Page 110 of Curvy Girl Summer

“You’re so stubborn.”

“Me?” he chuckled. “Nah, that’s you.”

The waitress came back to collect the payment, and then we were about to head out.

“Oh!” I stopped in my tracks.

Ahmad bumped into me from behind.

“Damn, Ahmad, you’re trying to run me over?” I joked, pushing his shoulder.

Amused, he grabbed me and forced me onto the sidewalk. “Why would you stop walking?”

“I just got a text saying that my dress has arrived.” I raised up on my toes and bounced. “It’s right up the street. I need to go try it on real quick. Do… you want to come?” I pointed to the next corner. “It’s right there.”

“Oh, shit, that’s close.” He lifted his shoulder. “Yeah, I’ll come.”

We started walking farther from our apartment complex. There were more people out and about than when we’d walked to brunch. Ahmad had one hand on my shoulder and one on my hip, and he shifted me in front of him as we made our way down the sidewalk. It was a gentlemanly touch that was very on brand for him. But when the horde of people dissipated, he didn’t remove his hand from my hip immediately.

My entire body was hyperaware of his touch.

When his hand dropped away, I could still feel the heat from it through my yoga pants.

Not that I was negating his situation or what he had going on, but the man was sexy as hell. Mentally, I knew we were just friends. Emotionally, I knew he wasn’t trying to be with anyone. But when he touched me, my body wasn’t trying to acknowledge any of that.

“This is it,” I said as we approached the boutique.

With his hand on my hip again, he kind of pulled me into him as he reached around me and opened the door.

I sucked in a sharp intake of air. “Thank you.”

Marching in and trying to put some distance between the two of us, I made my way to the counter.

“Hi, Charlotte,” I greeted the owner of Charlotte’s Webb as I got closer to her.

Her eyes lit up. “Aaliyah!” Her eyes darted behind me, and her smile grew. “How are you?”

“I’m great! Can’t wait to see my birthday dress.”

“I can’t wait to see it on you.” She shifted her gaze to Ahmad again, so I knew she was waiting for an introduction.

“Charlotte, this is Ahmad. Ahmad, this is Charlotte.”

He reached his hand out toward her. “Hey, what’s up, Charlotte? Nice to meet you.”

They shook hands.

“It’s nice to meet you, too.” She looked between us with a twinkle in her eye. “You two look really good together.”

“Thanks,” he said.

I kept my mouth shut.

She turned around and grabbed the large garment bag that was on a rack behind her. “Okay, you two, follow me.” As we got to the back, she pointed to a chair in front of a huge mirror. “You can sit right over here,” she told Ahmad. “Aaliyah…” She went into the dressing room and hung the dress on a peg and then unzipped the bag. “If you need any help getting it on, I’ll be right out here.”

As soon as Charlotte walked out, I peeked at Ahmad. “It won’t take me long, and then we can leave.”

“Take your time,” he said, relaxing in the chair. “I’m curious about what’s in that big bag.”

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