“It will look great, and if it doesn’t, there are plenty more dresses to try on.”
“I know,” I said, though I knew I would feel disappointed if the dress in my hands didn’t look good. I’d only seen it for a few seconds, but I was already drawn to it. It was intricate and pretty and I loved the look of it. I just hoped that it would look good on me.
I walked into the dressing room and pulled the curtain, hanging the dress on a hanger carefully before setting my bag down. I started to take off my clothes slowly, staring at myself in the mirror as I did so. I paused for a few seconds and just stared at my face up close. I wasn’t sure what it was about dressing room mirrors, but they always seemed so much clearer than my mirrors at home. I suppose it had to do with the lighting in the dressing room.
I stared into my brown eyes and then at my lashes, still slightly tinged with black mascara that I hadn’t gotten off. I had some small lines around my eyes and slightly darker bags. I wrinkled my nose as I stared at the lines and tried not to sigh. I stared at my cheeks, seeing that my skin looked smooth, except for a few freckles, and I smiled at myself and then rolled my eyes at how idiotic I was to be smiling at myself in a dressing-room mirror.
I pulled my top off and my jeans down and studied my body. My bra looked old and funky, though I was happy at the fact that my boobs looked luscious. I then looked at my stomach and grimaced. There was definitely no six-pack there or even a faint glimmering of abs. I needed to work on that. TJ had such a perfect body and I wanted to be able to match that. Maybe that would make him want me more. My eyes fell farther, to my thighs and calves, and I turned to the side to check out my ass. It was still pretty flat, but was a bit more pert than usual, thanks to all my squats. Overall, I was pleased with what I saw, if not ecstatic. I shook my head at myself and then reached over to grab the dress off of the hanger, when I suddenly froze. I’d heard a deep, familiar-sounding voice, and my body started shaking. It couldn’t be, could it?
“Mila?” TJ’s deep voice echoed through the store and my face grew heated. How was TJ here?
“TJ, what are you doing here?” Sally asked, surprised. I’m sure she was wondering how he was here as well.
“Where’s Mila?” TJ sounded annoyed.
“She’s in the changing room,” Sally said, her voice stiff. “What are you doing here?”
“I told Mila I wanted to see the dresses.”
“I thought she told you no.”
“So?” he said in an amused tone, his voice coming closer. “Mila, you there?”
I opened my mouth, but no words would come out. I was in shock.
“Mila?” His voice came closer.
“TJ?” I squeaked out finally. “What are you doing here?”
“I texted you and you didn’t respond,” he said accusingly from right outside my room.
“I was busy,” I said defensively.
“I figured.”
“How did you know where I was?”
“What?” TJ said slowly.
“How did you know where I was? I didn’t tell you.”
“I shared your location.”
“What?” I frowned, not understanding him. “What does that mean?”
“I went into your phone and shared your location with my number,” he said matter-of-factly, as if there were nothing wrong with that. “I wanted to make sure I could—”
“SPY ON ME?” I shouted, interrupting him. “How dare you?”
“I just wanted to make sure you were safe and that I could find you if anything happened.” He sounded sheepish now.
“If what happened, TJ?” I was annoyed.
“I don’t know.”
“Did you share your location with me as well?” I asked softly, though I already knew the answer.
“I didn’t think about it,” he said after a few seconds. “Sorry, I should have done that as well.”
“Yeah, sure, that’s the reason why I'm upset. Not. TJ, you can’t just go into my phone and share my location without even asking me.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, his tone unreadable. I wasn’t sure if he was really sorry or if he was just saying that.
“Sure you are.” I shook my head from inside my dressing room. “Anyway, what can I do for you, TJ?”
“I came to see your dress choices.”
“I told you that I didn’t want to show them to you.”
“I thought that was just via text. I thought, in person, you’d be happy to show me.”
“TJ, don’t you have work to do?”
“I always have work to do, but I wanted to make time to see you,” he said softly. “I’ve been thinking about you all day. I thought it would be romantic of me to come down and see you during the day. Don’t you girls like romantic gestures?”
“I guess.” I bit down on my lower lip. What did that mean? Why was he trying to be romantic? Was he falling for me, after all?
“So can I see you in at least one dress?”
“Fine,” I sighed. “Hold on, I’m putting one on right now.”
“I’m waiting,” he said, his tone lighter now—happy, even. I was itching to see his face and his smile, but I wasn’t about to open the curtain while I was still in my underwear.
“Hold on,” I said as I slipped the dress over my head and sucked my breath in to pull it down. I paused as I pressed my breasts in with one hand and continued to pull the dress down. I was praying to God that the material wouldn’t rip. That would be all that I needed.
“Mila?” TJ sounded impatient.
“TJ,” I said, annoyed, as I sucked in my stomach so that the material could go down. When it got to my hips, I paused, as I wasn’t sure if I could get it all the way down. I shimmied back and forth and then stood still, pulling the material down my legs. Then I looked in the mirror and started grinning at my reflection. The dress looked amazing and, even though it was tight, it held me in in all the right places and made my body look a lot tighter and fitter than it was. I just stared at my reflection for a few seconds before a feeling of shyness overwhelmed me. What if TJ didn’t like it? What if he didn’t think I looked amazing? What if—?
“Mila, is it on yet?” TJ said, his voice lower. In response, I opened the curtain and gave him a small glare to show him that I was angry at his impatience. “Ooh,” he said as he stared at me, his eyes widening and a slow grin spreading over his face before he gave a loud whistle. “Worth the wait.” He grinned, his eyes travelling down my body and stopping at the long slit that went up the legs. “Definitely worth the wait.”
“Let me see you, Mila.” Sally hurried over and her eyes also widened as she glanced at me. “Wow, you’re hot.”
“Yes, she is,” TJ said in response as I just stood there, grinning like a fool, feeling more flattered than I’d ever felt in my life.
“Now, you just need to get some heels,” Sally said with a grin. “Some new heels to match the dress.”
“I have heels.” I shook my head at Sally. I wasn’t going to go crazy with TJ’s credit card.
“Not that match that dress,” Sally said and grabbed my hand. “Turn around,” She said as she spun me in a circle. “Wow, the back is gorgeous as well,” Sally said and she nodded at me as I faced her again. “Great pick.”
“The dress is amazing,” TJ said softly, his eyes searching mine for a few seconds as I looked at him. “Almost as amazing as you.”
“Thank you,” I said, my heart racing at his words. What did they mean? Was he really falling for me?
“I’m proud to call you my fake fiancée,” he said, his eyes moving away. “I couldn’t have picked anyone better for the role.”
“Thanks,” I said, my smile falling slightly. Was he answering my unasked question? Was he putting me in my place in case I got any other ideas?
“You look really gorgeous, Mila. Simply beautiful,” he said, looking back at me, his expression slightly bewildered. “I should go,” he said and took a step back.
“Go?” I asked, looking at him in confusion. “You just got here.” I laughed at him, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
“And I see you’re in good hands.” He looked at Sally and then back at me, before taking a quick step towards me. He gave me a kiss on the cheek and then just stared into my eyes for a few seconds before giving me the most beguiling smile. “I’m going to go back to work now.”