Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Grace
Isat in a private shopping room at Faun surrounded by beautiful things, as we sipped champagne and had little cookies with the store’s logo on them. All the items had been carefully selected and brought over for us to choose from. I’d never experienced anything like this before.
This was surreal. My phone buzzed.
Verity
The dark green purse is beautiful. But the pink one is rarer if you care about such things. The black slouchy tote is too cute and probably the most practical investment. You could make it fun by tying scarves on the handle to match your outfits.
Yes, I’d asked my new little sister for advice on purses. Because who did I even ask? I did like the tote. The messenger bag from Evan was cute, but sometimes I needed a bag that I could fit more things in. My phone buzzed again.
Kilroy’s Mom
All of them. Get them all.
Okay, I’d asked Kilroy’s mom, Ansley, too, since she had so many purses. I actually liked all three bags and didn’t know how to choose.
“You’re shitting my dick, I can actually get it?” Riley gave Spencer a look as she clutched the silver mini backpack. Christine had found a matching one for her doll.
I sent Verity a photo of a doll purse that matched the dark green one.
Me
My Gracie doll needs a Grace purse?
It was ridiculous. This entire store was ridiculous.
So was the fact that I was going to let Spencer buy one for me. They were well made. If I got something I was truly happy with and took care of it, it would probably last for a long time.
Verity
I think she does.
Spencer ran a hand down my cheek. “What are you going to get, my good doctor?”
“The white shoes.” If they didn’t go with my dress, they’d be good for work, or other occasions where I wanted to be comfortable but couldn’t wear sneakers.
“You should get them in black, as well. Very practical, especially for walking around at symposiums,” Spencer recommended.
“Sure. And the tote. Oh, and the doll-sized Grace purse.” There. Mostly practical, but a little ridiculous.
Spencer’s eyebrows rose. “Not the dark green as well, so that you can match your doll? You should get these scarves, too.”
He pushed over a couple of thin scarves Christine had brought for exactly what Verity had suggested–tying on the handle of the tote.
“If you insist.” I really wanted the dark green purse as well. It just seemed a little greedy.
“Perfect–we’ll take the pink, too. Oh, and that small wallet.” Spencer leaned in and gave me a kiss.
“Thank you, Spencer.” I leaned into him. Absolutely ridiculous.
He kissed the top of my head, then gestured to all the other things piled on the counter. “Riley, did you want a wallet or anything else?”
“I’ll take this one.” Riley pointed to a black coin purse. “Oh, and I’d really like a black keychain backpack, please.”
“Perfect. I’ll grab you a keychain backpack at the register. I’ve noted all of your preferences. Next time you need something, just text me or Emil,” Christine told me.
Riley dragged me off to look at stuff as Spencer paid.
“That was ridiculous.” I giggled.
“Yep,” Riley agreed with a chuckle.
I took his arm as he joined us, bags in hand. “Thank you.”
“Anything for you. Though I might have shown off a little.” He smirked at that sales associate who wouldn’t help us as we left.
“Should we go to that store on the second floor that Sara recommended?” I asked. Actually, the fancy wedding planner had mentioned that brand, too. Verity might have mentioned it as well.
“Sure,” Riley said.
We went into the store. Everything looked elegant and understated. Soft music played.
“Are we shopping for something specific today?” an associate asked us as we browsed.
I showed her the photo. “My event coordinator suggested something like this for my mating party.”
“But a little fancier,” Riley interjected.
The associate found me a room, and I tried on some beautiful dresses.
I sent pictures to both Evan and Verity.
It felt a little weird to text her about dresses when I wasn’t inviting her to this party.
But she’d started texting me first, offering advice since she’d heard from Mercy what Riley and I were doing today.
Maybe I should invite her. The more I got to know her the more I wanted her there, too.
Verity
Ferrel? They’re just so elegant.
Me
They are. Some of them are itchy, though. None of them are The One.
They were also too long; even the ones they had in shorter lengths.
Verity
I get that. You might try Vecci. I’ve done a few of their shows, and they’re my favorite designers. One day I’d love to have all the Vecci dresses.
I sent her a photo of me and Brennan at the concert.
Me
I think that dress is a Vecci. Wait, shows?
Verity
I sometimes do a little modeling. I’ve gotten lucky and done a few runway shows. I don’t do much now because I’m so busy. But I have one coming up in Paris, and I’m excited.
She added photos of her wearing different outfits.
“Wow.” I turned to Riley, who was trying on dresses for fun. “Verity is a model. Like a runway model. And she’s getting a PhD.”
