Page 90 of The Art of Almost Losing It
His green eyes widen.
“Dani.”
“Don’t worry.” I take a step back. “I’m not buying this dress.”
“Why not? You look stunning in it.”
Stunning? Me?
My own parents had never referred to me as “stunning,” except maybe when I was going through my princess phase when I was five.
I search his eyes for the sarcasm or the joke.
He looks serious.
“It’s too expensive. It’s got diamonds all over it. On the back,” I explain at his questioning look.
I hold my breath as he wordlessly steps around me.
I feel his fingers brush lightly on the back of my neck, then he’s twisting my hair up so he can see the cascade of diamonds on the swooping gold chains cascading down my back.
“Sorry you have to see all my weird freckles.”
“No,” he murmurs. “Your skin is beautiful.”
I feel warm—nothothot, just… warm. I want to believe him, but what if he’s just leading me on? It’s all one big fat joke. Just like all the other times…
The sound of a camera phone shutter going off snaps me out of it.
Graham’s hand jerks back.
A young brunette pops out from behind a clothes rack.
“Gotcha!” She’s giddy. “Oh my god, this is an amazing photo. You look hot in that dress!” She’s wearing the blue dress my mom wanted me to wear. The tags dangle from the hem.
“Hi, Dani!” Graham’s sister Hannah squeals and hugs me. “Great minds think alike. I ambushed Graham and made him take me shopping.”
“That sounds like fun. He didn’t want to spend that much time with me, so he just handed me his credit card.”
“No,” Graham corrects. “I don’t trust Hannah with my credit card. You, I do.”
Hannah claps her hands. “You two are so perfect together! Okay, Dani, buy that dress, and then we’re going to hit up the shoes upstairs, maybe the jewelry counter, then the purses. Graham, you can go sit in the bar downstairs, and Dani and I will come get you when your card starts getting declined.”
Hannah grabs my arm.
“Oh, I’m not getting this one, it’s—”
“I think it’s perfect,” Graham says softly.
Beside him, his sister is hopping up and down, sending her earrings jangling.
“You’re being nice. I’m just going to get a different one.” I feel flustered.
“Oh, there you are!” My family rushes over to me.
“Honestly, Dani, you’re not supposed to let him see you in the dress,” Mom scolds me.
“You look good, girl.” Piper nods approvingly.
