Page 27 of Marrying Off My Husband

I clicked my tongue. “We’re getting pretty far ahead of ourselves here.”

“We’re not,” she warned with a wag of her finger. “Now, let’s work on evening gowns. Lynette? Evening gowns next, then we’ll pick shoes and handbags.”

My mind spun as overwhelm crushed down around me. “Louise, I cannot keep accepting these gifts from you.”

“You won’t. After you marry Spencer, you can buy your dresses.” She offered me a teasing grin.

My shoulders slumped. “Now, you’re really getting ahead of yourself. I’m really not the type of woman men fall madly in love with.”

“Darlin’, I am not going to listen to any more of this negative talk. Now, get in there and get those evening gowns on.” She swatted me on the rear with a wink.

Louise’s strong personality coupled with my backward one was a recipe for me to do whatever she said.

It took another hour to go through all the options Lynette brought from the dress shop.

As I waddled out in the last tight number, I ran my hands over my hips. “This one is a little–”

“Eye-popping. My goodness, Spencer’s tongue is going to roll out of his mouth.”

“Louise, no, it’s too much. I feel…exposed.” I pressed a hand over my cleavage.

She laughed as she pulled my hand away. “That’s the idea, sugar. Lynette, this is a keeper.”

“No, what about that plain black one.”

“This one,” Louise said, pointing to it. “Now, we’ll move on to shoes and–”

My door popped open before it slammed shut, drawing both of our attention to it. Heat washed over me as I spotted my sister, Audrey.

Her eyes traveled up and down my form before her lips curled with disdain. “What in the world are you doing?”

Outgoing Louise didn’t miss a beat. With a broad grin, she stuck her hand out toward my sister. “Hi, I’m Louise. I’m Eve’s new bestie. We’re just trying on a few dresses to round out her wardrobe.”

The pinch of Audrey’s features as she ran a hand through her dark hair had me bracing myself for what she’d say. I skirted around Louise, an apologetic smile on my face. “We’re just…playing around.”

“Yeah, because the last I checked you couldn’t afford something like that.”

“Of course, she can. She’s dating–” I whipped around, pressing a hand over Louise’s lips.

Audrey scoffed as she tossed her purse on the table next to my boutique bag. “Eve’s dating someone?”

Louise’s features turned stony as she set a hand on her hip. “Yes, she is.”

“And she needs to dress like a tramp to do it?”

Heat rose in my cheeks as I wrapped my hands around my waist, suddenly wanting to be out of the dress.

“Why, you little–”

“It’s okay, it’s fine. She has a point,” I interrupted before things could erupt into a full-blown fight.

I crossed back to Louise, who grabbed my hands and leaned closer to whisper, “Keep this one, darlin’, you look like a class act.”

I forced a smile on my face before hurrying into my bedroom. A glance in the mirror sent mixed feelings through me. The dress wasn’t unbecoming; it showed off the figure I’d never realized I’d had.

With a shake of my head, I let Lynette unzip it and slipped it off, returning to my leggings and t-shirt. I hurried out to make sure World War III hadn’t started in my living room.

I found both women in a tense silence with Louise drumming her fingers against her forearm as she stared at my sister.

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