Page 63 of A Forever Love

If he knew what I had in mind, Oscar wouldn’t be asking me to look after Merida. He’d be trying to keep me away from her with a ten-foot pole.

* * *

I’m sifting through my emails when the door swings open. Mere plops herself into the passenger seat, causing the leather to groan just like her. “I honestly find this ridiculous. I’m not a child who you need to wait for. I should be driving my own car. It’s just gathering dust and rust and God knows what in the apartment’s parking lot.”

“I don’t mind waiting for you—never have and never will.” I shift the car into drive. “Did you manage to find a dress for the event?”

She remains silent for several moments, gazing out of the window, and my heart beats in triple time.

“Mere, you can change your mind at any moment.” Disappointment creeps through my veins, and it has nothing to do with attending the gala without a date, but without her specifically.

“I’m not second-guessing my decision.” Merida chews on her bottom lip, while my hands continue to grip the steering wheel tightly. “It’s the dress, you know? I’ve always worn Clem’s designs, and buying something elsewhere feels like cheating.” Her hands twist the hem of the pullover in her lap.

Thank fuck.

“Would it make you feel better if I bought you something?”

“Would you do that?” She turns to me with a whoosh, a bright smile lighting up her face. “That would be perfect.”

“You didn’t have to put on an emotional scene. You could have just said that, drama queen.”

Merida ignores me. “Can I share some of my preferences?”

“Not at all.” I chuckle. “You had your chance, and you missed it. Now, you’ll have to wear whatever I choose for you.”

“That’s really unfair.”

“Well, that’s how I roll, sweetheart.”

Later that night, I text my personal shopper asking for some dress options that I can purchase for my friend for the gala.

* * *

The weekend arrives in a flash. It’s already six in the evening, and here I stand outside Merida’s apartment, dressed in a tux.

My hand hovers over her doorbell. I don’t want to pressure her. After all, she’s doing me a massive favor. However, the anticipation of seeing her is overwhelming. The dichotomy of the moment isn’t lost on me.

I’m still struggling with this tug-of-war of emotions, when Merida swings open the door, rescuing me from my turmoil and plunging me straight into another.

“You look—” we both start and stop simultaneously.

“Ladies first.” I sweep my hand before us without a trace of humor, because she seriously looks so damn hot I’ve forgotten all my words.

“You look so sexy, Carter. I can’t wait to show you off by my side.” She grins, stealing my breath right out of my lungs. I cough into my fist, as the air feels too thin in the open lobby.

Fuck, mittens

As if fully aware of my surprise, she grins. “Now it’s your turn.”

“My compliment is going to sound like a watered-down cola next to your neat whiskey. But you look good.”

“What the heck? Don’t you have eyes, or are you just terrible at compliments?” Mere’s brows furrow. “I look splendidly hot and gloriously stunning.”

Her words pale in comparison to her beauty. She truly embodies the adjectives she mentioned, but above all, she’s the definition of the word beautiful right now. Emerald green has always been Merida’s color, perfectly complementing her red hair. Out of the three dresses my personal shopper sent me, I chose this one primarily for the color and secondarily because it revealed the least skin. What I hadn’t anticipated was how the knee-length would hug and accentuate her curves.

The off-shoulder dress reveals her smooth, spotless skin and her hair, tied in a loose bun, grazes the nape of her neck, with a few curls framing her face. Her makeup is impeccable, enhancing her long lashes and making her pink lips appear fuller. Silver high heels elevate her height, bringing her closer to mine. This version of Merida is unlike the girl I’ve known my whole life. She’s an absolute knockout.

“I do have eyes, and like I said, you look good.”

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