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She doesn’t answer––not that I expect her to––so I text my mother.

She calls right away, happy to hear the news. We chat for a little while before Chloe calls me and the real estate agent returns.

I end the conversation with my mother, text Chloe back instead of answering her call, and focus on the woman.

LIZ

An hour later

Maggie’s Boutique

“I am so happy for you,” Chloe says for the umpteenth time. “What about this?”

She pulls a hanger from the rack and holds it up so I can check the mini dress.

“Do you think this cute little number is appropriate for a wedding party?”

She flicks her hand in response and puts it back.

“You already have a fancy gown. You need something sexy and comfortable.”

“How is that comfortable?” I ask, picking up the hanger myself.

It’s a strapless white dress with a rhinestone-studded belt.

“You like it?” Chloe asks, her hand gripping another hanger.

“It’s all right.”

“All right?”

“It’s sexy, but I don’t like the color,” I say quietly.“There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just that I’m not the bride. Besides, it’s too short.”

She yanks it from my hand and holds it against my body, running her eyes over it.

“It’s perfect. And it hits above the knee.”

“It’s more like mid-thigh. It’s a bit too sexy,” I say under my breath while Clarissa, my coworker who covers my shift today, approaches us.

“Did you find something that you like?”

Chloe turns to her and speaks first.

“Do you have this dress in a different color?”

Clarissa, a college student like me, pushes her eyes down and takes the hanger from Chloe.

“I’ll go check,” she says before swiveling and making a beeline for the back.

“Thank you,” Chloe murmurs. “See,” she says. “Things always work out in the end.”

“Are you talking about the dress or something else?” I mumble, focusing on a cropped blouse with a big bow at the neckline and oversized sleeves.

“Everything. That would look good with a mini skirt. Or skintight pants.”

“Why do you insist on sexing me up?”

She smiles facetiously.

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