Page 78 of Of Mercury and Mist

I feigned outrage. “How am I evil? You’re hogging all the evilness in the universe.”

Isaac tilted his head before clutching my shoulders. “I’m never evil to you.” He pecked my forehead. “Let’s go. You’re about to be so beautiful I’ll have no choice but to slaughter anyone who so much as looks at you from the corner of their eye.”

“I kinda feel like you’d enjoy that.”

“You know me too well, love,” he grinned.

The car brought us to a side road off Fifth Avenue and I stared out the window at the boutique storefronts, watching the minimal foot traffic and admiring the frocks on display behind gilded windows. Eventually, we stopped, pulling alongside the curb for Mason to open our doors.

We entered a dress shop, and an attendant fawned over me, Isaac hot on her heels. “You’re so pretty darling,” she cried out, examining me head to toe.

“Thank you,” I replied, watching my sponsor eye her with distrust. “I need a gown for tonight.”

“Let’s go through our choices. I know just the thing for your skin tone and hair.”

She led me to a rack and began flicking through the dresses. “What about this one?” I shook my head. “This one?”

“Do you mind if I browse a little bit on my own?” I asked. She’d overwhelmed me with her instantaneous enthusiasm, and I was feeling a little crowded between her and Isaac.

The woman gave a soft smile and backed away reluctantly. I took a deep breath; my shoulders relaxing and began picking through the choices. A navy-blue dress stood out to me, and I held it up to my reflection. Next thing I knew, a deep gold-toned dress was handed to me.

“This one,” Isaac stated. He glanced down at his phone, brows furrowing over whatever it was he saw.

“I like this one though.” The dress I held was gorgeous, a soft silky material and I knew the bodice would make my boobs look good. Best of all, it was flowy.

“I know what looks good on you. You’re getting this dress.”

In disbelief, I watched him march it over to the shop assistant the same time he answered his phone. There was no way I was letting him get away with this, he’d already taken over my whole life. Yes, granted he bought and paid for me—but I was still a person with hopes and dreams. We got along great and had fun together, even started sharing personal stories. We’d spent enough time together he should have known better than to think I would just sit back and let him lord over me in everything.

I rushed up to the counter and flung the gown I liked on top of the other. Isaac’s phone rang and he answered it before quickly walking away. His voice was raised but I couldn’t make out the words as the woman started small talk while packing up both gowns. I opened my mouth to stop her but then shut it. He’d seen me toss the dress on top of the other and didn’t bat an eye.

“These will be delivered as arranged,” the woman said, hanging them on a rack against the wall.

Isaac’s voice sounded in the distance again, my shoulders tightening at the sound of his tone. “Sorry about that,” I apologized to her, nodding toward the front of the shop.

She gave me a tight smile and I spun around just as he was putting his phone back in his pocket.

“Everything okay?” I asked, meeting him by the door.

“Yes,” he clipped, as we stepped outside.

“Do you want to talk about it?” It seemed like he didn’t, if his stiff posture and staring out the window were any indication. But it was only polite to ask.

“No.”

One thing I hated was when people wouldn’t tell me what was wrong. Especially when I thought I was the cause. Was the second dress too much? Logically, I knew his mood had nothing to do with me, that it was the result of the phone call, butwhat if?

I was also aware that these feelings welling up inside were a byproduct of my ex, who’d successfully made me feel like his extracurricular activities were due to my lack.

Lack of beauty. Lack of attention. Lack of whatever esoteric and just out of reach quality he was looking for in a woman.

I’d come a long way. A very long way. But sometimes, the past reared its ugly head.

Isaac was loaded; a second dress wasn’t a big deal, and he’d have put a stop to it if there was a problem. He’d committed himself to me and shown me he was serious. As I’d told him more than once, I was still getting used to the arrangement and the wall he’d just erected had thrown me for a loop. It very likely had nothing to do with me.

So, I pushed the intrusive thoughts away and reached for the hand he’d placed on his leg. With a surprised glance, he clasped mine in return, giving me a light squeeze before resuming his window-staring vigil.

Taking a deep breath, I relaxed. I had every reason to be content and proud of myself for how I’d been handling all the curveballs life had been sending my way.

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