Page 50 of Intertwined Souls

“That’s why we’re here,” Bri beams at me as she wraps an arm around my shoulders.

After quick introductions to Lex, we head towards the line of stores and decide to start on the end and work our way down through each one until we find what we’re looking for.

Axe and Stone hang back, giving us space, but they always keep us in their line of sight. The first few stores are a bust, but then we go into a larger dress shop and find a few different things to try on. Raven shoos us back into the fitting rooms while they keep looking around for other options.

Locking the door behind me, I hang up the three dresses I have with me. They were all picked out by the other girls because I was having a hard time finding anything that stood out to me. It was one of those moments where I wished my mom was here with me.

But then I glance around and see Raven, Presley, Carly, and Brielle laughing and searching through the dresses, here just for me, and I know my mom would be happy that I am forming such an amazing support system.

The first two dresses are an instant no. One being a dusty pink color that just isn’t me and the other being a little too fluffy. The last one is a black dress that flows down to my ankles, softly outlining my curves. It’s pretty, but it just doesn’t feel like the one, which I think is silly; it’s just prom.

Stepping out of the dressing room, I tap on Lex’s door which is across from mine. She swings the door open with a huge grin on her face.

“Oh my god, Lex! That is stunning on you,” I gasp.

She does a twirl, showing off the whole fit. After the first two stores, Lex realized that she didn’t want to go with a dress for prom. She has tried on hot pink high waisted pants that form around her ass and then flare down to her ankles. She has a black lace bodysuit on that dips low between her breasts, and then a matching hot pink suit jacket resting on her shoulders.

“I’m obsessed with this. It’s definitely the one. I just need to find heels and a belt.” She beams and looks me up and down. “That dress is gorgeous.”

“It’s very pretty,” I sigh softly, glancing down at the dress, but my heart isn’t into it.

“Well, that’s not the reaction you should be having.” She raises a brow at me. “If it’s not the one, then it’s not the one.”

Biting the corner of my lip, I say, “I feel kind of ridiculous for not just going with it when it’s pretty.” I shrug.

Lex gently takes my hand and gives it a light squeeze. “Hey, Harley, this prom is for you. It’s a night for memories and feeling beautiful. You should feel confident and sexy in what you wear to prom, not mediocre. Don’t settle. Let’s go to the next store and find the dress for you.

“It’s out there. No shame in it taking us all day to find it. I’m sure everyone will agree with me that we want you to feel like a queen.” She shoots me a wink.

After we change and head back out to meet everyone, my nerves immediately disappear as everyone easily agrees that we will move onto the next store to keep looking and they don’t get frustrated with me. Lex buys her outfit, and then we go to the boutique that is right next door.

A pretty blonde with a picture-perfect body approaches us. “Welcome. What can I do for you all today?”

Presley steps forward with Axe right behind her. “We are searching for prom dresses for this pretty girl,” she says with a soft smile directed towards me.

The blonde glances up and down at me. Her eyes linger on my face, and then she gives a forced smile. “Perfect. We have just about everything you could think of. Go ahead and start looking, and I’ll set up a fitting room for her,” she replies and swiftly walks off towards the back of the store.

Glancing towards Presley, I notice everyone has left besides Lex, Presley, and Axe. “They all went to grab food for us because we haven’t eaten yet, and it’s well past lunch,” Axe explains when he notices me looking for them.

Nodding, we all split off and start looking at the racks of gowns while Axe takes a seat on the couch under the front window. Presley finds a couple of options right off the bat that she hands off to the blonde girl. I wander around, glancing at different dresses, letting out a sigh.

Nothing is right, and it’s beyond frustrating. I don’t even know why I want it to be the perfect dress when I know the guys will love anything I wear.

Continuing on towards the back of the store where the fitting rooms are, I plan to just give up and try on the few Presley found. One of them will just have to work. But something catches my attention, and I turn towards the rack along the back wall next to a hall that leads to the fitting rooms.

Gently pulling it out from the other dresses, I bite my lip as I stare at it. This is everything I could've dreamed of. But could I actually pull it off?

“Holy shit, Harley, that is perfect!” Lex exclaims from behind me.

Turning around, I notice she has some belts and shoes in her hands.

She adds, “I wanted to try the belts on with the outfit to pick the right one. That's why I brought the bag with me from the other store.”

I nod and then debate hanging back up the dress, but before I can, Lex snags it from my hands.

“No way. I can practically hear you overthinking this. You can’t even take your eyes off the dress, and you haven’t been interested in anything today. You're trying it on.” She gives me a pointed look, and I sigh, giving in.

She nudges me towards the hall, and I chuckle while heading back towards the rooms the employee set up for us. Deciding to try on the ones Presley found first, I step out and show Lex each one.

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