Page 92 of How He Got the Girl
She leads me to the back of the store. It’s intimate, but in a way that feels high-end. I’m sure the dresses are supplied by only the best designers. I don’t even want to look atany of the price tags. Griffin told me there’s no spending limit since he’s footing the bill, but I’ll feel like I’m taking advantage of his generosity if I go overboard.
“This section has the evening gowns for special events.” Brittany gestures to the space behind her. The racks are color coordinated to perfection. Not a single dress is out of place in the rainbow array of gowns. I head directly for the pink section.
“Come to mama.” I run my hand along the dresses, internally melting at the feel of the luxurious fabrics that I’d never be able to afford on my own.
Brittany snorts. “You’re hilarious.” She thumbs through the dresses beside me. “I can see why Griffin fell for you.”
“Do you—” I swallow, struggling to get the words out. “Do you know Griffin well?”
She smiles, and my heart drops. Maybe there was something more between them than Griffin let on.
“Better than any other male costar I’ve ever had.” Brittany pulls out a coral dress and holds it up in front of me, pursing her lips. With a shake of her head, she puts it back on the rack. “He was truly the most thoughtful man I’ve ever worked with in Hollywood. It was refreshing.”
“He shows me every day how thoughtful he is,” I agree. The next dress I look at is so silky, there’s no way I can pass up the opportunity to try it on. I pull it off the rack and drape it over my arm.
“He’s kind, too. He really got to know me and always made sure I was comfortable on set. I felt so safe in every scene.” She presses her lips together. “And, trust me, that’s not always the case.”
“I’m glad he was able to make you feel that way. You deserve to feel safe at work,especiallywhen you have to occasionally kiss your coworkers.”
Brittany snickers. “You’re so right. And just so you know, Griffin and I were never anything beyond coworkers. It was strictly business, though I’d like to think we’re friends. I’d work with him again in a heartbeat.” She nudges my hip with hers while she pulls a blush-colored dress I wouldn’t normally pick for myself. “You landed yourself a good guy.”
Relief floods my body. Deep down, I knew that Griffin didn’t lie to me—it’s not who he is. But it still feels good to have that validation from Brittany, too. “I really did.” I accept the dress she hands me and continue perusing the rack. My fingers trail across a magenta gown covered in little sparkles. Upon closer inspection, I think those are, in fact, diamonds. I’ll try it on just for fun.
Brittany hands me a bubblegum-pink dress with a plunging neckline, and I add it to the pile on my arm. “I don’t know if I could pull this off. You obviously could.” I gesture to her perfect figure. “I mean, look at you.”
“Me?” she scoffs. “Look at you. I’d kill for hair like yours. There isn’t a perm out there that would give me perfect beach waves like that.”
“What is it about women that we always want something someone else has?”
“Insecurity? Society? The media?” Brittany shrugs. “At least we can always uplift each other.”
“Amen, sister.” I pull another two dresses off the rack. “I should try these on.”
As if out of nowhere, Serafina appears, taking the dresses from me. She holds them above her head as she leads me down a hallway into a giant room with an ornately carved wooden room divider and a half-circle wall of mirrors.
Brittany sits in a chair by the mirrors while Serafina hangs the dresses up on a rack behind the divider. I thought Iwould try these on by myself, but she waits for me to undress and then helps me into the first gown. You learn something new every day. Apparently, famous people have someone help them try on their gowns. I’ve only ever heard of that being done at wedding dress boutiques.
I step around the divider in the first gown, a blush-pink number with a high neck and short train.
Brittany immediately shakes her head. “You look great, but I think this one is a little too understated for your features.”
I look at myself in the mirror and completely agree with her assessment. It’s pretty, but I don’t think it’s red carpet worthy, at least not for me. “On to the next one.”
I try on the remaining dresses we grabbed and finally walk out in the last one. Brittany’s tight smile immediately lets me know this will not be my dress of choice. Looking at myself in the mirror, I place my hands on the bright-pink fabric and let out a small huff. “They’re all beautiful, but none of them feels likethe one.”
Brittany taps her bottom lip and suddenly stands, the chair making a screeching sound as it scoots against the marble floor. “I know just what you need. I’ll be right back.”
Serafina helps me get out of the dress while we wait. Right when we’ve finished, Brittany returns, holding a dress behind her back. “Don’t peek. I think this is it.”
I close my eyes as Serafina helps me into the mystery dress. She slides the zipper into place and escorts me around the corner. Brittany gasps and claps her hands.
“Can I open my eyes?” I ask.
“Yes.”
When I look at my reflection in the mirror, I’m rendered speechless. The gown is a dusty rose color that’s more muted than the shades of pink I normally wear, but it’sutterly stunning. I run my hands along the luxe material. It’s an off-the-shoulder dress that perfectly emphasizes my collarbones. It accentuates my every curve with expertly placed ruching and a fitted silhouette that makes me feel feminine. Once I have heels on, the dress won’t even need to be hemmed.
“For the final touch.” Serafina pulls out a matching strip of fabric, wrapping it around my neck and letting both ends fall behind me, like a backward scarf. It ties the whole look together, making me fall in love with the dress even more.
