When she waves her hands suggestively at the pair of us, Kari laughs and takes my arm, playing into the implied partnership. “Oh, yes.”
“I couldn’t ask for a more picture-perfect date,” I declare, sliding my arm around Kari’s waist. “Who needs men?”
Tandi glances towards the entrance as the bell over the door goes, then does a double take. “Mr McManus.”
I spin around to see Lachlan lounging in a chair. His eyes drift across Kari, eyebrows raising in appreciation, then his attention fixes on me… and he scowls.
I turn back to the mirror, worried, but the dress looks fine. I twirl, glancing at the second mirror to check the back. In the reflection, I see Lachlan tilt forward, eyes still glued to me, then shake his head before burying his face in his hands.
My stomach knots and I bite on the inside of my cheek. Of course, he’s scowling. I don’t belong here, parading around in these garments I could never afford. It’s ridiculous.
Once a crier always a crier but I’m sick of shedding tears. I head for the changing room to get away from his judgement.
“You’re not taking it?” Tandi asks, and I turn back but her gaze is fixed on Lachlan, not me.
Embarrassed, I shake my head. “Sorry, I was just modelling for the others. I already have a dress for the dance.” When Tandi barely acknowledges me before her eyes return to Lachlan, I stride to the changing rooms.
With the curtain pulled, I look at myself again, wondering what Lachlan found so upsetting. My neck itches and I scratch at it, viciously, digging in my nails. Distraught for no good reason.
My hands are clumsy as I struggle to undo the fastenings that I had no trouble with earlier. Even worse, they’re sweaty, and the material is natural silk. It’ll stain.
I pause, closing my eyes, flexing my fingers, gathering myself before I try again.
The dress comes off easily the second time around and, as I pull on my jeans, my breathing steadies. It’s okay. I’m not cut out for the global elite, but I don’t need to be.
My stint with this echelon only lasts until the school year ends.
When I step out, I hang the dress on the discards rack and go to help Greta adjust her now-fitted dress. There arehalf a dozen spaghetti straps crisscrossing over the back—a great look when they’re in position, messy as hell otherwise.
Once fixed, she gives a satisfied sigh, smoothing her hand over the curves of her belly. The deep rose suits her complexion to a T.
“You’re not shopping any longer?” Lachlan asks from behind, making me jump. I thought he was still on the far side of the store.
“Not me. I tried on some things for fun but it’s a bit rich for my blood.”
His lips curl into a teasing smile. “Keanen isn’t good enough to dress up for?”
“Keanen?” Greta blurts. “Newly crowned God of the rugby field, Keanen?”
Not a way I’ve heard him referred to before. “Yeah, I guess.”
My hesitation must catch Issy’s ear because she glances over. The scrutiny makes me nervous, and I shake my head, clasping my elbows.
It has been a while since Keanen asked me. Maybe I should have checked in with him before assuming we were still going together.
I hedge, “Perhaps not? He asked me a month ago.”
“You better lock that down, girl,” Greta says with a laugh. “There’s a queue out the door to jump on that ride.”
“Oh, no. We were just going as friends,” I assure her. “But he asked when we were…” I trail off, unsure how to word it.
“Outcasts?” Lachlan asks, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Back when you flew so far under the radar nobody knew you existed?”
I mock punch him, turning back to Greta whose smile seems frozen in place, I’m unsure why.
Kari changes her mind a few times over the length of hergown, swapping out pair after pair of heels until she lands on the right ones. She takes so long, the other girls go back to browsing, even though their outfits are now sorted.
It’s a relief to leave the store. Even more of a relief to head for the bus stop. Once I finally reach home for the night, I immediately scurry to my room, wanting the comfort of the familiar surroundings.
