Page 80 of Sit, Stay, Love
Sera grimaced. It was overwhelming; the whole thing was overwhelming. She was definitely over-overwhelmed.
Linda squeezed her hand. ‘Don’t panic. I’ll pull a few things out for you.’
Linda fluttered about, laying a couple of dresses on the bed and hanging another two on the door. ‘Anything catch your eye?’
Sera looked over the selection. There was a black sequined shift with a deep V-neckline, a pink floaty chiffon number and something so short, Sera doubted it would cover her butt.
‘I like this one,’ she said, pointing to a red burnished satin dress with a sweetheart neckline, tight bodice and full swing skirt.
Carol smiled. ‘I forgot you like the vintage stuff.’ She took the fifties-style dress off the hanger and handed it to Sera.
Sera held it against her body and looked in the mirror. ‘Is it too red?’
Linda tugged at the bottom of Sera’s top. ‘There’s no such thing as too red. Try it on.’
Sera unbuttoned the green kitten-print shirt she’d worn for her meeting, pulled off her sneakers, slid out of her black capri pants and stood in front of Linda in her underwear. Memories washed over her of Saturday nights holed up in her bedroom, the two of them trying on clothes and playing with makeup, dancing around as they watchedRage.
‘It’s like being at school again,’ Linda said, as if she’d read her friend’s thoughts. ‘And you’ve still got your banging body.’ She turned sideways, patted her pregnant belly and pouted.
‘I don’t have a banging body.’
‘Oh, please. Everyone wanted your boobs when we were teenagers. Especially the boys.’
Sera tutted and shook her head as she stepped into the dress, wiggled it up over her hips, and slid her arms through the cap sleeves.
Linda zipped her up then tied the wide black ribbon around the waist into a bow. ‘Holy shit. No one’s going to be looking at your date.’
Sera frowned. ‘That’s not good. They need to look at him. This is a big night for Ethan. I should pick something else.’
‘No.’ Linda grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her to face the mirror. ‘You should not.’
A smile crept across Sera’s face. ‘It looks quite nice, doesn’t it?’ She’d never worn a dress this glamorous. She wouldn’t have thought she could have pulled it off, but looking at herself in the mirror, she was pleasantly surprised.
Linda rolled her eyes. ‘Quite nice? You and your modesty. You look stunning. Let me find the shoes that go with it.’
‘Not too high. I don’t do heels anymore. I’d probably break an ankle.’
Linda handed her a pair of black pumps with a tiny kitten heel, and Sera slid them on.
‘Okay?’
Sera nodded. ‘What about my hair, should I get it done?’
‘Just let those wild tresses fall free.’
She pulled out her scrunchie and her hair tumbled down with a soft bounce, her auburn curls swishing just above her creamy shoulders.
‘Perfect,’ Linda said. ‘You’re a knockout. Ethan James is a very lucky man.’
Toby dropped two pizza boxes onto the coffee table and handed Sera a glass of champagne.
‘Cheers,’ he said, picking up his glass and clinking it against hers. ‘Congratulations on the contract. You…urnedit.’ He smirked.
She groaned. ‘Bad joke alert.’
He chuckled. ‘So, a movie premiere, huh?’ he said, flopping onto the couch beside her. He leaned forward, placed a pizza slice on a plate and handed it to her.
She took a bite and mumbled, ‘Uh-huh.’ A trickle of grease escaped her lips and dripped down her chin.
