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Parker: Grayson likes his skin to smell like raindrops and his face to feel smooth as a baby’s bottom.

I should have known they’d want more of an explanation. Damn it. Why didn’t I just leave my phone in my pocket. I’d been doing a pretty good job of pretending this text thread didn’t exist until now. Apparently, watching Paige try on all these outfits had completely clouded my judgment. I knew there was no avoiding the truth though. If I didn’t say something soon, they’d just start asking more questions about my facial.

Me: We’re shopping for clothes.

I sighed when I saw the notification that immediately came up on screen:Parker is typing...

Parker: Hahhahahahahahaha.

Parker: Dude. That’s so much worse!

Reed: Why did you skip practice for that?

Me: It seemed like a good idea at the time. You told me to take every opportunity I could.

Reed: I didn’t mean skip practice and go SHOPPING.

Matt: You could always just leave. You might still be able to make it here in time.

Owen: He can’t leave. Paige needs his help and he’s trying to win her over.

Parker: First a facial. Now this. Are you even trying to get out of the friend zone?

Screw Parker. I was just following their advice and finally doing something about my unrequited feelings for Paige. I just hadn’t figured out exactly how being in this store was helping. Sitting here judging outfits certainly didn’t feel like it was getting me anywhere.

I quickly stuffed my phone back in my pocket as the fitting room curtain started to peel back. This time, when Paige emerged, she had a warm and genuine smile on her face, and I mirrored her expression when I took in her outfit.

She was wearing a soft pink dress with tiny white flowers dotted all over it. The fabric looked light and delicate, and it gently hugged her waist but flared around her knees. It wasn’t that different to the dresses already lining Paige’s closet, and I was surprised it had made its way into Bonnie’s pile. It was such a contrast to the previous outfit, but, damn, she looked perfect in it. My heart thumped a little harder as if to echo its agreement.

“Nowthat’sbeautiful,” I said. “Forget what I said about the others.”

Her face shone even brighter as she smiled back at me. Then she looked down at the dress and brushed her hands over it. “Thank you,” she said. “I love it, but it’s not really what I came here for.”

“What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t meet Bonnie’s criteria.”

“Well, she picked it, didn’t she?”

Paige looked back up at me and scrunched her nose. “Not exactly. I may have grabbed this one myself while we were walking over to the fitting rooms. I couldn’t help it!”

I felt a smile tease my lips as I imagined how outraged Bonnie would be if she was here. At least this explained why Paige liked the dress so much.

“I guess that means I can’t get it.” She sighed.

“Why not? I think you should wear what makes you happy. And you look pretty happy right now.”

“Maybe that’s not just because of the dress,” she whispered. “I’m having a good time with you.”

That really brought out my smile. I wanted to take her words as some small hint that this was all starting to pay off. But I knew she didn’t mean anything by it.

She turned to look in the mirror once more and sighed again. “I better take this off.”

“I vote we get this dress and then we go get ice cream.”

“You would vote that.”

“What can I say, I’m an easy man to please.”