Page 62 of I Think He Knows
“Next!” I choke out hurriedly, my cheeks flushing at the thought of Carter seeing me in this dress. Let alone drawing his attention to my chest.
Anthony looks at me slyly, knowingly, and passes me a third garment bag. “Okay, fine. We can try the next one. I guess wedowant you to be comfortable as well as super hot.”
I run back to my bedroom, shimmy out of the plunging-neckline nightmare, and unzip the next bag.
The second I see the dress, I am in love. As I pull it over my hips, I pray it fits, and I’m filled with hope as the garment slips on perfectly.
I turn to the mirror, and I’m almost rendered speechless. It’s perfect. Not quite beige, not quite gold, the dress is long and slinky with a slit up one leg that’s just daring enough. The bodice is covered in delicate beading that shimmers when it catches the light. I turn around to examine the back, and even unzipped, the dress clings to my curves without being too constricting. The teeny spaghetti criss-cross straps on the back are the perfect finishing touch.
The wide-eyed look I get from Anthony when I walk back into the living room confirms my gut feeling—this is the one.
The perfect dress.
Anthony makes a circle with his index finger, and I obediently rotate so he can zip me up. Then, he pats my hips triumphantly, steps back, and admires the dress. “Amazing. It’s like it was made for you.”
I awkwardly pat my damp, still claw-clipped hair as I try to receive the compliment graciously. “I think it’ll all come together when my hair and makeup are done.”
“It absolutely will.”
And you know what?
He’s right.
Two hours later, my makeup artist, Cherry, is flicking the last drop of lip gloss over my mouth while Marvin, the hair stylist, mists a coat of hairspray around my head. Anthony directs me to the mirror, and evenIam impressed by the smokey-eyed woman with the sleek updo and chiseled cheekbones looking back at me.
I look… beautiful.
Even better, Ifeelbeautiful.
“Thank you, everyone,” I say, all of a sudden a bit choked up.
Cherry tuts. “Don’t cry, you’ll ruin your mascara.”
I snort out a laugh and give her, then Marvin, a big hug.
I turn to Anthony. “Thank you.”
He grabs both my hands and squeezes. “Hush now. You already said that.”
“Well, I’m saying it again.”
“Fine. I’ll accept full responsibility for this masterpiece standing before me,” Anthony declares. “Now, pics or it didn’t happen.”
I reflexively flinch as the three of them point their phones towards my face and start snapping. Anthony gives me a small smile. “Better get used to it, honey. Everyone’s gonna be wanting to take your picture tonight.”
And just like that, some of my happiness is replaced by a tightening in my stomach as a knot starts to form. Will people really believe that Carter chose me over, by definition, the sexiest woman in the world? Will I live up to everyone’s expectations as the fiancée of Carter Callahan?
I shove my anxiety away and focus again on my reflection. Recall the hope I felt before my date with Braxton, and how it failed so spectacularly because of…
Him.
Yes. Because of him, not me, dammit.
Hewas the problem.
Our run-in at Target the other morning only confirmed that.
Tonight, I’ll have the most unproblematic man by my side. A man that my heart aches for. And while the romance between us might not be real, he’s the only man (besides my brothers) who has never made me feel anything other than safe and accepted as I am. A man who has never judged me for my mistakes.