Page 18 of Marrying Off My Husband

“How’s it going, Eve?”

“Oh, umm, well…”

“Come out,” I insisted, pulling open the curtain on my dressing room and stepping out.

“Oh, no, that’s okay. How does yours look?”

“If you don’t come out, I’ll come in,” I threatened.

Her curtain pulled back slightly, and she stuck her head out before she slipped out of the small space, her hands clutched behind her. “It’s...”

“Beautiful! Look at how nicely it fits your figure. And that color on you.” I twisted her back toward the mirror. “It’s perfect.”

She chuckled at my enthusiasm. “It’s…cute. And yours looks great, too. It’s very Marilyn Monroe.”

“Well, I’ll keep mine if you keep yours.”

With another giggle, she shook her head. “I really have very little need for a pink sundress, Lou.”

“Now, you never know. What about if your dream man asks you to go to a seaside picnic.”

She laughed even harder, her shoulders shaking. “Now, I really know I have no need for it if that’s the occasion.”

I giggled along with her. She had no idea that I was about to set her up with a wonderful man. She’d need this dress. “You need to think positive. Now, come on, what do you say? Are we in this together?”

“I really don’t think I should.” She tugged at the tag, her eyes going wide. “Now, I know I shouldn’t.”

I twisted the price toward me, flicking my eyebrows up. “Why, that’s a steal for this. I wonder if they have another color?”

“Louise!” she exclaimed as she twisted to face me, her voice a hushed whisper. “This is five-hundred-and-fifty dollars.”

“I know. I can’t believe it’s that low. Well, you’re right…you don’t need two. You need a few other pieces for all those dates.”

“I don’t go on dates. I don’t need a five-hundred-dollar dress.” She shook her head as she stepped back into the dressing room and pulled the curtain closed.

With the money Spencer and I both had, that was a drop in the bucket. Once she was married to him, she wouldn’t think twice about a dress like that. But they weren’t married yet. And they wouldn’t be if she kept foiling my plans.

The floral blouse she wore paired with those leggings was cute enough, but I needed perfection. I pressed my lips together, my nostrils flaring as I tried to think of a plan.

The curtain whipped open a moment later, and I twisted my concentration face into a smile. “Just let me change.”

I ducked into my dressing room and swapped the white stunner for my day dress. She was already handing that sweet little sundress off to the assistant as I stepped out.

I snatched it back and stuck it with mine before I thrust them both out toward the salesclerk. “We’ll take both.”

Any trace of pleasantness slid off her face in exchange for shock. “Louise, no,” she said in a low voice as the woman delivered the dresses to the counter.

“Now, I am not taking no for an answer,” I said with a shake of my head.

“I can’t accept this.”

“Of course, you can. And you’ll accept a pair of shoes to go with it, too,” I answered as I grabbed her hand with both of mine. “My treat. You simply don’t know what it means to me that you came shopping with me today.”

“Louise…I don’t need a dress as pay back for spending time with you. Friends are supposed to do that for free.”

Her words melted my features and tears stung my eyes. “Aww, darlin’, now I’m going to get you two dresses. I’m just pleased as punch that you consider me your friend.”

She tilted her head, her features showing disappointment in my words. She’d get over it.

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