Page 101 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

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BERKLEY

I am on a date with Will. It’s been a long time since we did this. He’s holding my hand to his chest as he drives, occasionally lifting it to his lips. This is the Will I knew. He’s being sweet, romantic and so incredibly attentive.

‘Where are we headed?’ I ask as he pulls into a Goodwill parking lot.

‘One time when I was filming, you told me a story about one of your college interns going on a date where they had to choose one another’s outfits at the Goodwill and wear them for the entire night. You laughed the whole time you told me about it.’

‘That wassolong ago. I can’t believe you remember. You seriously want to walk in here and walk out wearingusedclothing?Whoare you, andwhathave you done with my Will?’

He smiles wide. ‘I missed that,’ he says softly. ‘The “myWill” thing.’

‘Well, get used to it because we live together now and I don’t doubt I’m going to call you a lot of things. Most of them probably even nice…’ she kids.

He laughs, nodding his head like he’s completely alright with that. ‘I’m more than happy to wear used clothing if the outfit fits the rules of the night.’

‘Rules of the night?’ I ask, taking his hand as he helps me out of his SUV. ‘What might those be?’

He laces his fingers through mine, and it feel so normal. Yet also so new? I don’t know. All I do know is that I missed this. Him. All of it.

‘We’re going fancy schmancy. Top shelf. If it’s on a mannequin, check it out. You choose my outfit; I choose yours.’

I laugh out loud, following him through the front doors and into the store. ‘You might regret this.’

‘I hope I do,’ he says. ‘Meet back here in fifteen?’

‘Sure.’

With a single wink, he backs away from me into the women’s department. A few heads turn, one woman says his name, and he stops, casually chatting with her, now signing something she’s handing him, but he’s clearly on a mission.

I turn to the men’s section, my gaze landing on the perfect outfit almost immediately. He was right. Mannequins are where the good stuff is.

‘Hey,’ I say to a guy who works here. ‘I need that.’ I point to the two-piece suit I somehow just know will fit him. Navy plaid. Slim fit. I search the dress shirt racks for one of those ruffled-front seventies button-up shirts and find one that entices a laugh out of me. It’s grass-green, with white piping along the ruffles at the chest. It’s ridiculously perfect.

‘What’s your name?’ I ask the guy now lugging the mannequin from the display to the ground where I can strip this plastic man of his dignity.

‘My friends call me Big Jim.’

I look him over. He’s only a couple inches taller than me. Huh. It must be one of those ironic nicknames.

‘Well, Big Jim.’ I toss the ruffled shirt over my shoulder. ‘We’re about to strip this guy nude together. How about you do his top? I’ll do his bottom.’

He nods.

‘Have you ever seenPDX Royals?’ I ask as we work, feeling like I need to fill the air with words.

‘My wife watches it. Likes that Willy character.’ He lifts a shoulder like he could take him or leave him.

‘Then your wife will be thrilled to know that this suit will be gracing the world on Willy’s back in about ten minutes.’

Big Jim looks down at me as he peels the jacket over the headless mannequin’s arms. ‘You serious?’

‘Done,’ Will says from behind me as I literally yank the mannequin’s pants down to his knees.

‘Holy crap,’ Big Jim says, his gaze now lingering behind me.

I look over my shoulder, catching Will laughing at the sight of me, a coy grin on his face.

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