Page 15 of Aisle Come Back to You

Unfortunately, it’s hard not to hyper-fixate on things, as the image of the way Ford looked at me consumes my thoughts. I know that I’m likely blowing this out of proportion, especially since he’s going through a fucking divorce. Of course, he’s not sitting here pining after me, especially not after the way I ghosted him these past few years.

It’s time to face reality and realize that any chance of us happening is over and done with. Plus, I refuse to repeat the same mistake I made in high school and focus all my attention on one person, and the wrong person at that. Sure, Jenny may be leaving the picture, but I’m confident he has no interest in picking up something that never really even had time to begin in the first place.

Sure, after he and Jenny broke up the night of our high school graduation, Ford and I may have shared a fleeting kiss. But when Jenny showed up the next day as we set off for our big graduation trip, instead of choosing to spend his time with me, he and Jenny were practically inseparable, and by the end, like always, the two of them were back together.

The last thing I need to get mixed up in again is him and his drama. He is free to say that everything is over and done with in that relationship, but I know better. He’ll never likely fully beover Jenny, and I’m not looking to be some consolation prize until he can get back with her. I refuse to play that role a second time.

As Karen finishes the final touches, Ronnie excuses herself to get undressed, with Karen following shortly after to help her.

As I look up in the mirror and catch Ford’s eyes through the reflection, there’s an inexplicable energy in the air. Then again, maybe it’s just the dress making it hard to breathe. It certainly isn’t helping, though, that his eyes remain fixated on mine, almost as if he’s refusing to look away first.

“You’re free to undress now too, dear,” Karen calls from behind the curtain, causing me to jump in surprise.

“Okay, thanks,” I reply, trying not to look back at Ford, especially since I’m sure my cheeks are now flushed with color.

Needing distance, I waste no time moving down from the small pedestal before disappearing behind the curtain. I exhale a long, overdue breath, allowing my head to drop forward as it leans against the mirror’s cool surface.Pull yourself together, woman!

As I try to reach behind me, it doesn’t take long to realize that before I can start undressing, I need someone to unzip the back. “Shit,” I softly curse. I open the curtain and glance back and forth, only to realize that Ford is the only one around, as Karen still seems to be assisting Ronnie.

Ford’s eyebrows furrow. “Everything okay?”

“Oh, uh yeah. I just need some help getting out of this thing,” I say, pointing toward the back of my dress with my thumb.

It’s now his turn to look around nervously before his gaze lands back on me as he seems to come to the same conclusion. “I guess I could help.”

It shouldn’t be a big deal, just a simple act of unzipping, since it’s not like I’m asking him to completely undress me. Yet, there’s an unexplained feeling of intimacy that accompanies thisaction. Is this really the best idea? I can pretend all I want I’m over him, but deep down, I know that I’ve only ever been lying to myself.

“Really?” I ask, my voice betraying my outward demeanor as it falters and goes up an octave. “Okay, yeah. Sure.” I give in with a casual shrug trying to play it cool, even if the shaking in my voice says otherwise. This doesn’t have to be a big deal, especially if I don’t make it one.

Standing back, I hold up the curtain for him as he stands and makes his way over. While these rooms are large enough for two people, I can’t help but notice our closeness as he shuts the curtain and positions himself behind me, and the air around us charges with electricity all over again.

Luckily, he doesn’t seem to be fazed as he wordlessly unzips my dress, but my body begins to ripple and pulse with desire as his hand slows down. Instead of rushing and getting over with it, he takes his sweet time undoing the top, creating a painfully unhurried and intimate atmosphere as my eyes meet his darkening, hungry gaze in the mirror.

What is it with us and a mirror that seems to be so damn intense?

The dress starts to fall, causing the nice push-up effect that it’d had with my cleavage to lessen as I lift one hand to keep it up and prevent him from getting an indecent view. With our eyes still fixed on one another, his gaze alone practically undoes me; a shiver runs down my spine, causing goosebumps to rise along my arms as a blend of anticipation and longing take hold, and my body hums with need.

The desire to prolong this experience overwhelms me, causing my body to react involuntarily as my backside falls flush against him. He somehow manages to move in even closer, as something hard presses into my back.

He holds my stare, his hand moving even more achingly slow as the zipper finally descends to the very bottom, only inches above my ass. Given that I’ve never been one to fully think things through, I hadn’t thought about the fact that I’d need to wear a strapless bra, so instead, I’d decided it best to just go without for the day’s fitting and had tossed it into the small pile of clothing near our feet.

I’m left with no regrets as my back is now completely bare to him, and I can’t help but savor the sensation as his hand moves upward, his fingers tracing a soft line along my spine, sending tingles and warmth throughout my entire body. I finally break eye contact and close my eyes, embracing this perfect moment as I rest my head against his chest.

Once his fingers reach my shoulder, his other hand joins in as my eyes slowly flutter open. I need to watch as his large palms trace a scorching line of heat in their path, brushing the thin straps down my shoulders, bringing my top dangerously close to exposing my breasts to him; I’ve never craved anything more.

Not only do I want him to see me in a state of undress, I ache for him to touch me there, and so many other places that I’ve craved for so long. He seems to be thinking the same thing as his hands move forward and over my collarbones.

“Everything okay in there?” Karen interrupts.

Startled, Ford jerks his hands away from my body as if he’s been singed by a hot stove.

“Shit,” I inwardly curse, exhaling the breath that I’ve been holding. “Yes, I’m good. I’ll be out in a minute,” I assure her, meeting Ford’s eyes once more, but instead of holding my gaze, he immediately looks away and down at his shoes.

“I’m uh, going to… uh, I’ll just be out there,” he rambles, pointing toward the lobby before excusing himself.

What. The. Hell. Just. Happened?

A part of me has always fantasized about and yearned for a moment like this, but I never actually believed it could happen. Even worse, it’s not like I can tell Ronnie about this.

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