Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,116

yet?”

“No, it’s up to you girls.” She smiles like she’s granting a wish to us when in reality I don’t have time, nor do I want to try on twenty dresses for my mother’s critique.

“Great.” I smack on my fake smile and head to the dressing room.

The associate brings us an array of dresses explaining the color doesn’t matter because they can order our color of choice in for all of us.

I head into one of the dressing rooms, Zoe in the other. Plopping my purse on the bench, I disrobe from my work outfit and put on a mermaid style dress that’s anything but flattering. My ass looks like each cheek is fighting for dominance and my tits aren’t nearly big enough to fill the bodice. The only good thing is that my white Chicago winter legs are covered.

“Let’s see, ladies,” Sky calls out from the waiting area.

I open my door and Sky’s now back in her jeans and blouse with a cute pair of flats. She smiles.

Zoe steps out of her dressing room in another mermaid dress that has capped sleeves. The dress I’m wearing is peach, while hers is pink. She looks better.

“You both look wonderful. Let’s show our moms.” Skylar turns and heads down the hall.

“Do we have to?” I whine, and Zoe knocks me with her shoulder.

“It’s not that bad.”

I roll my eyes after she steps in front of me.

“Oh, Zo, you look great. Step up so we can see all of you,” my mom says.

She does, and the moms and Skylar discuss the good and the bad of the dress, not mentioning one aspect of Zoe’s body. I’m crossing my fingers that the same goes for me.

“Now you, Chelsea,” Sky says, and I share a look with Zoe like when is this going to be over.

I stand on the pedestal and look at myself in the mirror. Yep, now I just look horrendous times three.

“I love it. I think it accentuates your figure,” Aunt Liz says. “Would all the girls be able to pull this off like Chelsea?”

Sky tilts her head inspecting it. “Are you comfortable?”

“I am if you like it.”

All the women laugh except my mom. “I think we should look at something more A-line. Not so tight around her middle.”

There she is in all her glory. Be jealous ladies, she’s all mine.

“Why?” Aunt Liz asks, her forehead crinkled.

I step down from the pedestal.

“I just think it’d be more flattering,” she continues to appraise me.

“Let’s try on another style I guess,” Sky says, following us back into the dressing area.

My phone is ringing inside my purse, so I pull it out.

Minute Man flashes on the screen, so I press ignore and drop it back into my purse.

“You can get it if you have to Chels,” Sky hollers from outside my fitting room.

“Nope. I’m good.”

For the next hour, I try on six different dresses and stand in front of a mirror to be judged like I’m on that old reality show Swan where they’d look you over and decide what parts weren’t good enough and what needed to be improved upon. I might not have black marker all over my imperfections, but I now know exactly what my mother thinks needs fixing.

“I love the high neckline with the draped back and how it’s tight around the hips and flares out farther down,” Sky says. “Did you like the gold? I think it’s an elegant summer color.”

“Love it all.” I’m heading back to the changing room when my phone rings again.

“Why are you so popular tonight?” Zoe asks, darting across from her dressing room to mine in only her jeans and bra. “What are you hiding?”

“Nothing.” I push my way through the hallway, knocking Sky into the wall.

“She’s definitely hiding something.” Skylar runs after me, but by the time I reach the fitting room, Zoe’s on the bench staring at my phone.

“Who’s the new guy?” Skylar asks, joining us in the four by four changing room.

Zoe turns the screen for Skylar to see. “Minute Man?”

My shoulders sag. “Just a date.”

“Good or bad?” Zoe asks.

“Bad. Definitely bad.”

“Let’s see why he’s so anxious to speak to you then.” Zoe scrolls through, the smile on her face dipping with every swipe. Her head snaps up in my direction. “Is Minute Man, Dean?” Zoe whisper-yells.

“Shh.” I bring my index finger over my mouth and glance behind me as if Zoe saying Dean’s name could conjure my mother up.

“Chels.” Skylar takes the phone from her sister’s hands. “He’s called you