Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Not like I’m her boyfriend or anything. I need to be careful, or else I could forget that part.
“I can wait right here,” I offer, dropping into a chair near the dressing room. “If you want my help picking things out, just let me know.” But something tells me she’ll be better off on her own, without me making suggestions. I don’t want to freak her out or put any pressure on her when she’s already feeling pressured enough. I will offer an opinion if and when I’m asked for one, but that’s it.
At first, she hesitates, and I almost want to ask if she’s afraid of there being a test after this. It’s supposed to be fun, and I can’t think of a single girl I know who wouldn’t jump at the chance to wear out a piece of plastic they don’t have to worry about paying off.
But pretty soon she loosens up, and before I know it, I’ve got dresses and skirts and shorts piling across my lap.
“Hang on. Let me find a shirt to go with that,” she says, starting back to a wall full of shelves where T-shirts are stacked in probably every color possible. One of the sales clerks opens the dressing room so she can hang everything up in there for when Elliana is ready to start trying things on.
“You’re really sure this is okay? I’m not saying I’m going to buy all of it,” she says, chewing her lip again while the sales girl takes armfuls of clothing to the dressing room.
“Dad will be so glad when he sees you feeling comfortable with yourself. He’ll probably ask why we didn’t do this sooner.” She seems relieved to hear that before ducking into the room waiting for her.
“I better get a fashion show out here,” I call out, and the girls behind the register giggle. It wasn’t that long ago I would’ve gone over to talk with them, maybe flirt, see how far I could get. Now I kind of wish they would go away, so it could be just the two of us here in the store.
“What do you think about this?” The door to Elliana’s room opens, but instead of coming right out, she peeks from around it. “Please, be kind.”
I would tell her I’m always kind, but that’s not true, so I just wave her out. “Let’s see.”
The first thing out of my mouth when I see her in a skirt that comes down to the middle of her thighs and a T-shirt is, “What mirror are you using in there that makes you think you don’t look great in this?”
“Oh, stop,” she whispers, stepping in front of the three-way mirror outside the dressing rooms.
“I’m serious. Do they need to be cleaned or something?”
“You really think this is right? It’s not showing too much leg or whatever?” She tugs at the hem, frowning at her reflection.
“That’s kind of the point. But if you don’t like it, you’ve got a hundred other things to try on.”
“And you’re not bored to death?”
Maybe not to death. It’s not exactly the most fun I’ve ever had, but I’m not about to stop her. It was hard enough getting her out here in the first place. “Try on the next thing. Take your time.”
“Whatever you say.” But I’m not blind. She is grinning on her way into the dressing room. And by the time she tries on another outfit, and another after that, she’s flat-out smiling.
I want to ask her if she feels better wearing clothes that are actually meant to be worn at this time of year, but that would only make her shut down. Besides, I can tell she does. I don’t have to rub it in her face to know I’m right, that she’s feeling happier already.
And me? I almost have to sit on my hands to keep from grabbing at her. Maybe I screwed myself over, now that I think about it. It’s going to be harder to keep my hands off her when I can see more of her.
It’s fine to touch her when our parents aren’t around, but what about later, after they’re home? I’m going to have a lot of dates with my right hand in my future.
Instead of thinking too much about that—we still have time, I don’t need to worry about it now—I give my final verdict on the clothes she’s not sure of.
“I think you should get all of it, because you look good in all of it.”
Her cheeks flush before she giggles. “You’re going overboard.”
Maybe, but does she look upset? Not at all. She deserves to have somebody flatter her. She deserves to feel special.
The way she’s beaming after we almost have to stumble out of the mall with bags in both hands, I would say she feels pretty damn good. “That was an insane amount of money!” She laughs like she still can’t believe it. “Are you sure your dad is okay with this?”