Chapter Thirty Five
“Well, no dress will look right if you’re going to frown in every single one,” Addy scolds.
I tilt my head at my reflection in the wall of mirrors, trying to force a smile that barely makes it past my lips.
It’s hopeless. This is the fourth changing room of an impromptu shopping trip Addy insisted on.
Apparently, wearing something I already own to Rhys’ birthday gala is an unforgivable offense.
Yet even with Clay’s encouragement to come and armed with Rhys’ credit card, nothing feels right.
I don’t feel right. Tomorrow night, I’ll have to choose between the two men who’ve claimed pieces of my heart without even realizing it.
I have no idea what I’m going to do. I don’t want to lose either one of them.
Rhys has spent the past two weeks doing everything in his power to distract me from my coursework.
Anytime I’m not with Clayton in class or at the library, which is now the proud owner of all its books again, Rhys is pulling me into dark rooms or storeroom closets.
That’s when he even lets me leave his house at all.
Clay, on the other hand, has been patient and kind. His signing practice is coming along so well, and lately, he and Rhys have managed to eat at least one meal a day together without tearing each other’s throats out.
All of which makes standing here, trapped in this dress with the weight of an impossible decision pressing down on my shoulders, feel unbearable.
“This is stupid,” I huff to Addy. Stepping back into the fitting room, I whip the curtain closed and peel the blood-red satin dress from my body, letting it puddle at my feet.
I knew coming to the mall was a bad idea, but Addy swore if I found the right dress, the rest would fall into place.
That I would instinctively know what to do when the time comes.
Can’t I just bury my head in the sand a little longer?
Tugging on my jeans, sneakers, black crop top, and leather jacket, I peel back the curtain to face my best friend and give her a smug little smirk. That bitch found her perfect dress in the first store, which she insists on twirling around in its bag stuffed with tissue paper.
“How am I supposed to shop for a dress when I don’t even know who my date will be?” I groan. “I need to match him somehow. Whoever he is going to be…Addy, how am I going to do this?” Addy taps a finger against her chin, considering.
“Okay, well, what would you wear for each?” Dropping onto the low sofa beside her, I sigh.
“If it were for Rhys, it’d have to be black, dark red, or gold.
Something sleek, expensive-looking, and probably a little too revealing.
” My lips curve before I can stop them. “Clay would like something softer. Maybe emerald green to match my eyes, or powder blue like the sky on our first date. He’s more sentimental like that.
” Addy throws a hand over her heart in mock swoon. I roll my eyes and shove her lightly.
“Then we buy one of each,” she declares.
“You could change halfway through the night and swap dates. I’ll stuff Clay in the bathroom until you give me the signal.
” A laugh bursts out of me despite the knot in my chest. That’s Addy, always finding a way to make light of my mess.
I kind of hate that she’s so good at it.
Leaving the fitting room, I hand the dress back to the waiting assistant with a small, apologetic smile. Addy loops her arm through mine, tugging me toward the escalators. My eyes ache from staring at sequins, and my head feels like it’s being crushed under the pressure of it all.
“Please, no more shopping,” I beg. “I need coffee.” Addy giggles and steers us toward the mall’s central café area. The space is buzzing, bodies streaming in every direction, conversations overlapping until they blur into a low roar that presses against the sensitive edges of my hearing.
“Do you mind if I tune out?” I say quickly, gesturing toward my ears.
“No problem,” Addy signs back, smiling. Sunlight pours through the domed glass ceiling, glinting off the leaves of the oversized plants that decorate the space.
Four levels of glass railings rise above us like a giant atrium.
At the center of it all sits a cozy café fenced in by white pickets and dotted with wooden tables.
A small oasis for the weary shoppers like me.
I dart for an empty table as soon as one frees up, narrowly beating a pair of students with the same idea.
Addy joins the queue, leaving me to sink into my chair and wallow in quiet misery.
I hate this. I hate that Phillip Waversea is ruling over me the way he rules over his son, how he’s essentially blackmailing me to put an end to my fun.
Just when the boys were starting to find a way to somewhat get along, a deadline was set.
Fun’s over, reality is back in full force.
Addy returns, setting a tray in front of me.
The smell of coffee instantly eases the tightness in my chest. Between my latte and her smoothie are two triple-chocolate muffins, still warm and gooey.
I sign, ‘I love you’ before taking a huge bite.
It’s rich and molten, and I all but melt into my seat.
“Can I take you as my date instead?” I jokingly sign with one hand, picking off smaller parts of the muffin to seem somewhat dignified. Addy chuckles, her throat and chest working in quick succession.
“You’re definitely my type, but I’ve already accepted another invitation.” I pause mid-bite.
“Who?” I ask with my hand making an L shape by my chin. Addy avoids my gaze, her demeanor changing. I’ve never seen shy Addy before, but the color of her cheeks is beginning to reflect her hair and she’s suddenly far more interested in her smoothie. I snap my fingers at her until she gives in.
“Nikki Oakes.”
“From the cheer squad?!” I crinkle my nose, unable to hide my initial reaction. Usually, I’m never one to judge, but these girls have been blindly bullying me at Klara’s instruction for months. Addy deserves my judgement for fraternizing with the enemy, so I glare at her. Judge, judge, judge.
