Before Wynter can react, Jenna grabs her hand and drags her towards a rack near the back. “This collection literally arrived yesterday,” she says excitedly. “You’re seeing it before social media does.”
Wynter glances back at me over her shoulder, panic flashing briefly in her eyes again. I give her a reassuring smile immediately, followed by an encouraging nod.
She studies me for a second before finally relaxing slightly.
Slowly, she turns back towards the clothes while Jenna immediately starts pulling dresses from rails excitedly.
I move towards one of the chairs near the changing rooms and sit down. A second later, Lucy drops into the seat beside me.For a moment, we both watch Wynter laugh nervously while Jenna overwhelms her with fashion opinions. Then Lucy bumps her shoulder lightly against mine.
“This,” she says quietly, a small smile tugging at her mouth, “is unexpected.”
I glance sideways at her. “What? Me behaving like a decent human being?”
She snorts softly. “No.” Her eyes drift back to Wynter. “Her looking happy.” She pauses. “I wasn’t sure you were capable of making that happen.”
Neither was I.
Lucy studies me for another second before sighing dramatically. “You’re becoming annoyingly difficult to hate.”
I smirk faintly. “So, I’m growing on you?”
“Like a fungal infection,” she mutters.
I laugh, shaking my head. “From you, that sounds like a compliment.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
WYNTER
“I’m telling you now,” Jenna says, piling more clothes over her arm, “pregnant women have been lied to for years.”
Lucy snorts from beside Ray. “About what?”
“That oversized sacks are flattering.” Jenna looks genuinely offended by the concept. “If I see one more beige tent dress, I’ll commit arson.” I laugh despite myself as she shoves another hanger into my arms. “And you,” she says, pointing dramatically at me, “have the perfect figure for fitted maternity.”
I glance down at my bump hidden underneath my baggy top. “Really?”
“Tailored clothes will show your neat little bump off. A pregnancy is a beautiful thing, and we should be showcasing it like artwork.” She’s gathered quite an array of clothes now as she steers me towards the changing room. “Now, first of all, let’s get you out of this,” she says, plucking at my top.
I begin to strip down to my underwear whilst she hangs up the various garments.
When she turns back to me, she smiles, “See, you were hiding that under all that material and it’s perfect,” she says, before plucking a dress of a hanger and holding it towards me.
I take it cautiously. Holding it up I stare at the waistline. “This looks tiny,” I utter.
She nods, encouraging me to step into it.
As I stuff my arms into the sleeves, she tugs the material into place before stepping back.
“Wow,” is all she says, clapping her hands together and then pointing to the mirror in the corner. “See.”
I turn and inhale sharply at the sight of myself.
The dress is simple. A husky pink material that fits my shape perfectly, encasing my bump like it was made to fit me personally.
“Oh,” I whisper, rubbing a hand over my stomach.
“May I?” Jenna asks, taking my ponytail in her hands. I nod and she removes the hair band, letting my hair flow over my shoulder. “Stunning,” she comments, stepping back and allowing me a second to just stare.
