Page 83 of Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights
Instead she died.Of a drug overdose.
The idea of it still just didn’t sit well. I rubbed my stomach and then touched the smooth pink pearls. Jeremy thought I was strong. That helped. Maybe for him I could be strong?
Grace appeared, then hung four dresses on the rack. “Try these. Mr. Lent asked me to remind you that he wants to see them.”
I could just refuse them. I wasn’t used to parading around for inspection, but I kind of loved that he wanted to see them. Well, that they both did, but I knew Barrett was putting on a show. I would place money he was the Mr. Lent she meant.
The door closed behind her with a click. I considered the first hanger, which held a sleek, black number with a plunging neckline. When I slipped it on, it hugged my curves, the fabric smooth and almost slippery against my skin. The dress was made for someone more confident than me, certainly not for me in my pretty pink pearls.
I texted the group.I’m not coming out wearing the ones that aren’t going to work.
Boo. Jeremy answered.
Barrett quickly responded,Fine. But I bet they all work.
Are you getting to see her try on dresses?Julian quickly asked.
We are waiting while she tries them on. We are not in the changing room with her. I could practically hear Jeremy’s eyeroll.Ipromise, if I had her naked, I would not be texting you. We’re waiting until she comes out to see what she likes and doesn’t like. Barrett pulled out his best rich boy attitude. They’re hustling around.
Fifteen minutes, Phoenix answered.
The second dress was a deep emerald green, which worked pretty well with my skin tone. The shimmering sequins caught the light with every movement. The cut was sophisticated, maybe too old for me, because I could imagine my Aunt Tricia in the dress. Maybe some people my age could pull it off, but not me. I just didn’t like it, and I wanted it off almost immediately. I couldn’t get it back on the hanger fast enough.
The third dress was a vision of midnight blue, off-the-shoulder with a fitted bodice. I almost felt like I stepped into a different time when I slipped it over my skin. It was heavy and constricting. ThePoor Relationwould call it gaudy. I smiled at the thought. I should use that word more in that stream. I took the offending gown off and hung it back up.
Nothing working?Barrett asked.Show me. I bet they all work.
Not yet. No one wanted dress shopping over more than I did.
Finally, I tried the fourth dress. Bold red, strapless and form-fitting, the gown included a sexy little slit up the side. Somehow, I felt like I stepped into anime-me. The idea of not standing out? The dress didn’t do that at all. I scowled and took it back off.
Finally, Grace knocked. “One more. Sorry.” She cracked open the door to pass me a hanger. “We just got this one today. It might be perfect.”
I knew as soon as I touched the soft fabric that I liked it better, but I waited until after Grace shut the door again before I tried it on. I took off my bra, since it didn’t work with the dress. Spaghetti straps and black, pink butterflies fluttered across the otherwise stark fabric. The neckline plunged, showing some cleavage but not the kind that would make me feel like I was on display.
I didn’t want the Teds of the world to look at me. It really worked out to be that simple. I pushed the thought of him from my mind, not willing to share a moment with even the mention of him.
Maybe the guys would tell me if the dress worked? For the first time, I stepped out of the room so they could see me.
They both waited by the changing room, leaning against the wall, staring at their phones, but stopped when I came out.
“Just wow.” Barrett said first, his voice low and a little husky. “I mean … it’s perfect. You’re perfect.”
Jeremy nodded. “You are … beautiful, Alatheia. The dress was made for you. No one could ever look as pretty in that as you do.”
My cheeks heated up, but I let myself enjoy the heat of their stares for a few seconds. I opened up inside and didn’t shut any of it down. Instead, I basked in it. “Guys, this doesn’t feel real. And I … I’ve never felt like this before.”
“Neither have I,” Barrett whispered. “I didn’t know I could. We need to buy that dress. It’s yours. Do you want any of the others?”
I shook my head. “No. Not for me.”
Jeremy smiled. “Shoes. She has to buy shoes.”
I glanced down, quickly realizing he was right, I didn’t own anything that would go with the dress.
“Thank God you came, Jeremy. Seriously.” Barrett laughed. “Yes, we need shoes. There’s a place next door, I think.”
His younger brother shrugged. “I wouldn’t care if you were barefoot, Alatheia. It might even be sexy, but you said you don’t want to stand out, so I think you should probably get some strappy sandals.”
