Thank you.
Brennan
That blush dress you tried on was pretty. So was the one with the green flowers.
Me
They were. I sort of want them. But they aren’t what I want for my party with Spencer.
Brennan
That makes sense. Though they’d be perfect for so many other things.
We watched the movie then Riley and I got cupcakes.
“Sadly, we need to head home,” I apologized, as I finished my chocolate cupcake.
“That’s okay. I’m on dinner duty anyway. This was fun. I enjoy having time with just you,” she replied.
“Me, too.”
I frowned when we got to the car. A bag from a department store lay across my seat.
“You have a stalker.” Riley put her purchases in the small space behind our seats.
There was a little note.You deserve something pretty, Bren. Also, stop and get you and Riley a treat on the way home.
“A stalker named Bren.” I laughed. Inside was the blush dress and the green dress. Warmth flowed through me.
“Nice choices,” Riley said. “Such a sap though.”
Maybe. But that sap was mine. They all were.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Spencer
“We have reservations for three for tea under Thanukos,” I informed the hostess at the restaurant inside the Everydoll Boutique. We’d already been through the store so that Riley could choose a doll to bring for tea. Though I’d promised that we’d go shopping more afterward so that Riley could get some outfits for hers and Grace’s doll could have her hair done.
“Would you like doll seats?” the hostess asked.
“Three, please. Spence, you’re getting a loaner doll.” Riley grinned and pointed to a wall of dolls that diners could borrow for the duration of their meal.
“You choose,” I replied.
Riley, who was wearing a long black lace-up dress and clunky shoes, chose a doll as the hostess grabbed three doll seats and three menus and brought us over to a table.
Grace held my hand, the doll the professor gave her clutched to her chest. Her blue T-shirt dress complemented her eyes. It didn’t really match her slip-on sneakers, which had peaches on them. Maybe I should get her slip-ons that coordinated with all her T-shirt dresses, since that’s what she primarily wore outside work.
The restaurant was crowded with families, most with multiple children. Many of them wore party hats, as this was a popular place for birthdays. But there were also tables full of only adults, having a good time, some of them also wearing party hats. Everydoll had an almost obsessive following.
I pulled her close to me. She had herI’m overwhelmedface on.
“Oh, is that a Gracie doll? She’s in impeccable condition other than her hair. She looks like she just sat on a shelf,” a random omega asked as we walked past.
“Yeah, it is, and old doll hair gets like that,” Riley retorted.
We took a seat. The hostess affixed seats for the dolls so that they could sit next to us. We put our dolls in them so they could join us for tea. Riley had chosen a boy doll in a tennis outfit for me to borrow for the duration of our meal.
