I frown at my closet the next morning as I try to decide what to wear. Blue, yellow, purple. All pastels. All skirts or dresses. All frilly, and childish, and gross. I brought only a coupleoutfits with me because I hate them, but I have nothing else to wear.
“What’s wrong, Petal?” Brooks ducks his head in to check on me and somehow picks up on my distress. Probably my scent giving me away.
“I don’t want to wear any of this,” I say, a whine nearly crawling up my throat.
He steps further into the room so he can see around the corner of my closet, taking in the muted colors.
“Why not? You don’t like those colors?”
“I’ve never liked them,” I grumble under my breath. “Never had much choice, though. Unless,” I pause, a hitch of concern rising in my chest. “I mean, ifyoulike them, then?—”
“Nope, don’t even go there. I’d like you in a burlap sack just as well as a sparkling ballgown.”
My cheeks pink and butterflies take off in my stomach. I look back at the pastel assortment and wrinkle my nose.
“I have an idea,” Brooks says, snagging my hand. “Come on.”
He tugs me out into the hallway, then knocks on Riley’s door.
They pull it open, greeting us with a toothbrush hanging out of their mouth and their hair in spiky disarray. I grin, loving that I get to see this side of them.
“Hey,” they mumble around the toothbrush. “What’s up?”
“Sage has nothing to wear. All her clothes are from the old place and she hates them.”
“I don’t—” I say.
“You do, and that’s perfectly acceptable,” Brooks cuts me off, and I narrow my eyes at him. “Please, let us help you,” he says, voice softening.
I nod, and he strokes the backs of his knuckles down my cheek.
“Now, you two aren’t all that different in size. Think we can make anything of yours work?” he asks Riley.
“Oh, yeah!” A glob of toothpaste drips onto their shirt and they grimace, then wave us in as they head to the bathroom.
When Riley comes back out, he starts pulling things out of his drawers. Sweatpants, t-shirts and cropped tops, workout shorts and baggy pants.
“Wow, um. I think just a pair of shorts and a shirt will be fine. Is that okay?” I’m not sure who I’m asking, only that I’ve never been allowed pants or shorts before.
“Yeah, take whatever. Try some on and see what works. Maybe we’ll find something you like while we’re in town today,” Riley says as they finish up in the bathroom.
I slip into the shorts, having to cinch them as tight as they’ll go to keep them on my narrow hips. Then I pull on one of his baggier t-shirts, loving how it drapes across my frame and covers me in Riley’s fresh, lemon scent.
Brooks plies me with food before we leave, even though Riley says we’ll be stopping at a bakery, a cafe,anda coffee shop. Three opportunities for food, and yet Brooks still won’t let us leave the house until I’ve eaten more breakfast than I ever have before.
And I’m not used to being the one getting served. Brooks and Vee dote on Riley and me, filling our plates and ensuring we don’t want seconds or thirds before polishing off whatever food is left. Brooks, understandably, eats more than Riley and me combined. It’s kind of insane how much food he can pack away.
When we finally get downtown, it’s the cutest little main street I’ve ever seen. Old brick buildings line both sides of the road, flanked by old-timey lamp posts with baskets of flowers hanging from them. Bright pops of violet and magenta, white and red and sunshine yellow.
I twist and turn, trying to take it all in as Riley tugs on my hand, pulling me along to his favorite coffee shop. Brooks lets us go on ahead, and when I glance back, I see him trailing about fifty feet behind, his eyes locked onto me.
Butterflies take off in my stomach again and warmth flows through my veins. I’m not sure what the feeling is, but it makes me smile. I wave, and he raises a hand in acknowledgement.
Then Riley is pushing open a glass door and the smell of freshly brewed coffee hits me in the face. It smells much better than what I’ve made for Steve and Josh, and I hum in appreciation.
“What do you like?” Riley asks. “My treat.”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
