Page 58 of Dark Love

But in this she’s wrong. The shirt fits better, but the woman staring back at me is better suited for a sleazy movie than standing next to a man like Vex. All I am is one big chest.

The urge to wrap my arms around myself and curl into a ball is overwhelming.

No one will laugh at you.

You’re an adult now, not a child

Can’t she see that?

“Where is the sweater I asked for?” My hands shake with the need to pull this off.

“Over in the corner.” She points to a stack of folded sweaters that I hadn’t noticed with all the other clothing.

“Thank you.”

Kudos for her knowing when to step out. I scramble out of the shirt.

Should I text my therapist? I haven’t needed to since the first day I moved to Urbium.

It’s just a shirt. No one mocked me or grabbed me or made fun of me or threatened to hurt me. This isn’t the same.

But someone almost hurt me just a short time ago.

Vex saved you.

All of this anxiety is about a shirt. Nothing more, nothing less.

Go put one of those sweaters on and live your life.

My hand moves to the bulkiest sweater in the stack. I pull it over my head in one smooth motion, avoiding my still wet bun.

The sweater is big, baggy and shapeless.

Perfect. No one will look at me when I wear this.

Not wanting to risk trying on anything else, I step out into the outer room. Crystal and Vex are whispering to each other on the couch.

He stops talking almost immediately.

“Oh, good choice.” Crystal stands up. “I have just the belt to cinch in your waist.” She hops up. “Most people unbutton the buttons on one shoulder and fold the sweater down. I can show you—”

“No. Thank you. I’ll wear it like this.” Without showcasing any part of my body. “I’d like to wear this out.”

“Of course.” She lifts the tablet. “Everything is ready. You can leave whenever you want.”

“Don’t I have to pay?” Not one piece of clothing has a price tag on it which is a scary thought. Are they so expensive that they don’t want you to pass out before you purchase it.

“Everything is taken care of.” Her eyes move to Vex.

No, it’s not. “Would you excuse us for a moment?”

To her credit, Crystal doesn’t even blink

As soon as the door closes behind her, Vex asks, “Are you feeling alright?” He reaches for his phone. “You look pale. We should have stayed in bed.”

‘We’ should have stayed in bed. Those words send a shiver down my spine and all the stress I was feeling before evaporate. Vex’s mind obviously didn’t go where mine did, but that’s because he’s a gentleman worrying about me. And I’m thinking silly, impossible thoughts.

“Do you feel feverish? I’ll get Barb to meet us back at the penthouse. Fever isn’t usually one of the symptoms. You might have caught something.”

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