Page 18 of Before I Knew

“Damn it. I thought I went to the dry cleaners with this. Maybe I forgot?”

“Maybe. You are busier than me most days.”

I crossed my eyes, a little annoyed. “I have to remind myself that I like my job. But some days it’s so hard.”

“You don’t like your job, you like what you’re doing, and you just don’t like the place of business. Hence why you had to work late today even though your boss wasn’t there, and everyone’s expecting you to be there tonight. All dressed up and fancy-free.”

“What does fancy-free mean?” I asked, staring at her in the mirror as I held up my stained sage dress.

“I’m not sure. Let me look it up.”

“Oh good. We can get lost in this. We can forget that I have to meet with humans tonight.”

“You’re great meeting with humans. I mean, you’re always so personable, and everyone likes seeing you. Don’t stress. You’ve got this.”

“I have to go and schmooze so that way the boss can get more clients.”

“That’s what these events are for. But you’ve got this. We’ll find you something to wear. You’re beautiful, you have things to work with, and like I said, you’re not too much of an old hag.”

“Seriously, the love that I feel from you? I don’t think I can hold back my yearning.”

“One day we’ll finally take each other wildly in the barn and no one will know our secrets.”

We met gazes, before each bursting out in laughter, and she handed me a soft pink dress.

“What’s this one?” I asked.

“It’s mine. And it might not fit you in the boobs, mostly because you have a lot more than me.”

“You’re no slack there,” I teased.

“You can talk all about them in the barn later,” she whispered, wiggling her eyebrows.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, holding up the soft pink dress that would flow down to my ankles, barely brushing the floor if I wore the right heels.

“I’ve never seen you in this.”

“I bought it for an event I never went to. So it’s just been sitting in my closet. I should have given it to one of my sisters, since I figured they would wear it more than me, but I just haven’t. So I get to give it to you. My other sister.”

“Calling me your sister after saying you’ll take me in the barn adds a whole new level to our fan fiction.”

She cringed and gestured for me to try it on. “Let’s see how it is on you. Hag.”

I flipped her off, even as I began to slide on the dress. It fit perfectly in the waist, a heart-shaped neckline that accentuated my breasts. It had tiny straps that held the dress up and for that I was grateful.

“Well, it seems the dress was meant for you,” she whispered.

I met her gaze in the mirror and swallowed hard. “It’s gorgeous. But I don’t want to take away the first time you ever wear it.”

“It didn’t look as good on me. We have different coloring. Honestly now, it should just be yours. I might take the sage green dress though. And see if I can get out the stain.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“It’s my nemesis. Now, go take off that dress, and take a shower.”

“Aw, I thought you were asking me to take off the dress for other reasons.”

“We do not have time to learn all about our hidden places, Blakely. We have to get you ready for a gala. So do you think Mr. Cage will be there?”

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