“Nikki is different. She does cheer because she likes to, not for the attention.” Addy sits up straight, her face unusually serious as she gets all defensive. I raise my hands in defeat.
“Fine, but you can’t say shit about me liking Rhys anymore,” I raise a brow. Addy gives me a deadpan look, her hands moving in a flurry.
“Yes I can! Nikki does cheerleading, Rhys steals, lies, bullies—”
“Okay enough of that,” I lean across the table and slap her hands away. We’re both grinning now as I sit back in my seat. “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
With the coffee cup in my hands, I watch the world blur around me.
There’s a sale rack outside one of the stores, currently being attacked by a herd of short skirts and wedged sandals.
It’s only when a group of girls from my study group pass by that it occurs to me that many of the shoppers out today are female and around our age.
I look closer at the levels above, seeing more than one Waversea sweatshirt leaning against the railings.
Most have their hair freshly done and are examining freshly painted nails.
They’re going all out, and they’re not even potentially the birthday boy’s date.
I wish I could smile alongside them, to feel that giddiness rather than the heavy ache of my heart.
Finishing the coffee, I put down the cup and shake my hand in the air for Addy’s attention.
“I’ve just realized there’s a party happening on campus tomorrow, and you’re not elbow-deep in a confetti cannon. Didn’t feel like micromanaging this one?” I’d meant to tease her, but as Addy tries to keep smiling, I don’t miss the flash of sadness in her eyes.
“After the disaster of the talent show, Mr. Waversea has hired a professional events company to do this one. Hopefully it’s a one off. I wouldn’t want my resume affected by a mishap.” I frown at my jeans, a lump lodging in my throat.
It’s not like I asked for my naked body to be splashed across a screen during the talent show, but I still feel guilty that my best friend is being penalized for it.
Unless this is another way for Phillip Waversea to throw his weight around, proving he can control more than just my life.
If I humiliate his son tomorrow, it might not only be me that suffers the consequences.
“Rhys is still convinced you’re behind it all. The video, the fire, and all the rest.” I smirk. Addy rolls her eyes, a small laugh coming from her.
“If I’d wanted to humiliate or hurt you, I had plenty of chances while you’re snoring and drooling in the bed next to me.”
“I don’t snore!” I sign, throwing a piece of muffin her way.
She bats it away and sticks out her tongue, hollowing out her dermals.
It’s laughable to think Addy could plan anything malicious around the thousands of extra-curriculars she takes on.
She’s going to burn out soon, and hopefully I’m in a position to support her like she has me.
Not that she’s complaining about having the run of Rhys’ house and feasting on take out most nights, but she’s still firmly Team Clayton.
If Addy has her way, we’ll be back in our dorm tomorrow night, a bittersweet ending to the sordid love triangle I’ve managed to juggle for this long.
The thought sours my mood once again. There’s no winning at the end of this.
Spotting a tight mini dress through the crowd, I groan audibly.
Why am I even surprised Klara and her minions are also in the mall, masses of designer bags hanging from their arms?
To Addy’s credit, I don’t see Nikki amongst those trailing Klara like flies sticking to shit.
The queen bee spots me at the same time, her lips twisting into a snarl.
Any other day, I’d stand my ground, but currently I don’t have the energy for whatever bitchy thing Klara wants to say.
Whatever doubt she wants to put into my head can wait.
Signing to Addy that it’s time to go, we stand and head to the bespoke dress store on the upper level.
The air is perfumed, the air con refreshing, yet my mind has checked out.
I let Addy drag me around, holding up dresses which I sigh and shrug at.
The colors blur into a mass of straps and sequins, my mood scraping along the floor.
All I can think is, what if I pick the wrong dress, the wrong boy, the wrong heart?
Because tomorrow, everything changes and once a decision has been made, there’s no going back.
“Sure, that’s the one,” I relent and take a hanger out of Addy’s hand.
She follows me to the register, trying to sign words of encouragement but I clasp her hands together and speak out loud.
“It doesn’t matter, Addy. The dress, the shoes, the hair.
It’s all pointless. I’m going to end up heartbroken either way.
” Her frown reflects how I’m feeling inside as the cashier rings me up and accepts Rhys’ card.
Accepting the bag on my behalf, Addy spins me and digs her hand into my pocket.
Presenting my receivers, she urges me to put them on, refusing to be silenced this time.
“Since when does Harper Addams do as she’s told?
” Her voice echoes in my head, her chocolate brown eyes darkening as she gets serious.
“Just because the ball is in your court, doesn’t mean it has to stay there.
Pick up your racket and smack that fucker back over the net.
” My brow jerks, a puzzled look taking over my features.
“That’s a cute analogy and everything, but I don’t play tennis.” Addy groans, her eyes flying to the ceiling. She grabs my arms, giving me a light shake.
“You’ve been too distracted by the Man-Hulk and the Menace to notice you have all the control.” Again, my brow does a funny little twitch and I’m left staring at her in confusion.
“Have you been in Rhys’ weed stash?”
“I’m just saying,” Addy accentuates her words, pulling me down the aisle towards the mall.
Her arm slips into the crook of mine, her sass coming back to life.
“There are more than two choices. Expand that beautiful brain of yours. If you’re not happy with the options being presented to you, do something about it. ”