Riley nodded. “Mercy told me. Verity’s pretty amazing. Probably why they don’t want her to date–so she doesn’t find a pack and leave them.”
Yeah, I knew exactly the kind of girl Verity was–that responsible daughter everyone depended on to the point where they couldn’t function without her.
Me
You’re so hot. Some omega is going to be all over that.
Verity
I can only hope.
She added some laughing emojis.
Evan also texted.
Evan
Very sexy.
We changed, and I looked at Spencer. “Some of them were pretty, but none of them were The One.”
He squeezed my hand. “That’s okay.”
“I know where to take you.” Riley grabbed my hand, and we set off.
But they didn’t have anything. Neither did the other shop she took me to. No one had The One. Not even Vecci.
“It’s all right, Darling. We’ll set up an appointment with Andre,” he assured me.
“Why don’t we go to Stuff-A-Stuffie. It’ll make you feel better.” Riley shot Spencer a pleading look.
“Why not.” Spencer pulled me close, and we walked to a store where you made stuffed animals.
“My world has this, too,” I whispered as I looked at all the stuffed animals you could choose from. “Oh, I want to make a hippo for Wes.” I still had Mr. Hippo in my room, even though I had both the teddy from Evan and the bunny that Wes had won me.
I stuffed a hippo and recorded a message, then made her an adoption certificate. Mrs. Hippo. Riley made a bear in a Rockland Raiders outfit, complete with skates.
“You can make one for yourself, Darling.” Spencer wrapped his arms around me and gave me a kiss.
“It’s fine. I got a doll and purses, I’m feeling nice and spoiled. Even if I didn’t find a dress.” I squeezed his hand. This had been quite the amazing shopping trip.
“Spence, I think you should make her one. I’ll make Evan and you one, and Grace can make Brennan and Jett ones, and then we’ll all have one,” Riley suggested.
“I love that idea.” Spencer gave me a kiss and hurried off.
That was a cute idea. Hmmm. Jett was easy--the shop had boxing gloves. But what about Brennan? Maybe a suit? I picked out a tiny bear suit. I wandered over to an area that said Club Stuffie–Adults Only.
“Wow, today I learned you can buy lingerie for your bear,” I muttered as I looked at all the very interesting things.
Should I get Brennan’s bear a thong? We hadn’t ever really talked about the night of the concert–or what happened after. But then, Brennan didn’t seem like a talk it over sort of guy.
Something caught my eye, and I held up a pair of bear-sized briefs that said Good Boy across the ass. Was that overstepping or was it funny?
Mmmm. I texted Jett and sent him a photo.
Me
Am I overstepping if I put this on the bear I’m making for Bren? They’d be under the suit…
Jett
I love it. Not overstepping.
Me
Thanks.
Hmmm. Should I record Brennan a message? Yeah, I should. I put it in the foot so it would be harder to find. I wouldn’t tell him either. I finished up, and we checked out with our stuffed animals in their little boxes. Spencer looked smug.
“We should probably head home,” Spencer told us.
“I suppose.” Riley thought for a moment. “Can we get candy first?”
He glanced at his phone. “Sure.”
Riley took us to one of those shops where you filled a bag with whatever you wanted, and they weighed it. I had fun getting a little of this and that so I could try all of this world’s sour candies. Spencer got some chocolates. Riley got all sorts of fun-looking treats.
Finally, we headed back through the mall toward where we parked.
I stopped short in front of a store. An elegant dress hung in the window under a bunch of lights.
It was a slightly off the shoulder, A-line dress with a beaded sweetheart neckline.
The satin skirt was full-ish but still sleek–not straight but not puffy.
No train. It said I’m the princess, not I’m a princess.
It could be pale gold, it might also be pale pink, or even off-white.
I couldn’t tell with the way it was lit.
But I knew it. This was The One.
“Spence, I need to try that on,” I breathed, consumed with an overwhelming desire to have that dress. Please don’t be itchy. I’d cry if it were itchy.
Or had a low back.
“You found it.” Spencer wrapped his arms around me. “Let’s try it on.”
“Wow, you have good taste,” Riley whispered. “The girls at school covet these. They’re peak excellent eighteenth party goals when you’re stupid-rich.”
We went inside. Soft music played. Like Ferrel, it was sophisticated, but it had more of an elegant princess undertone.
“Oh, that’s pretty,” I breathed as we passed another mannequin in a pale pink, puffy dress.
“My mate would like to try on the dress in the window,” Spencer told the associate.
“Which one?” he asked.
I pointed to it, since there were two windows, one on each side of the door. “That one.”