6. Joshua
Chapter 6
Joshua
I open the door to Saks Fifth Avenue at the Galleria and usher both the girls in.
Maddie bounces past me and Cassidy attempts to brush past me, but I reach out and hold her wrist. “You sure about this?”
She gulps, but then nods confidently. “Yeah. Who better than the Master of flirtation himself to teach me his ways?” She cocks her head at me and it feels like a dare.
“Okay then. We’re doing this.” I let her go and she joins Maddie. “Starting with your wardrobe.”
“My what?” she scoffs, looking back at me.
“Follow me, Padawan," I say, taking the lead.
Maddie squeals and takes Cassidy by the hand. I watch as they try to keep up with my strides toward the women’s department.
“What’s wrong with my wardrobe?”
“Besides that it makes you look like a hobo?” Maddie says.
Cassidy looks at her, lips pursed. “That’s what my sister said.”
She shrugs. “Well… maybe it’s true.”
Cassidy looks at me and I try not to laugh.
“Let the Master work,” I say, floating through the aisles of dresses and women’s tops of the season. “Stand here,” I order her in front of a mirror. “Maddie?”
She appears on her other side, “Yes?”
I put a hand under my chin as I inspect my protege. “I’m thinking… bright oranges and yellows that'll bring out the chestnut in her hair. With accents of dark blue to make it pop. What say you?”
Maddie tilts her head and nods slowly. “Yes, I see it. She also looks more like a gold than a silver girl for accessories.”
I clap my hands twice as if I’m summoning a styling team. “It’s been decided.”
“Have you guys done this before?” Cassidy asks with an eyebrow quirked up.
“We’re siblings,” Maddie says with a shrug.
And for some reason, hearing the little girl say that makes me feel really good. I didn’t think Maddie liked me very much. But of the three amigos crashing at home… she seems to be the most open to a relationship with me. Which opens me up to another emotion… guilt.
But I push it back and try not to dwell. Instead, I focus on the task at hand.
We leave Cassidy in front of the mirror and hunt for our chosen colors. Maddie is a great assistant. We grab dresses and rummage through sizes until we find the perfect pieces to make Cassidy look her best.
Once we’ve gathered enough options, we pass the outfits to the dressing room attendant who opens up a stall for Cassidy.
“This is going to take forever,” Cassidy mutters, shutting the door behind her.
“Trust the process,” I call out. A few minutes later she appears in a bright yellow sundress that Maddie had selected.
She walks out and stands on the platform in the middle of the three-way mirror. Her hair is still in a braid, but the color on her looks stunning.
I float up from the chair I’m in like I don’t even control my feet. I reach out and tug on the bottom of her braid. “Take this off,” I whisper to her.
She gulps, but reaches for the end of it and undoes the hair tie. Letting her hair free and shaking it loose. She has beautiful waves that I haven’t noticed before now. She always has her hair up or tightly braided and out of the way.
Maddie hands me a gold necklace she found. It has two little birds on a branch facing each other.
“Lovebirds,” Maddie says, batting her lashes. “For good luck.”
I smile and take the necklace into my hand. I brush Cassidy’s hair to one side and watch as goosebumps break out over her skin where my touch lingered.
I unclasp the necklace and secure it at the nape of her neck. Then take a step back to watch her reaction.
“So? What do you think?” I ask her.
“It’s… I’m not used to wearing dresses,” she admits.
“That’s exactly the point of doing a makeover, Cassidy.”
“I think she looks like a beautiful princess,” Maddie says.
I nod. “A princess.”
“Well, every princess needs her glass slippers,” one of the store attendants says, bringing over a shoebox. “I guessed a size seven?”
Cassidy blushes. “Is everyone helping me with a makeover today?”
One of the women from the makeup counter appears. “I have a chair open if you’d like to try on some colors.”
Cassidy is still slipping into the heels the worker brought over, and she looks overwhelmed by the sheer amount of attention she’s getting.
“We’ll be right over,” I say to the woman who smiles back at me warmly. “Take your time.”
Cassidy stands tall wobbling in the heels, but now, not only does she make the yellow dress look amazing… but with the heels and her hair down.
Wow.
I whistle as my eyes trail down the length of her.
“Ok, this is the dress,” Maddie says. “Now, onto makeup.”
She tugs Cassidy over to the makeup area and she protests, “Don’t we have to pay?”
“I got it,” I say waving them off.
I watch as a group of what look like college students gawk at the woman in the bright yellow dress. Even without makeup, she steals the attention of people all around her. I don't know if she notices.
She rubs her elbow, nervously as she walks.
Maybe that’s why she dresses so subdued. Cassidy doesn’t seem to do well with attention.
“And just a hint of blush. You’re done,” the makeup artist says. She holds up a mirror to Cassidy for her to see the finished product.
Maddie squeals. “We’re going to find you a boyfriend so fast. Keelan is going to freak when he sees you.”
“Keelan?” Cassidy and I both say.
Maddie looks at us. “Yeah, isn’t she going on a date with him tonight?”
I immediately deflate. “Oh yeah. I… forgot about that.”
What an idiot. I just gave this woman a makeover only to send her off to be gawked at by my team captain.
I could actually punch myself for my stupidity.
“It’s not a real date,” Cassidy says. “He just didn’t want to show up alone.”
“Oh,” Maddie says. “Well, that’s nice of you.”
“Yeah, so nice of you.” And the way I feel like Cassidy said that to make me feel better definitely lightens the mood. “We should probably take these back to the car.” I lift up the bags of clothing I bought for her.
She tilts her head at me. “You didn’t have to buy all those, Joshua.”
“Sure I did. They're made for you.”
“Just let him,” Maddie insists.
Cassidy blushes and I wonder if a guy’s ever bought Cassidy anything.
Am I the first?
Why does that thought make me so happy?