“Friends don’t look at friends like that.” Nat calls out from her cubicle. “And if he’s been a bit more distant, it’s probably because my brother is keeping him busy.”
“Or he’s taking his cues from you,” Sierra says from behind her closed door. “You have withdrawn a little in recent weeks.”
“You know why,” I reply, staring at myself in the mirror, trying to see what Alesso sees when he looks at me.
“You should open up to him. I know he’d understand,” Sierra says, sounding closer. She pops her head over the door, and I’m glad I haven’t taken the dress off yet. “Please tell me you’re getting it.”
I spin around. “I am. I like it.”
Her face lights up. “Good. You look like a million dollars, and I want you to have the best time tonight.” Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Maybe tonight is the night something finally happens between you two.”
“Sierra.” I send her a warning look. “I know you mean well, but I need you to stop. I can’t contemplate anything like that right now, and I don’t want to give out mixed signals or have Alesso feel compelled to act a certain way around me just because you want us to get together.”
“I just want you to be happy,” my sister quietly says. “I want you to be in love like me.”
“You can’t force it,” Nat says, materializing at her side. “And timing is everything.” She visibly gulps, and that sad look appears on her face. “Rena needs to go at her own pace, and it seems like Alesso understands that. If it’s meant to be, it will happen.”
“Do you really believe that?” I ask.
“I do.” Her firm assertion rings clear in her voice. “Sometimes, that belief is the only thing that helps me to get out of bed each morning,” she admits, staring off into space. Sierra and I share a look. Natalia shakes her head, brushing off her brief melancholy, and smiles. “Anyway, I’m going to get this. I’ll meet you outside.” She walks off as we watch.
“I want Nat to be happy too.” Sierra stares in the direction where her sister-in-law disappeared. “I want both of you to be happy.” She turns her head, eyeballing me. “I’m sorry if I’ve been pushy. I don’t mean to be. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think you need a subtle nudge here and there, but I don’t want to interfere or upset you. I’m sorry. I’ll try to rein it in.”
“I love that you want that for me. I want that too, but…”
“But?” Sierra lifts a brow, encouraging me to continue.
“But I don’t know if that’s in my future. If it’s something I’m capable of, and I don’t want to set myself up for disappointment. I’m taking it one day at a time, focusing on self-healing and my kids, and that’s all I have the capacity to handle right now.”
“I hear you.” She nods. “And you’re doing great. I’m proud of you.”
I move to disagree before I stop myself. Pamela says I need to break the cycle, and that starts with being kinder to myself and reacting positively to compliments instead of the automatic inclination to put myself down. “Thank you.”
My sister smiles. “I’m going to take this to the checkout. You better get a move on.”
“I’ll follow you out.”
Sierra leaves the changing room, and I unzip the boots, carefully placing them back in the box. Then I slip out of the dress, holding it in my hand as I reach for the hanger.
“I like that color with your skin tone,” a man with an unfamiliar deep voice says, startling me.
I shriek, clutching the dress to my chest as I stare at the stranger peering over the door at me through the mirror. My heart picks up, beating frantically against my rib cage as anxiety sits firmly on my chest. A shrill ringing blares in my ears, and blood rushes to my head. Every cell in my body is on high alert, and I’m shaking as I slowly turn around, facing a tall, good-looking man. My mouth opens—to scream or speak, I’m unsure—but no sound comes out. It’s as if my vocal cords have packed up and gone home. Panic claws at my throat, making speech impossible.
He grins, and I notice one of his front middle teeth slightly overlaps the other one. “My boss says hello, and he looks forward to making your personal acquaintance real soon.” He pronounces boss with a flat, nasal tone so it sounds more likebawwss, confirming he’s local. Goose bumps sprout along my arms, and all the tiny hairs lift on the back of my neck. He taps two fingers off his brow. “You enjoy your night, Mrs. Gifoli.” He winks before disappearing, and I stand frozen to the spot, nausea swimming up my throat and acid churning in my gut.
Until I snap out of it, dashing out of the changing room in my bare feet and racing to the front of the shop. I dart past a shell-shocked Sierra and the boutique owner at the register, yanking the door open and almost barreling into Alesso. He’s talking with Natalia outside while our limo idles at the curb. “The man!” I blurt in a high-pitched tone. “Where’d he go?!” I whip around, looking left and right, ignoring the curious gazes of the people walking by.
“What man?” Nat asks, looking concerned.
“There was a man in the changing room,” I explain as the door opens behind me. “He knew who I was!” My voice sounds hysterical, even to my own ears.
“No man came out the…” Nat trails off, her brow puckering as she looks behind me. “What is it?” she asks as I turn around, meeting my sister’s glassy gaze.
“Rena,” Sierra whispers, clasping a hand to her mouth as shock splays across her face. My eyes flit to Alesso’s as a fresh wave of panic lets loose in my chest. His jaw is clenched tight, and his eyes swim in a multitude of emotions as he stares horror-struck at me.
An icy wind whips through me as Nat sucks in a gasp from behind.
Suddenly, I’m aware of reality.
