Not going into thirteen different stores, trying on to the bare minimum five dresses at each of those stores, and taking forever doing it.
It was an endless battle of tulle, cotton, knock-off silk and other fabrics. Sweat started to form under my arms. I felt sticky, and I knew that I needed more deodorant. The healthy amount I put on before we left apparently wasn’t cut out for dress shopping either. It didn’t help that the rooms were small, enclosed, and uncomfortably warm.
“Lettie? You okay?” Griff asked quietly. It was probably quiet enough that humans couldn’t hear it, but sometimes that’s hard for me to gauge.
“Yeah, but if I don’t come out in five minutes, the dress ate me.”
The boys, and Rose too, started to laugh at my snarky response. I could only imagine the look on the sales associate’s face. Not being able our inaudible whispers, she probably wondered why they all started laughing at the same time. As their laughter died down, Rose tsked me again.
“Stop complaining, young lady. Get out here now so I can see how this one fits.”
I blew my dark brown bangs out of my eyes. I stared at my reflection and scrunched my nose. I didn’t know how I felt about it. Its deep maroon and modest front ended in a deep scooped back, which freaked me out. I twisted on the ball of my foot and stared at my exposed back.
I would have to wear a weird front only bra. I sighed.
The dress puddled at my feet and I had to lift it a couple inches just to walk. I could already hear Rose telling me how that could be solved with high heels. And not just any high heels. High-high heels.
If there was anything worse than dresses, it was high heels. They were torture devices designed to prevent women from running away.
I came out my head bowed as I smoothed out the silky fabric. I looked up all three of them did a double take, their eyes widening as they stared. Liam tried to recover, but he was grasping, and he ended up just shaking his head in disbelief. Rose walked around me, and nodded approvingly. She kept making small noises, and talking to herself.
They all looked at me blankly and I could feel my face burn. Not a single one said anything. I looked at the ground.
“Jeez, guys, you don’t have to be so mean about it. I’ll try on another…”
“No!” Rose called out before I could turn away.
I brushed my thick hair out of my face, careful to keep my arms down in fear of the dreaded pit stain.
“You look stunning, dear.”
Rose’s glance went from the top of my head down to my toes. I squirmed.
I blushed fiercely. I started to turn to go back in when I heard the boys take in a sharp breath. I looked over my shoulder at them.
“You can’t wear that,” Griffin said.
“What do you mean, dear? It’s perfect.”
Rose stood in front of me again. Her hands in front of her mouth trying to contain her excitement.
“Mom, do you even see her? Look at that dress. There’s no back to it!”
“Oh pish-posh, you have seen her more naked than this. Last week if I recall you went to the lake. That bikini covered less than that dress. And it’s perfect.”
“Damn,” Liam said.
“Wow,” Nick said, his comment coming right after Liam’s.
My face scrunched up as I looked at both of them. I waited for the taunts of my pack mates. My gaze turned to Griffin. The look on his face was a mixture of physical appreciation mixed with protectiveness. I scrunched my nose.
“That’s the dress. Sweetheart, go take it off.” Rose encouraged me gently as I turned back to the dressing room, and looked in the mirror. There had to be something I was missing. My back, while I never had a problem with it before now, seemed riddled with moles – or beauty marks as Rose calls them… and the dress itself was way too long.
****
“Colette, Griffin.”
We looked at each other wondering what we had done wrong now. Keith was calling us downstairs. Keith paced the front room. My brows furrowed as I followed his movements. His fist were clenched and his back was tight.
“Keith,” Griffin said.
“Rose dropped off your dress today,” Keith said. His wolf’s eyes were peeking through his human façade. Oh boy.
I lowered my eyes and turned my head slightly. Griff didn’t move. Technically, he didn’t have to, but it was