Page 50 of Beautiful Thing

“Oh my gosh, that issupersexy,” I say.

The dress dips low at the front and clings to her hips, emphasizing her cleavage and her womanly figure. She twirls proudly in front of the mirror as we rain praises down on her.

“It’s giving Old Hollywood vibes,” Daphne coos, draping a glittery shawl around her future mother-in-law’s shoulders.

Karli claps her hands. “Yeah, you should totally get that one, Mom. That is definitely your color.”

Daphne nods, too. “Dr. Brighton won’t be able to keep his hands off you in this.”

Mrs. Brighton laughs. “Well, when you put it like that, I’m going tohave toget it.”

After a few more spins and poses in front of the mirror, she steps back into the changing room to return to her regular clothes.

“I love how confident you are,” I say dreamily to Mrs. Brighton when Daphne scampers off to the cash register. “Makes me want to get my shit together.”

Mrs. Brighton looks my way with softness in her eyes. “Feeling beautiful is not a luxury reserved for those who have their shit together, honey. The world is a better place when women feel good about themselves. When we feel loved, we have more love to give to all the important people and things in our lives.”

“I guess so…” I say with a sigh.

“I’m not advising you to spend money you don’t have, Layla, but next time, try on the dress. You’re allowed to celebrate your body with beautiful clothes that make you happy, no matter your age or size or shape or how much money you have in the bank. Even as you work on mending the parts of your life that you’re not-so-in-love-with.”

I let the words marinate in my mind. “I like that.”

She smiles at me, and I smile back.

As soon as Daphne is done packaging up the dress for Mrs. Brighton, she turns around theClosedsign for us to take a real lunch break. I would have been content to lounge around Daphne’s shop for our last half hour, but Mrs. Brighton is excited to walk around town and Karli says she needs some fresh air.

So at Daphne’s suggestion, we’re now all strolling through the farmer’s market arm in arm. Even though the Holidays are officially over, the whole place is still a winter wonderland, with Christmas lights twinkling everywhere you look. Fake snow in the downtown windows. Garland around every lamppost.

When we stop at a booth with fresh baked goods, Mrs. Brighton picks up a huge loaf of sourdough bread. She thrusts it into my hands. “Archer would just devour this. Fresh sourdough bread is the key to my oldest son’s heart,” she announces.

I blink down at the bread. It does smell divine. “I…didn’t know that.”

“Oh really?” She looks surprised.Then, a little suspicious. “It’s what he enjoys most, especially in the winter.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. I’msupposedto be Archer’s girlfriend. I should know everything about him. Including about his favorite foods.

Mrs. Brighton pays for the sourdough loaf then hooks her arm through mine. “Don’t worry. I’ll teach you the recipe for Archer’s favorite beef and squash stew. It’s perfect for this time of year.”

We head to Rainbow’s table to grab all the ingredients I’ll apparently be needing for Archer’s stew.

“Ooh! Look who’s back in town!” Rainbow comes out from behind her produce stand, arms outstretched when we approach her booth. She and Mrs. Brighton share a long hug, promptly falling into an animated conversation.

Mrs. Brighton fills Rainbow in on the past few months, catching her up on all her worldly travels. That’s when my wandering eyes spot something that makes my stomach drop.

It’s Razor.

He’s across the street, just a little way down from where I’m standing at Rainbow’s booth.And he’s not alone.He’s strolling next to Janet.PregnantJanet.

The worst part is, she’s wearing my coat and my boots. Belongings I was forced to leave behind when Razor kicked me out of my home! As they walk, I see my ex spoon-feeding Janet frozen yogurt from my favorite ice cream shop. When she shivers, he smiles at her, pulling her scarf—myscarf—higher up around her neck.

And I can’t lie—my heart hurts.

Janet can have Razor, if that’s what floats her boat. I don’t want that immature, deadbeat back in my life.

The painful part is that Razor is treating her in ways that he never treated me. Not even in the beginning of our relationship. Not even when things were good.

I can’t help but wonder why. What’s wrong with me? Am Ithatunloveable?Is that why my father never gave a shit about me? Why Razor always treated me like an inconvenience? Why Archer backed away that night when I tried to kiss him?

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