“Are the guys not coming?” she asks, pulling me aside.
“No, they’re still working on the video, so we’re just supposed to bring everything back to the studio with us. And I sent you my friend Riley’s measurements and photos.”
“I got them and should have everything pretty well set. Let me go grab your rack of clothes and you can start trying on while I get sexy’s measurements,” she says with a sly grin.
“Just what all are you planning to measure, Miss Cougar?”
“How old is he, anyway? Tell me he’s at least twenty-five.”
“Uh, not quite. He acts way mature, though, if that’s any consolation.”
“At least he’s legal.” She sighs, glancing in his direction then giving me the eye. “He’s been guarding your body.”
I smirk. “Yes, he has. And teaching me self defense. I will admit, he’s quite powerful. And it’s kinda fun when he throws you on the floor. Even if it hurts a little.”
“Oh, my god. I want to be manhandled.”
“You know, I always thought you and James might get together.”
She rolls her eyes. “We’ve gotten together.”
“Really?! And?”
“And nothing. We’re friends. We get lonely sometimes. We have a little fun. I want something more serious. I’m still waiting for a guy to whisk me off to a Russian ballet.”
“Aren’t we all.”
“Oh, give me a break. At the wedding, Peyton was telling us all the things that Aiden’s done to woo you.”
My face breaks out in a wide smile. I can’t help it. Aiden makes me smile. “He’s pretty dreamy. Really, he’s kind of my dream guy in many ways.”
“What ways is he not?”
“He’s not B.”
She sighs. “He didn’t dance with you at your birthday party, Keatyn.”
“No, but he came to it. He even dressed up. I’ve realized a lot, Kym. I know I complained about him sometimes. But, looking back, I probably wasn’t the easiest person to love.”
“Bullshit. You are very lovable.”
“I wasn’t then. Don’t I seem different to you than I did last summer?”
She gets tears in her eyes. “I’m lucky your mom took a chance on me all those years ago and I’ve gotten to be part of your life. I’m proud to say I’ve helped dress you for nearly every important occasion in your life.”
“You have. I’ll never forget the dress from Mom and Tommy’s first date. It’s still in my closet. I’m hoping to have a little girl who can wear it someday.”
“You have a great style. You never look like you try too hard but you always look put together. It’s a look young girls will want to emulate once this movie comes out. You need to remember that when you choose your outfits.”
“Nothing too skanky?”
“There’s a big difference between sexy and skanky.”
“Does that mean you picked me out something sexy?”
“Sparkly and sexy. That’s what the perfect New Year’s Eve dress should always be. Remember when I told you to have an intervention if you ever saw me cooking for a man?”
“Yeah.”
“That Cooper makes me want to put on an apron and bake a cake.”
“You’re bad!”
She giggles. “I know!”
She rolls racks of clothing into the showroom, shows the girls their selections, and sends them behind the curtain to start trying on.
“Okay, Keatyn,” she says. “Let’s look at yours. Notice, you don’t have as many options.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well, I know you better, for one. I know all these will look great on you, but I want to talk you through them.”
I nod at her, so she holds up the first dress.
“This sparkly, silver sequined dress. What do you think of it?”
“It’s really pretty. I love the plunging neckline. The sequins are mixed with spangles, which makes it a little different. The cut is pretty, but it’s a little—um, predictable, maybe?”
“Exactly. Very good. Okay,” she says, holding out the second option. “What about this?”
I examine the dress. “This one has great lines for me. I look good in a tank style dress and I love how it’s covered in black sequins that are more matte than shiny. And the bottom, how it flares out and is covered in shiny black feather, it’s so cute! I really like it.”
I run my hand across the soft feathers, remembering when Aiden stole my feather earrings after our tutoring with food date.
“You seem like you want to add a but.”
“I’m a little worried how the feathers will hold up to a night of dancing.”
“You going to be grinding on Aiden?”
“Absolutely.”
“Tell me what you think of the dress itself. What message would it send?”
“This dress has a little edge. The combination of the tank style and the matte sequins pair unexpectedly with the feathers on the bottom. You know I like mixing things that seem like they shouldn’t go together. And with a great pair of shoes, I think it’d be a good option.”