Page 36 of The Incredible Kindness of Paper
She felt his gaze as if he were actually trailing his fingers over her skin, and without meaning to, her mouth parted, too, matching his. Maybe he liked her more than he let on.
But then Tolly swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing, and said brusquely, “They won’t kick you out of the store. You look presentable enough.”
Chloe wilted.
But what had she been expecting? Besides, she’d made it clear over coffee that she was dating someone. She hadn’t clarified, either, that it wasn’t serious, that she’d been seeing him less than two months.
“Earth to Chloe?” Tolly said, waving his hand in front of her face. “Were you planning on actually going into the store today, or were you just going to lurk outside?”
“So that means you’ll do it?” She smiled and, before he could change his mind, she grabbed his hand and pulled him inside.
The second the door swung shut behind them, Chloe wasreallyglad Tolly was with her, because Bergdorf Goodman was about ten tiers above any store she’d ever stepped foot inside. The floors were made of marble, and ornate chandeliers—probably handcrafted by an artisan in Italy or something—hung from the ceilings. The sleek glass displays were like museum exhibitions, and the customers looked like they’d all just robbed Tiffany’s, there were so many diamonds on display.
A salesman in the closest department gave Chloe and Tolly a quick once-over and then angled away, clearly broadcasting that he didn’t think they could afford anything there. Chloe flushed.
Tolly glared at him. “He’d beluckyif he got to wait on you.” There was a hint of a growl in the back of Tolly’s throat, and she could feel the muscles of his arm tensing as if preparing for a fight.
She liked it.
It reminded her of her first love, Oliver. He’d been so protective of Chloe, even if it was something as small as being made fun of during show-and-tell in second grade.
And then when they were teens, she’d liked making her own clothes, and she would drag Oliver with her for hours to the fabric store. He’d hated it. But he had loved spending time with her more, so he’d come every time. Besides, he would pay her back by making her quiz him for math competitions. She’d actually learned trigonometry by osmosis, just by being in the same room as Oliver and all his textbooks.
Tolly had actually reminded Chloe of her childhood best friend, at least his eyes. That is, until their unsuccessful conversation over coffee last time. Tolly was way too tight-laced, nothing like her Oliver, who had been chatty and always easy to smile.
Chloe’s heart dipped at the memories, but she scolded herself.This isn’t your Oliver, silly. He disappeared without a trace, remember? He didn’t contact you once in sixteen years. He didn’t want you.
Stupid, that it still hurt sixteen years later. But isn’t that what first love did to you? Engulfed you whole and shook you senseless, so that even half a lifetime later, you still felt the vibrations of that love beneath your skin?
“Found a store directory,” Tolly said. “Looks like you want the fourth floor.”
Chloe made herself push away the past, relegating it to the dusty corners of her mind again, and she smiled at Tolly as they took the escalator.
As soon as they walked into the evening wear department, Chloe let out a happy (and undignified) shriek.
Tolly laughed. “You sound like my nephews in a candy store.”
She couldn’t speak, so she just nodded. Rows and rows of deep jewel-toned dresses. Fluffy pink confections. Slinky mermaid-tailed gowns.
Chloe walked into their midst as if in a trance, touching all the different fabrics. Red satin. Emerald-green silk. Real peacock feathers.
Tolly walked in the row parallel to hers, plainly amused at how happy this was making her.
“Hello there.” A saleswoman stepped in front of Chloe. Unlike the stuck-up man downstairs, this woman looked approvingly at Chloe and Tolly. “What are we shopping for today?”
“D-dress,” Chloe managed to say.
“She’s going to a party,” Tolly said, since she obviously needed help with speaking right now.
“Well, you’ve come to the right place,” the woman said. “I’m Greta, and I would be happy to help you today. How formal? A summer garden frock, an evening cocktail dress, or a ball gown for the opera?”
Tolly tilted his head at Chloe. This one he wouldn’t be able to answer for her, because she hadn’t told him. She pulled her brain together.
“Formal-ish,” Chloe said. “Something in between cocktail hour and a ball. I’m thinking something long.”
“But with personality,” Tolly added from over the next row of dresses.
Greta looked at Chloe’s multicolored skirt. “Absolutely. It would be a shame to hide you in a somber black sheath. Would you like to browse onyour own? Or if you’d like, I can take you back to a dressing room and get you some glasses of champagne to enjoy while I pull some gowns off the racks and bring them to you?”
