Page 55 of Meeting Mr. Adorkable
“So you want a hint of casual? No necktie, and leaving the top buttons on the shirt undone would do that.”
“Yes, that’s right. It’d go with the suit’s contemporary, slim fit and would complete the look.” Both Bibi and Mr. Dapper peered at him.
Excuse me, but I am here, you know…
Mr. Dapper raised brows as groomed and flawless as Bibi’s own. “You have an expert eye, if you don’t mind me saying.”
“I studied fashion and textiles at college, then I worked in the industry for a while.” Bibi shrugged and Lucian’s mouth dropped open. It was the first he’d heard of it. So she wasn’t always a terrible florist…
The first shirt wasn’t quite night, neither was the second. The third was declared a success, and a final decision was made. All without a word from Lucian. Bibi was in full on battle mode in her quest to ensure he made a statement, although what that was he didn’t quite know.
“Maybe it’s about time I had a look?” From the moment he’d shucked off his jeans and T-shirt, Lucian hadn’t caught so much of a glimpse of himself.
Mr. Dapper inclined his head and Bibi grinned as he pulled aside a drape to reveal a full sized mirror.
“Fucking hell.”
Behind him, Mr. Dapper coughed, but Lucian didn’t care as he inspected the man, who couldn’t be him, who looked back at him.
The look was perfect. There was no other word. The color, the cut, the duck egg blue shirt open at the collar, the whole coming together to be more than the sum of its parts… Had his legs grown another six inches? Had his waist narrowed by the same amount? Had he made gym visits in his sleep, because his shoulders had never been so broad? He stepped in closer, looking for any clue that the man who stood before him really and truly was him, and not some imposter.
“So?” Bibi moved in behind him, her smile soft and warm as her eyes met his in the mirror.
“It’s…” Incredible. Amazing. “Is that really me?’” His unsteady laugh failed to disguise the choke in his voice.
“Sure is. Glad you trusted your fairy godmother?”
Lucian nodded, his throat too thick for him to speak.
Minutes later, back in his jeans and T-shirt, and bidding Mr. Dapper goodbye, they left the shop.
Lucian’s stomach grumbled. “Food?”
Bibi waved his suggestion aside. What had happened to lunch and cocktails?
“Shoes next,” Bibi said. “Plain black. Oxfords. Should be easy enough. You gotta have a classy look to go with the classy accent.”
“Yes, mother,” he muttered under his breath. Both his friend and his mum had a lot in common.
As Bibi predicted, the shoes were easy enough to find in the mall, the purchase quick and fuss free. His stomach growled long and loud. He looked at his watch; lunch was already overdue.
“If I don’t have something to eat soon, I’ll have to eat my arm. Or yours. And now we’ve got everything…” He stopped outside a coffee shop, his mouth watering from the rich and savory aromas of hot sandwiches. Glaring at Bibi, he did his best to look his most rebellious, which wasn’t very rebellious at all, but it was enough for Bibi to lead the way into the coffee shop.
“How’s Arlo feeling about tonight?” Bibi asked as she looked at Lucian over the rim of her coffee cup.
“Oh, you know. Shit scared. Terrified. Bricking it. He thinks either nobody will come, or if they do, they’ll hate it and know him for the talentless dabbler he believes himself to be. He’s wrong on all counts.”
“Hmm. But you’ve got to remember, it takes a lot of guts to try something different. From designing factories to Collier’s Creek artist in residence is a leap. I get where he’s coming from, but having you by his side later, looking good enough to eat, but maybe not as good as this sandwich,” she said with a grin, “will make him feel a lot better.”
They concentrated on their food, but a few minutes later, and full, Lucian pushed the remains aside.
“Earlier, you said you studied fashion and textiles. You’ve never mentioned it before.” Bibi was a talker, but she’d never talked about this, and Lucian wanted to know more.
She shrugged. “It all feels like a lifetime ago. I loved fashion, and making a career from it was everything I always wanted. I even spent six months working in Italy, for a major fashion house. My prospects were on the upswing, and I thought life couldn’t get any better. I was right, because it got worse.” Like him, she pushed her unfinished food away.
Shadows of sadness and regret flickered across Bibi’s face. Whatever had cut short her career, it had wounded her deeply.
“I’m sorry. If you don’t want to say anything more, then don’t.”
