29. Windows And Leather
Windows And Leather
Sheridan
“So have we gotten everyone outfits for the weekend?” Winnie asks Ottilie.
Ottilie glances down at her list. “That’s five outfits for each person on our list. Should we get a few extras for the other people who might show up?”
“Good idea.” Winnie turns to the saleslady. “We’ll take all your outfits that fit this style, delivered to this address by tonight.” She holds out a card.
“All of them?”
I feel just as googly-eyed as the saleswoman. Who just walks in and buys out half of a high-end costume store? Winnie, it seems.
“Assuming you can get them delivered in time.”
The woman looks at the card like it’s a diamond necklace being offered to her. I’d do the same if I was offered that much money in one go.
My brain goes ga-ga when I have a somewhat good sales day. This will probably make the store’s quarter.
If I had the money…But you don’t. There’s no point in wondering.
Winnie turns to me. “Sheridan, do you have everyone’s bags set for what we’re taking with us?”
Each bag has the woman’s name on it that it’s for. “I’ve got two more to label.”
“Good. Why don’t we drop these off, then head to dinner? There’s this great little sushi place nearby.” Winnie walks over to where I’m standing.
What? No, I can’t.
What do I say?
What lie would they believe?
Winnie can spot a lie a mile away. She’s got too much of a don’t mess with me attitude for me to get away with it.
There’s no way I’m going to get away with a lie.
They’re going to know.
So what?
People go on dates all the time.
Just because I don’t go on dates all the time doesn’t make this an anomaly for anyone else. Just tell them. “I’ve got a date.”
The shop goes silent, and all eyes turn towards me.
“Where is he taking you?”
“What are you going to do?”
“Do you plan on kissing him?”
“Are you two in love?”
“How long have you been dating?”
“What are you going to wear?”
“When is he picking you up?”
“Why didn’t you tell any of us earlier?”
All the questions come in as a barrage. That makes me dizzy. I step back.
“Give her some space.” Dahlia walks over to me. “We’re all very excited for you.”
“I’m not excited for her,” Ottilie chimes in. “Most dates are a waste of time and energy. She’s more likely to kiss a toad than fall in love.”
“He’s not a toad.” Why did I say that?
“Does that mean—” Mindy starts to ask.
“It doesn’t mean anything yet. This is our first date. I just need to relax and have fun.”
“You heard her. We need to chill out and help her find the best outfit ever.” Dahlia grabs my hand.
I groan silently. They aren’t going to let this go.
***
Leonie’s apartment—it’s more like a loft—is so cool. It’s like she took a picture of the most ultra-cool loft with exposed brick, ventilation, cement pylons, and old wood floors.
What gets me is the lack of walls. There’s not a single wall anywhere except for the bathroom.
Otherwise, there are almost floor-to-ceiling windows around the entire space.
Even though this is almost the penthouse, we’re still in Urbium, which means there are tons of buildings all around that are just as tall.
Each and every one of them features a view right inside Leonie’s apartment.
It’s like living in a fishbowl, but unlike in Fly’s place, she has neighbors.
Cordelia walks over and whispers, “You don’t need to worry. The windows are tinted. No one can see inside.”
I let out a breath.
“Isn’t this place the raddest? When Leonie’s guardian got it for her, we all wanted to move in.”
Her guardian? Does that mean her parents are dead? Or did they ditch her like our parents did? Dad didn’t totally disappear from our lives. Though I kind of wish he had.
Her guardian had to be loaded to afford a place like this. Leonie couldn’t afford it on a cop’s salary.
“Don’t you want to go help pick out your outfit?”
“And walk into that massive cluster of women debating the benefits of jeans over slacks, and Winnie not letting a skirt go?”
Cordelia grins. “They can be quite focused.”
That’s the understatement of the century.
“But if you know what you want to wear, they will listen.” She places a hand on my arm. “They just want you to feel confident and beautiful for your date.”
“I know, but—” I glance over at them and shudder.
“You know they’re doing it for themselves, too.”
“What?”
“When you look at them, you see confident women, but on the inside, each and every one of us is dealing with something. Trying to just make it through life and ensure that our friends do too.”
“But—” How can that be?
“You’re seeing your friends from the outside. There are no women without lived trauma. Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean they aren’t living it. And sharing in each other’s joy is one little way—No, it’s a huge way of pushing that trauma back.”
All these women are doing the same thing I am? It’s hard to believe, yet not.
Cordelia smiles at me like she didn’t just dump a whole new reality on me. “You ready to have some fun shopping in Leonie’s closet?”
Maybe.
“Because she has this leather jacket that is butter-soft and the coolest looking thing you’ve ever seen. It would be perfect for your date with a biker.”
She’s right. It would be. “Let’s do it.”