Page 28 of Knot Happening

"The color is perfect," Julia muses, "but the style is too mature. We need something that feels more... you."

It's the fourth dress that changes everything. The moment Julia brings it out, I know it's different. It's rose gold, a color I never would have chosen for myself with a fitted bodice that emphasizes my curves without making me self-conscious about them. The skirt flows in layers of silk and tulle that move likewater when I walk, and the overall effect is both elegant and playful.

When I step out of the dressing room, Adam's reaction is immediate and genuine.

"Oh," he says, and then stops talking entirely.

"What do you think?" I ask, turning slowly so he can see the full effect.

"I think..." Adam pauses, searching for words. "I think you look like yourself, but the most beautiful version of yourself possible."

The compliment hits me harder than it should, partly because Adam's never seen me in anything more formal than work clothes, and partly because the way he's looking at me right now feels different than his usual friendly appreciation.

"Really?"

"Really. You look..." He shakes his head, apparently giving up on finding adequate words. "You look perfect."

Julia beams at both of us like we've just validated her professional expertise. "I love it when couples have that moment of recognition. You can see it in their faces, that's when they know they've found the right look."

Looking at myself in the boutique's mirrors, I understand what she means. This dress doesn't just fit my body, but my personality too. I feel confident and beautiful and like myself, just amplified.

"We'll take this one," Adam tells Julia without even glancing at the price tag. I want to shake my head and tell him it's too much, that I could never afford something like this on my librarian's salary, but I learned long ago not to argue with Adam's generosity. When he decides to spoil me with professional baking equipment or designer gowns, there's no point in protesting. His family's wealth means that what feels impossibly expensive to me is barely a blip in his budget, and hegenuinely enjoys being able to share that privilege with someone he cares about.

Adam's tuxedo selection goes more smoothly, partly because men's formal wear offers fewer variables, and partly because Adam has the kind of classic good looks that make almost anything look elegant. We settle on a charcoal gray tuxedo with rose gold accents that complement my dress without looking overly coordinated.

"You two are going to be absolutely stunning," Julia gushes as she rings up our purchases. "That ball is lucky to have such a beautiful couple who are going to shine!"

Shine and me, don’t usually fall into the same sentence. As we leave the boutique, bags in hand and significantly lighter in the wallet department, I feel a warm glow at the idea of it. I can’t believe I didn’t want to go, but there’s a wave of excitement about the idea of it all.

"I can't believe we just did that," I tell Adam as we walk down the busy city street. "I feel like we're actually going to pull this off."

"The fake dating or the ball attendance?"

"Both. All of it. For the first time since we got those invitations, I'm actually excited instead of just terrified,” I confess.

“The dress definitely helps," Adam agrees as he holds my hand, but not as we’ve been practicing as a couple, but more as the friend he is. "You really do look amazing in it."

"You clean up pretty well yourself, Chen. I never thought someone like me could be beautiful, but now it is as if I've found a new me, something I didn't think was possible."

Adam pauses, as if he is observing me. "Why do you always sell yourself short? You hide behind oversized sweaters, but you really don't need makeup or a fancy dress to be beautiful. You are naturally beautiful."

I feel my face growing red as I try to reply to him, but instead my voice is a mere whisper. "Thanks."

We're so focused on complimenting each other, that we almost don't notice the three men approaching from the opposite direction until we're practically face-to-face with them.

Marcus Sterling, Felix Romano, and Theo Blackwood. The infamous "Beast Pack" of Willowbrook, looking like they've stepped out of some urban fantasy novel about dangerous men in expensive clothes.

But before I can react, Marcus Sterling does something completely unexpected.

He smiles.

And that's when it hits me. Their scent. All three of them. Even through my suppressants, I can smell them clearly: Marcus's rich cedar and leather, Felix's warm vanilla and spice, Theo's crisp pine and something darker underneath. My suppressants have never failed me before, but standing this close to them, it's like they don't work at all. The realization makes my heart race with a mixture of panic and something else I don't want to examine too closely.

"Miss Hartwell," Marcus says with genuine warmth. "Good to see you in the city. I hope you're finding everything you need."

"Mr. Sterling," I manage, surprised by his friendliness and trying to ignore the way their combined scents are making me feel slightly dizzy. "Yes, we're just... shopping."

"For the ball, I assume?" Felix Romano adds, and there's something knowing in his expression that makes me wonder exactly how much he observes during his architectural consultations.

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