Page 16 of The Problem with Princes
She holds up her hand and stops me.“Think of it as an early Christmas present.” She smiles and shoves the gown into my arms.
I still shake my head. “No way. I can’t afford to buy you a three thousand-dollar Christmas present.” I don’t want to be a charity case. I hate feeling like this. This dinner invitation is starting to feel like a burden rather than a reward.
Texie places her hand on my arm. “So what if it’s your birthdayandyour Christmas present?”
“For the next ten years?” I shake my head and sigh, placing the dress back on the rack.
She looks so disappointed. “Fine. If you aren’t going to buy one, then I’m not either.” A smile dances on her lips. “I’m sure a maxi dress is totally appropriate for dining at the palace.”
My shoulders sag. “Fine, I’ll get the dress.” There is little enthusiasm in my voice. Probably because all I can taste is Ramen.
“How about I pay for half and call it your Christmas present.”
I stare at her. I can’t afford a fifteen-hundred-dollar Christmas present for her either. But I guess it is better than three grand.
“I don’t care if what you give me costs the same amount, Grace. It’s the thought, remember? Everything doesn’t have to be even Steven.” She gives me a little pout. “Didn’t I agree that I wouldn’t obsess over calories and carbs on this trip? So maybe you can agree to not worry so much about spending a little extra money.”
“But your carbs and calories won’t get you evicted from our apartment, Tex.”
“I won’t let that happen and you know it.” She tilts her head to the side. “Come on. An extra fifteen hundred dollars won’t get you evicted either. I know you still have savings.”
She’s right. I won’t be evicted. At least notthismonth. I rub my fingertips up and down between my eyebrows. Why am I letting my pride ruin this for us? She has been super chill about the foods we have been eating on this trip. I take a deep breath.Fine. I can do this for her.
I nod once.
She lets out a squeal and shoves me toward the dressing room. “You go first. I want you to do this before you can think too much about it and change your mind.”
I pull the curtain closed over the fitting room door and change into the gown. It is pretty and it fits well, but the color does nothing for my complexion. I look completely washed out and pasty. A relieved sigh escapes my lips. No three-thousand-dollar dress for me.
“Come on. I want to see you in that dress,” Texie hollers from the sitting area outside the dressing room.
I step out, running my hands self-consciously down the skirt. I’m surprised at how little pain I feel from my burns. The style of the dress is just what I need, if only we could find it in a different color.
Texie sits with her index finger to her lips. “The color is all wrong.”
I nod. “I know. I look like someone fromThe Walking Dead.”
Texie laughs. “You’ll need to work the make-up around your eyes a little bit more, but other than that, you’re right.” She stands up. “I like the style of dress for you, though. Your curves are smokin’.”
I snort. “I think you’re the one who’s smokin.”
She frowns and waves me aside. She hates it when I body shame myself. I only do it when I have to wear something form fitting, which is why I generally stay away from dresses like this.
“Go start getting out of that dress—”
“That’s what she said,” I say, interrupting her.
She ignores my comment. “I’ll go see if there’s one in a different color or something similar and I’ll bring it to you.”
I nod and turn back into the fitting room.
I have the dress off and I’m draping it back on the hanger when Texie slipped through the curtain.
“What are you doing? Couldn’t you just hand it over the curtain?”
She looks at me with a bland expression. “I didn’t want to snag it on something. Besides, it’s not like I haven’t seen you in your underwear before.”
I give her one more wide-eyed look before reaching for the dress in her hand. It is a similar style, only instead of a cowl type drape, it is more of a criss-cross style, in a shimmery black fabric. I reach to look at the price tag, but Texie blocks my hand. “Just try it on, Gee.”
