Page 11 of These Pucking Boys

“Hi, nice to meet you.”

Melissa has already wandered to the selection on display, and she’s browsing the options. She pulls out a purple dress with a flowy skirt and announces, “You need to try this one. It’s gorgeous.”

I take the dress from her and gasp at the price tag. “It costs fifteen hundred dollars! I can’t afford this.”

“Don’t worry about it. Whatever you pick will be written off as a marketing expense,” she replies.

My eyes widen. “Oh, wow. I don’t know what to say.”

“Try it on, honey. That color with your hair and skin tone will look amazing,” Nayara pipes up.

Melissa gives me a pair of silver strappy sandals. “Try it on with these.”

I glance at the five-inch stiletto heels and swallow hard. “I’ll probably break my neck if I wear those.”

“Nonsense. My private bathroom is through that door.”

In a daze, I disappear inside the large and luxurious bathroom. I can’t believe how this evening is turning out. Maybe I’m passed out in that bathroom stall, and this is just a dream.

I pinch my forearm to test it out. “Ouch!”

“Are you okay in there?” Melissa asks.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Don’t mind me.” June, get a grip.

I take my clothes off and, with care, try on the purple dress. The fabric is delicate—chiffon, I guess—and if I’m not careful, I might tear it. I usually wear sturdy materials that can withstand my clumsiness.

“How is it?” Nayara asks. “Do you need help with the zipper?”

I squish my boobs together and suck in my stomach, then try to zip up the dress. Side zippers and I rarely get along. “Yeah. You can come in.”

She sticks in her head and says, “Oh, the color looks amazing on you.”

“Yeah, but I’m afraid I’m a size too big for it.”

“Let me see.”

Nayara moves closer and effortlessly slides the zipper up. The top of the dress has boning like a corset, and it makes my waist look tiny and pushes my boobs up.

“Stunning,” she says.

I press a hand over my enhanced cleavage, trying to hide it. “I don’t know.”

“You look gorgeous, June,” Melissa chimes in from the door. “You can try another dress, but I think that’s the one.”

Staring at my reflection, I smooth the front of the dress. I’ve never worn anything so luxurious and pretty. It’s a tempting indulgence, and any other day, I would resist. But tonight has become all about stepping out of my comfort zone. If I tear a seam or end up showing my ass to a bunch of strangers, it still won’t be as bad as finding out Bill was cheating on me with Danika.

“Okay. I’ll take it.”

“Try the shoes, Cinderella.” Melissa smirks.

The bathroom is so large that there’s a chair opposite the sink, and the toilet is behind another door.

“If I’m Cinderella, does that mean my clothes turn back to rags at the stroke of midnight?”

“Only if you want them to.”

Nayara drops into a crouch in front of me. “Let me help. It’s tricky getting these on while you’re wearing such a constricting outfit.”

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