look amazing with my combat boots,” I said, twirling so the layered skirt flared.
Absolute horrorcontorted Addison and Monique’s faces, giving me the warm and fuzzies. Leaving them to suck on that image, I headed back to my room to change.
By the time I walked back out to the living room, Monique was gone, and so were the racks of dresses. “You didn’t pick a dress?”
Addison gave me her signature smile. “Oh, this wasn’t about me, Dylan. I already have my dress.”
Of course she did. “Ohmigod,I hate you!” I snapped.
“I know, but admit it, that dress is perfect.” She swung a pair of high-heeled, nude-colored shoes towards me. “And so are these.”
I took the shoes (my size... of course) and sighed. “Do I want to know how much I’m paying you back?”
“Probably not. Besides, I’m not paying for it. Asher is.”
I gasped. “What? Why?”
She squeezed my arms. “Because he insisted.”
“Oh,” Iwhispered, my heart aching. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Asher buying me a new dress for our date. Were my clothes not good enough for him? Was he prettying me up so I could be his arm candy? Because that sure as hell wasn’t going to fly.
“Stop it,” Addison said, watching me.
“Stop what?” I snapped, sounding angrier than I intended. But really, I couldn’t be with a man who didn’t accept methe way I was. Even if I’d spent a lifetime drooling over him.
“Stop going there in your brain. He loves you as you are and he’s not trying to change you, but this dinner requires a nicer dress than you would normally wear. It’s an event requirement, not Asher’s requirement. So stop reading so much into it and just appreciate that he wants to do nice things for you. And get used to it. Whenyou two are married, he’s going to spoil you.” She grinned and grabbed a bottle of wine. “Want some?”
