Page 7 of Wrapped in Perfection

Vivian clears her throat. "You should go. It's already late."

Chase pats my shoulder and leaves with Xander.

I ask Vivian if I can go to sleep. I don't want to talk. She hands me pajama bottoms and a top, but she's several sizes smaller than me, so they are skin tight.

I stare in the mirror, crying some more.If you weren't so fat, maybe this wouldn't have happened.

I'm the same size I've always been, but in the last year, Mitch started pointing out how big my ass and the rest of my body parts are. I've been eating a careful diet of portioned macros so I don't gain any weight. I tried to lose some, but nothing seems to budge.

Why didn't I bring clothes? What am I going to wear tomorrow?

I take my clothes to the laundry room. Vivian is folding towels.

"Hey. You want me to wash those for you?"

"Please. I didn't bring anything." I look down at my body, which is stretching the fabric of her pajamas as far as they can go. "I'm bigger than you. My fat ass isn't going to fit into your clothes, I'm afraid."

"You aren't fat. You have a beautiful figure."

I turn away, and more tears fall.

She quietly says, "Why don't I get out my laptop, and you can order some clothes? There's a service that delivers. It'll be here by ten tomorrow, at the latest, if you order tonight."

"Okay. Thanks."

We sit on the couch, shopping online. I select an outfit and go to check out.

"That's all you're getting?" she asks.

"I have enough at my place."

The sympathetic expression she's been giving me all night reappears. She puts her hand on mine. "Anna, you can't go back there. Chase isn't going to let you leave anytime soon."

"I'm not his hostage."

"Anna—"

"You don't know what happened. It's not Mitch's fault."

She sternly says, "Yes, it is. No one should ever hit you."

"He's stressed. He has a lot going on at work, and this weekend didn't help."

"I'm sure he's pissed. But it doesn't make it right. He could kill you."

I turn away. "He wouldn't." My voice shakes when it comes out.

Vivian stays quiet.

I rise to get my purse to pay for my outfit. I come back and enter my debit card info, but the order won't go through.Insufficient fundsflashes on the screen.

"Something must be wrong with their system," I say, feeling embarrassed again but knowing I have enough money in my account.

I take my credit card out of my wallet and try to use it. It gets declined as well.

"I don't understand what is going on. I have plenty of money and credit available," I tell Vivian.

"Just put it on mine. The info is already in the system."

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