“Want me to ask my dad?”
She shot me a “Really?” look.
“I’ll call Asher,” she said. “His place is only a couple blocks away from there.”
WHAT!“I don’t think so.” I glared at her. “Don’t you dare.”
“I’m already calling him!” Her assistant shouted from the back. “Hold on, he’s answering…”
I walked over to the phone and hit the red button, instantly ending the video call.
“Okay, Mom.” I lifted my arms. “Get me out of this dress. Now.”
She pursed her lips and redialed Michelle, betraying me without a second thought.
“Just wait for her guy friend to get here, hun,” she said. “She finally loves something, so it’ll be worth it.”
“It’ll look just as beautiful on the hanger. Trust me.”
She turned to my grandmother and asked about her day. On my phone, the bridesmaids chatted about the ways Michelle should wear her hair.
It was like they were all collectively ignoring me.
After what felt like forever, the shop’s doorbell rang.
I heard Asher introducing himself to my dad, and I made a mental note to re-introduce him as Satan the moment he left.
I turned away from the mirror as his footsteps echoed against the stairs, and I vowed to keep my gaze on the ceiling until he was gone.
“Ahhh, finally!” Michelle screamed. “Asher made it!”
The bridesmaids cheered and sounded like he was some sort of celebrity.
My body tensed as he moved behind me, and I felt my nipples hardening under the lace.
I started counting the cracks in the paint.
“So, Asher?” Michelle asked. “What do you think?”
He didn’t answer.
“Asher? Can you hear me?”
No response.
“Katie, can you hear me? Can you check the speaker?”
I looked down at the worst time.
His eyes stayed glued to my body, unapologetic and completely unbothered by the fact that everyone else in the room still existed.
For several seconds, everything else disappeared.
It was just him and me.
“Michelle is asking about the dress,” I said to him.
“I heard her.” He stepped closer.
