Ava has a lip gloss in one hand and a curling wand in the other, like she’s about to perform delicate surgery. Sienna is holding up a black dress like it’s the Holy Grail. Trey is holding a tape measure for absolutely no reason.
They all look at me like I’ve delivered myself to the altar.
“Oh, thank God,” Ava says. “Show us the outfits before you embarrass yourself.”
“I’m not going!” I announce, throwing the clothes on the counter.
All three of them BURST into laughter.
Sienna wipes a tear. “She’s adorable when she lies.”
Trey pats my shoulder. “We love a delusional queen.”
I scowl and hold up Outfit #1:
A beige blouse and a pencil skirt.
Ava recoils. “What is THIS funeral-core nonsense?”
“It’s professional!”
“It’s giving divorced librarian,” Trey says.
“It’s giving dry crackers in a Tupperware,” Sienna adds.
I toss it aside and hold up Outfit #2:
A short black dress that could cause sin in eight different countries.
Sienna gasps. “YES.”
“ABSOLUTELY NOT,” I snap, throwing it back into the pile. “I’m not showing up looking like a walking thirst trap.”
“You ARE a walking thirst trap,” Ava says. “The dress just acknowledges it.”
“No.”
“Babe, your billionaire is not taking you to Olive Garden,” Trey says. “He’s taking you somewhere with dim lighting and emotional consequences. You need to dress accordingly.”
I groan again and hold up Outfit #3:
A simple, fitted dark red sweater dress.
Ava’s eyes widen. “Ooooh.”
Sienna clasps her hands. “This is the one.”
Trey nods with approval. “It says ‘I’m not trying’ while absolutely trying.”
I frown at my reflection. “Isn’t it too much?”
“Too much WHAT?” Ava demands. “Too much ‘pretty’? Too much ‘my billionaire won’t know what to do with himself’? Too much ‘please take me against the nearest marble surface’?”
“TONE IT DOWN!” I hiss.
Sienna steps behind me, adjusting the dress on my hips. “It hugs perfectly. It’s soft but sexy. It says, ‘I’m not easy, but God I am worth the effort.’”
“That is not what this dress says..."
