over the dress I had on. Nell and Chloe were beginning to lose it, arguing over the style. Even the Mistress, who’d been an impartial support through most of the ordeal, showed signs of wear.
It was time to put it to an end. I stepped down. “That’s it. We need to get some lunch. And I’m sure the Mistr—er, Devon needs to help other customers.”
Actually, it looked like the other sales associates had it covered, but Devon was quick to nod in agreement.
“Nell, why don’t you take care of putting a deposit on your dress while Chloe and I get changed.” I grabbed Clo by the elbow and dragged her away.
It took another half hour before we concluded our business. Deciding to have lunch at an Italian restaurant we all liked, we headed for the car.
Nell unlocked the doors with her remote control key. We opened our respective doors in unison.
“ What the hell .” Chloe gagged and slammed her door shut.
The stench must have hit Nell and me at the same time, because we both closed our doors at once.
We all peered in the window. George sat, tail happily wagging, in the front seat. On the floor behind the driver seat was a pile of doggy vomit that could have drowned a small child.
“What do you feed that dog, Nell?” Chloe scrunched her face.
“I just had the car detailed, too.” Nell sighed. “Well, there’s a nice Thai restaurant around the corner.”
Ten minutes later, we were seated with Thai beers in our hands and fresh spring rolls. Minor catastrophes were always easier to face after something to eat.
“I can’t believe you decided on a dress so quickly,” Chloe said, sipping her drink. She’s not twenty-one yet, but she never gets carded. “I would have wanted to check out a bunch of stores before making a decision.”
I shuddered at the thought.
“Do you think I should have looked around?” Nell asked, suddenly concerned.
“ No .” I shook my head vigorously. “No, I think that one was perfect.”
“You’re right.” Nell grinned. “I looked beautiful.”
I was quick to agree. “You did.”
“You know, I think the first dress you and Chloe tried on is the one I want you guys to wear. I think you’d both look smashing in gold.” Nell turned to Chloe. “But maybe we should look at a couple more stores after lunch.”
Chloe nodded. “Definitely. It’s the only way to be sure.”
I wanted to burst out in hysterical sobs of “You can’t make me!” but I decided that wasn’t becoming of someone my age. Instead, I waved at our waiter, pointed at my beer bottle, and lifted a finger. If I had to do more shopping, might as well anesthetize myself.
Chapter Seven
Attack where the enemy is unprepared; appear where you are not expected.
— Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Am I late?” I slipped into the booth across from Pete and dropped my bag on the bench next to me.
I’m not really sure why I carry such a big bag. I don’t really need anything in it. I tried to whittle it down once but then I thought what if the situation arises that I need an emergency sewing kit or a shower cap? I guess bursitis is preferable to being caught unprepared.
Pete smiled at me. “I’ve only been waiting forty-five minutes.”
I winced. “Sorry. I needed to finish the ad I was working on and then there was an accident and—”
Pete covered my mouth with his hand. “It’s okay, Grace. I don’t mind.”
It was a testament to my mood that I wanted to ask him why not. I mean, shouldn’t he have been a little pissed? But I swallowed my disgruntled response and signaled to the waitress for a beer.
Pete studied me with his clear gaze. I tried to ignore it but his scrutiny finally got to me. “What?” I asked.
He cocked his eyebrow. “Hard day?”
“Hard week.” The waitress slid my pint across the table, giving Pete a warm smile before she sashayed away. I rolled my eyes. “Could she be any less shameless?”
“How do you mean?”
“She was flirting with you.”
It was time to put it to an end. I stepped down. “That’s it. We need to get some lunch. And I’m sure the Mistr—er, Devon needs to help other customers.”
Actually, it looked like the other sales associates had it covered, but Devon was quick to nod in agreement.
“Nell, why don’t you take care of putting a deposit on your dress while Chloe and I get changed.” I grabbed Clo by the elbow and dragged her away.
It took another half hour before we concluded our business. Deciding to have lunch at an Italian restaurant we all liked, we headed for the car.
Nell unlocked the doors with her remote control key. We opened our respective doors in unison.
“ What the hell .” Chloe gagged and slammed her door shut.
The stench must have hit Nell and me at the same time, because we both closed our doors at once.
We all peered in the window. George sat, tail happily wagging, in the front seat. On the floor behind the driver seat was a pile of doggy vomit that could have drowned a small child.
“What do you feed that dog, Nell?” Chloe scrunched her face.
“I just had the car detailed, too.” Nell sighed. “Well, there’s a nice Thai restaurant around the corner.”
Ten minutes later, we were seated with Thai beers in our hands and fresh spring rolls. Minor catastrophes were always easier to face after something to eat.
“I can’t believe you decided on a dress so quickly,” Chloe said, sipping her drink. She’s not twenty-one yet, but she never gets carded. “I would have wanted to check out a bunch of stores before making a decision.”
I shuddered at the thought.
“Do you think I should have looked around?” Nell asked, suddenly concerned.
“ No .” I shook my head vigorously. “No, I think that one was perfect.”
“You’re right.” Nell grinned. “I looked beautiful.”
I was quick to agree. “You did.”
“You know, I think the first dress you and Chloe tried on is the one I want you guys to wear. I think you’d both look smashing in gold.” Nell turned to Chloe. “But maybe we should look at a couple more stores after lunch.”
Chloe nodded. “Definitely. It’s the only way to be sure.”
I wanted to burst out in hysterical sobs of “You can’t make me!” but I decided that wasn’t becoming of someone my age. Instead, I waved at our waiter, pointed at my beer bottle, and lifted a finger. If I had to do more shopping, might as well anesthetize myself.
Chapter Seven
Attack where the enemy is unprepared; appear where you are not expected.
— Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Am I late?” I slipped into the booth across from Pete and dropped my bag on the bench next to me.
I’m not really sure why I carry such a big bag. I don’t really need anything in it. I tried to whittle it down once but then I thought what if the situation arises that I need an emergency sewing kit or a shower cap? I guess bursitis is preferable to being caught unprepared.
Pete smiled at me. “I’ve only been waiting forty-five minutes.”
I winced. “Sorry. I needed to finish the ad I was working on and then there was an accident and—”
Pete covered my mouth with his hand. “It’s okay, Grace. I don’t mind.”
It was a testament to my mood that I wanted to ask him why not. I mean, shouldn’t he have been a little pissed? But I swallowed my disgruntled response and signaled to the waitress for a beer.
Pete studied me with his clear gaze. I tried to ignore it but his scrutiny finally got to me. “What?” I asked.
He cocked his eyebrow. “Hard day?”
“Hard week.” The waitress slid my pint across the table, giving Pete a warm smile before she sashayed away. I rolled my eyes. “Could she be any less shameless?”
“How do you mean?”
“She was flirting with you.”
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