ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟟 #2
Cameron ran a hand through his hair, smiling.
"That's okay Mrs. West, because you know what we can do?"
I folded my arms. "What?"
~
It didn't occur to me that we'd actually go shopping in California for a dress to wear to Brody's wedding. I would've just ordered one and called it a day.
It was a place called, "Anny's Boutique." Cameron had told me.
It sat on a quiet corner just a few blocks from our hotel, tucked between a flower shop and an old bookstore.
The outside looked charming enough.
It looked like one of those places where every employee somehow knew your birthday.
"I like it already," Cameron said as he parked.
I cleared my throat. "Reminder, we're here just to find a dress, and pick up your suit."
He came around the car, opening my door before I could reach the handle.
"You know I can do that myself."
He doesn't reply, instead, offering me his hand.
I took it anyway. Sometimes arguing with him required more energy than I possessed.
The little bell above the boutique door chimed the moment we stepped inside. Immediately, it smelled like lavender, one of my favorite calming scents.
Soft piano music drifted faintly through the store while rows upon rows of clothes stretched in every direction. Every color imaginable hung neatly along polished wooden racks.
An older woman appeared from behind one of the racks.
She looked to be somewhere in her late sixties, maybe early seventies, with silver curls pinned neatly behind her ears and bright blue glasses hanging from a beaded chain around her neck.
Very bright for 10 AM in the morning.
"Oh, aren't you two just precious!"
I smiled politely. "Good afternoon."
She clasped her hands together before extending a hand toward me.
"I'm Anny."
Cameron immediately looked at the sign outside. "Oh, this is-"
She smiled proudly. "My boutique."
"I should've guessed." He spoke.
"Happens all the time."
There was something about Anny that made the room feel much friendlier and lived in.
"So," she said, clapping her hands once. "Who's getting married? Or are we just looking to buy some clothes?"
"My friend," Cameron answered. "I'm one of the groomsmen. I'm supposed to pick up a suit here."
Annie gasped dramatically before walking back to her desk, pulling out a beautiful mint green suit in a plastic bag.
"This one, right?"
Cameron nodded, smiling before taking off of her hands.
I already knew the color was going to look gorgeous on him. Any shade of green looked phenomenal on Cameron, and that was coming from me.
She gave Cam a small smile before looking me up and down for exactly two seconds.
"I already know what color you're going to wear."
"I'm just looking for something simple, really."
I look down at my outfit, before glancing back up at her.
"Mhm." She said unsatisfied.
Without another word, Anny disappeared into the sea of dresses.
I leaned closer to Cameron.
"California seems nice." He said.
I scrunched my nose. "Uh-uh, way too bright for my eyes."
"You've lived in Minnesota for way too long."
"I miss the clouds." I sigh.
"You miss seasonal depression?"
He says it like it's a bad thing. It wasn't seasonal depression, though. I just miss my calm, easy-to-predict weather. Not all this Sesame Street nonsense.
"Well, if seasonal depression didn't hurt my eyes, it would have been decent."
He smiled to himself, slipping his hands into his pockets.
"I don't know..." He slowly looked around the boutique.
"I kinda like it here."
Of course he did.
Cameron could probably enjoy sitting in a DMV for three hours if someone smiled at him on the way in.
"Of course you do." I mumble under my breath.
Before Cameron could ask me to repeat what I said, Anny had come back.
"Honey, I've narrowed it down." She reappeared carrying six dresses draped over both arms.
"To six?" I said, raising my eyebrows.
"We'll start there, then hopefully build our way to finding the dress." She nodded proudly.
Annie pointed one finger directly at Cam. "You."
"Yes, ma'am?" He folded his arms.
"You don't stand there looking handsome, you help."
He nodded obediently, placing a hand on his chest. "Of course."
"Now don't go tellin' me she looks beautiful in every single one."
"Because, let's be honest, there's some things we look gorgeous in, and some we don't"
"I wouldn't." He says.
I looked over, a bit startled. "Wouldn't you?"
He glanced at me. "I mean, you usually make the dress look beautiful. Most of the time I'm looking at you anyway."
There he went again, complimenting me in front of strangers we just met. I decided right then that I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of reacting.
Anny looked at him, then smiled at me.
"You've got one of the good ones."
My face had already turned warm.
"I'm aware. Don't tell him I said that, he's going to let it go to his head."
Cameron laughed cheerfully.
~
After basically a good thirty minutes of looking through what felt like every dress currently existing in California, Anny finally stopped.
She stood in front of one particular rack, staring at it with narrowed eyes. Then she reached forward.
"There you are." She gently slid a dress off the hanger.
The second she turned around with it, I was stunned.
It was this deep midnight blue that almost looked black until the light touched it.
The fabric flowed all the way to the floor in soft layers, with a tasteful slit beginning just above the knee. There were no straps to it, except for a beautifully structured neckline.
Exactly the kind of dress I'd secretly stop and admire online before immediately deciding it wouldn't fit me.
Anny smiled. "Oh, honey."
She held it up against me. "Yes."
"You think?"
"Mhm." She stepped back.
"I kind of actually like this one."
She gasped dramatically. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have the dress!"
I couldn't help laughing. She gently placed the dress into my hands.
"Go on. Try it!"
"What about Cameron?" I looked toward the front of the boutique.
"Oh," She waved one hand dismissively. "I already sent him away."
"You did what?"
"He's sitting in one of the lobby chairs reading one of those decorating magazines."
I blinked.
"I can't believe he agreed to that."
"I told him I'd come get him when his opinion mattered."
I smiled to myself before disappearing into the fitting room.
A few minutes later, I slowly stepped out.
Annie smiled gracefully.
"Oh," She placed both hands over her heart. "There she is. That's the dress."
I turned toward the mirror.
I barely even recognized myself; the navy made my eyes look brighter. I looked elegant. Everything just worked.
"I really like this."
"I know you do."
"It's annoying how much I like this."
She laughed.
I smoothed one hand down the side of the dress.
"You don't think it's too much?"
"Too much?"
I mean, you have to remember, I'm going to a wedding."
She shook her head immediately. "Honey. It's perfect."
"Okay." I smiled at my reflection.
"That is your dress."
"I think so too."
She clapped once. "Wonderful."
She then sighed before smiling at me "Now."
"What?" My stomach immediately sank.
"I have one more thing."
"Why are you smiling like that?"
"No reason."
She disappeared behind another curtain.
I sighed toward the ceiling. I've made a big mistake.