Page 36 of David

“I want to cheer you up?” she says, removing a hanger from the rack.

She just found the skintight white mini skirt she wanted for me.

The blouse features a wild print in bright red, yellow, emerald green, and white.

“What’s with you and white?” I ask, taking it from her, holding it against my thighs, and looking down.

“I need to hit the gym,” I murmur.

“What makes you say that?” she asks, checking the clothing on the rack this time to buy something for herself.

I know Chloe.

She’s never seen a flashy outfit she didn’t like.

“The gym?” I murmur, focused on what she’s pulling out for herself.

Mini skirts and cropped tops.

“Can we please not forget we’re attending a fancy wedding?”

“There’s a wedding ceremony, and there’s a party. And there’s the end of the party when people have alcohol in their blood.”

“This is not that kind of party.”

“You don’t know that.”

She pays me no mind as she drapes the things she selected for herself over her arm.

“These are not only for the wedding. I want to hit the clubs this weekend and get laid. There’s no way I’m spending my time home sobbing.”

I laugh.

She’s never sobbing.

Smiling, she swings her eyes to me.

“What?” she says. “You should do the same. How long do you think we’ll have these the way they are right now?”

Her index finger moves down, pointing to our bodies.

“I’m grateful for my body…” she says, focusing on her clothing selection again. “But I know there’s a time limit on how long I can play with it, so this might be our best time to enjoy ourselves.”

I listen to her in silence.

She finally moves away from the rack and turns to me.

“No?”

“I guess.”

“All right,” she says. “The girl brings your dress. I suggest you take it. I’ll be in the fitting room. You can join me if you want to.”

She paces away, heading straight to the back of the store while Clarissa nears me.

“Is everything okay with your friend?” she asks, noticing how quickly Chloe moves.

“Yes. That’s how she rolls.”

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