Nolan. That’s why I know that name. The cutie with the hardhat.
She looks at me like I’m an old friend. Like I’m someone who already means something to her.
“It’s so good to see you. Beth, right?”
“Yes, hi. It’s good to see you guys too.” I wave at Nolan and he giggles again, ducking behind a leg.
I can’t decide how I want to prevent this nightmare I’m wearing from blinding them. I’m fidgeting, but it has nothing to do with nervousness as my arms cross over my chest, then flatten against my stomach, then tug at the material, hoping it’ll somehow tear from my body to reveal something perfect underneath.
I look down at the front of me, then back up at them. “I’m sorry. I forgot your names.”
“Tessa.” The red-head speaks up first.
“Mia.”
The little boy reaches up and tugs on Mia’s shirt. “Mommy, can I pway with your phone?” She hands it to him and he shifts the Playskool tool belt around his waist before hoping up on the chair just inside the dressing room area. His little feet swing in the air.
“Stay out of the app store, please.” Mia tilts the hard hat on his head to see his face. He smiles up at her with the cutest dimples I’ve ever seen, two massive craters sinking in his cheeks, then drops his attention to the phone in his hands.
“I love his little tool belt,” I admire, watching the proud smile spread on Mia’s face. “Is he really into building stuff?”
She works a lock of her dark hair out of the tiny fist claiming it. “He is now. Reed’s given him a new obsession.”
“Speaking of Reed.”
I look over at Tessa, who’s beaming like she’s in on some big secret. Her bright green eyes are wild and knowing, directed solely at me. She pops the gum in her mouth and wiggles her eyebrows before adding, “Ready for Saturday?”
My eyes falls to the front of me. “Not if I can’t find something to wear.”
Tessa rushes out of the dressing room, barreling past Mia.
“Where are you going?” Mia asks over her shoulder. When Tessa doesn’t answer, Mia turns back to me. “So, how are you liking Ruxton? Reed told me you just moved here from Kentucky.”
My eyes widen. He talked about me.
I softly clear my throat. “I like it. I haven’t really explored a whole lot yet, but everyone seems really nice. I like the small town feel. I’ve never had that.”
“Yeah, I’ve always loved that about living here. Everything is so laid back.”
“It’s so different from Louisville. I hated the fast-paced city life. I’m too boring for that. Being here, it just feels right, you know?” She smiles when I pause. “I’m really glad this is where I ended up.”
Her expression turns tender. “I think I said something very similar to that two years ago.”
“You didn’t grow up here?”
“No, I did, I just moved away for a few years. Tessa had me up for the summer and I never left.” Something flashes in her eyes, a memory that brightens them. “I don’t know what it is about this town. Maybe it’s the people.”
“Yeah,” I agree, turning my head when I feel the blood rush in my veins. The dress I’m wearing somehow becomes tighter, more constricting against my ribs. “I think it’s the people,” I say quietly as I tug the material away from my body.
Her delicate laugh grabs my attention. She could pry, ask me if I’m referring to Reed or anyone else in particular, but she doesn’t.
“We should all hang out sometime. Tessa and I could use another girl in our group. We’re quickly getting outnumbered.” She places a hand on the back of the baby’s head and lifts her eyebrows, waiting for my agreement. I say agreement because I doubt anyone has ever said no to Mia. She seems too sweet to let down.
“I’d love to hang out with you guys.”
“We have game nights and stuff at my house. It’s really a lot of fun. And you need to meet the guys.” She begins twisting back and forth, bouncing a little when the baby begins fussing. “Ben, my husband, is Tessa’s brother. She’s dating Luke who works with Ben. And you already know Reed.”
She bites her bottom lip to keep her smile under control. That only fuels mine. Ear to ear, I grin like he’s standing directly in front of me. She drops her mouth to the top of the baby’s head and lowers her voice.
“CJ comes sometimes. He’s really nice too.”
I do a quick count of the men, including the two in the room. “You’re definitely getting outnumbered,” I tell her as Tessa walks back into the dressing area.
“Here we go,” she says, marching directly at me.
“Oh, uh, is . . .” I stammer as several garments are shoved against my chest. All black dresses, but different styles.
Tessa guides me into the dressing room I emerged from minutes ago with a hand to my shoulder.
“Any of these dresses will do for Saturday. I guessed a size five-six, was I right?”
Wow. Who can guess someone’s size just by looking at them?
“Yeah, that’s . . .” I look down at the dresses in my hand, then back up at her. “How did you . . .”
“It’s a gift.”
She takes one of the dresses and hangs it up on the rod along the wall, repeating this until I’m left holding one. Her red hair is slightly disheveled, falling out of the loose pony at the base of her neck. We’re similar in size, but I have a couple inches on Tessa. Mia towers over us both. The two of them couldn’t be more opposite, not in appearance or demeanor.
Turning to face me, Tessa brings her hands to rest on her hips, looking satisfied with herself.
“You need to look slammin’ at this thing. You have great tits, so use them. All of these dresses can be worn without a bra, and that’s exactly how they should be worn. Don’t cage those babies up. You want to leave some things to the imagination, but a bangin’ cleavage isn’t one of them.” She moves past me and closes the door behind her, leaving me alone in the small room.
I hold the dress up in my hands to get a good look at it. It’s short, the material form-fitting, and the part that would cover my chest is sheer.
“This would show nipple,” I mumble, sticking my hand down the neck of the dress.
“Nothing wrong with that!”
I laugh at Tessa’s remark, then turn my head so I’m staring at the door. My arms drop. “Are you two waiting for me to try these on?”
“Yup,” both women answer, their voices light with excitement.
“Even if you don’t like it, step out and let us see it,” Tessa says. “I might be able to tweak it so it’ll work.”
“Some of these are really short.” I pass a hand over the dresses hanging in front of me. I’m not used to wearing anything like this. “And this one . . . who wears a dress that has a slit up this high?”
Forget about the possibility of everyone at this thing seeing my chest. This one would show vagina.
“I own that one in white.”
I pull my hand back into a fist, wincing. My eyes fixate on the door as uncomfortable silence fills the longest seconds of my life.
Shit. Recover, Beth! Say something!