Page 16 of Falling for Them

It isn’t too crowded when I step inside, and I immediately start toward the area that I usually avoid—the one with the fancy dresses.

A beautiful rose-colored gown hangs right at the front of a rack.It’s floor-length, with a sweetheart neckline and a shimmering beaded trim.I touch the fine fabric hesitantly.Joel wouldn’t be ashamed of me in this dress.

Breath hitching with excitement, I reach for the tag dangling from the zipper.

It’s seventy dollars.Shit.I don’t have that much.But I can’t resist plucking the dress from its rod and taking it into a fitting room.Maybe it’ll look crappy on me and I can set it aside without regret.

Or, let’s be optimistic.Maybe it’ll fit great, but the zipper will be bent or there’ll be a tiny stain at the bottom, and I can ask for a discount.

I slide off my jeans, shirt, and sweatshirt.Carefully, I work the side zipper down.No flaws there.Then I pull the dress over my head.So far, so good.I pull the zipper into place and stare at myself in the mirror.

It’s the perfect dress.Mrs.Dali’s wish that I find the perfect dress has come true.

I even have a pair of little flats I can wear with it.They won’t match exactly, but they’ll do.

But I don’t have seventy dollars, I only have fifty.And there isn’t a single flaw in sight, so I can’t ask for a discount.

My brother would probablycreatea flaw and demand a discount, but that’s not my way.

My eyes tear up, but I blink away the emotion and reluctantly peel off the gown, then put on my faded jeans and sweatshirt once more.

This is okay.I can make this work.Bartleby’s won’t pay for two weeks, and we don’t get tips there—it’s a flat wage.However, my check from Maids in Heaven will arrive soon, and I can come back and get this gown.

Crossing my fingers with hope, I take the dress up to the counter.

“Did it work out for you?”the cashier asks.

“Yes, and no,” I say.

He frowns.“Uh oh.”

“Yeah.I love the dress, it’s perfect.The problem is, I don’t have the money to buy it now.But I get paid in five days.Is there any way you could hold it for me?”

He gives me a look of understanding.“Yeah, sure.But to hold it for longer than twenty-four hours, you have to leave a deposit for fifty percent of the price.Do you have that much?”

“Yes,” I say, grinning.Finally, something is going right.I found the dress, and I’m going to get to buy it.I’ll be eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for this month and next, but it’ll be worth it.

“The deposit is nonrefundable, just so you know,” he says.

“That’s not a problem.”My mind is made up.I want this gown.

I fish two twenties from my wallet and hold them out.He gives me five dollars back and takes down my name and phone number, pinning the note to the hanger and hanging the dress on a rack behind the counter.

“Thank you so much,” I tell him, stuffing the receipt in my wallet along with the leftover cash.

“You’re welcome.See you in five days.”

“See you,” I say, waving cheerfully.

I can’t believe my good luck.How freaking incredible, that something is finally, finally going right for me.Too good to be true?Maybe I would’ve thought that a few days ago, but right now, I’m going to let myself feel excited, happy,hopeful.

I’m going to the gala.

Six

Ella

Joel isn’t working the next night I’m scheduled to be at Tyler Analytics.I text him to see if maybe he wants to come into the office—I want to tell him all about the dress I’m getting for the gala.I should’ve snapped a picture of me wearing it in the fitting room…but no, it’ll be better to surprise him with it.