Page 59 of Austen Persuaded

“My fiancé is a professional dancer, and evenhelets me rest!” my roommate whined.

I sighed. “Move over, or I’ll sit on you.”

As I sat next to him, he groaned in pain. “See, even just that little movement. My abs are killing me. My thigh just screamed at me.”

“I didn’t hear anything,” I said, grinning at him.

“Seriously, Annie. Couldn’t you find something else to distract you until your first day at the agency? This is insane.”

“You of all people should approve. We’re dance teachers, and it’s practice we preach.”

“This isn’t practice. It’s torturing ourselves,” he mumbled. “I’m going to take a nap, but I’m too tired to get up. Go dance in your room or somewhere else.”

“But I don’t have a barre in my room!” I protested. One of the coolest things about living with Rafael—and likely one of the only reasons I’d stayed in dancing shape over the years—was that he’d installed a barre along one living room wall, as soonas we’d moved in.

Both his eyes were already closed, but he opened one. “Then find something else to do?”

“Easier said than done,” I huffed. But he was right. We’d been working out nearly nonstop for several days, working on new choreography and challenging leaps and turns. I’d claimed it was prep for a new advanced class we were going to start co-teaching on weekends soon, but he saw through that after the first four hours, when I felt inexhaustible. I needed to move, to stay busy, to be so exhausted I couldn’t obsess about my new job. Or the other thing I needed desperately not to think about.

I found a nearby blanket and placed it over him. After gently inserting a throw pillow beneath his head, I whispered, “Sorry.”

He opened one eye again and flashed a small smile. “What are you wearing for your first day tomorrow?”

I blanked. “What am I … I don’t know!”

With both eyes firmly closed, he pulled the blanket over him and rolled over. With a muffled voice, he said, “That’s what I thought. You have my permission to go shopping.”

He knew, of course, better than anyone that retail therapy was my favorite kind. I didn’t hesitate and was out the door after a quick shower.

After thoroughly reviewing the newest fashions in my favorite store and reluctantly even looking through some older styles on clearance, I gathered an armload of outfits to bring to the changing room. As soon as I hung them in the room, my phone buzzed, and I smiled when I saw who’d sent a text.

Viviana

Hey Annie! how are you?

Annie

Hey Viv! I’m doing amazing, have some big news actually

Viviana

I have big news too, would love to catch up when you have time

Annie

How about today? I could stop by your place this evening

Viviana

Can’t wait! :) Just text on your way over

I put my phone away and started trying on the outfits I’d chosen. But I felt distracted and then eventually shocked to realize my heart wasn’t in it.

Hell must be freezing over if my heart’s not into shopping.

Do I not love shopping anymore?

Fashion was always my first love!

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