Page 41 of Drum Me Away
“About dealing with your family?”
I nodded. “I keep thinking I’ve cried myself out, but then I get teary-eyed again. And emotions are not something my family does well. Or at all. I’m dreading facing my mother and her disapproving looks because I know I’m going to cry.”
Lucas wrapped his arm around my shoulder, gave it a squeeze, before pressing his lips to my temple. I resisted melting into his side for all of two seconds before I let go, let him comfort and reassure me.
“I’ll be there to help you through. The whole band will be.”
He slipped his phone out of his pocket to look at the time.
“They’re all arriving in about three hours. They’re going to meet us at the funeral home. I figure we can have everybody out to the treehouse afterward, and we can unwind, make it a chill evening.”
This man. My bandmates. I was so lucky.
“Are you ready?” Roxanne called out. She stood next to the open door to a fitting room as elegantly appointed as the rest of this shop. Even if this weren’t the only dress shop in town, I bet she’d be successful. I didn’t often have a need for fancy dresses like the ones in here, but I sure did want to hand over my credit card and go crazy.
Lucas topped off my flute, and I headed toward the fitting room. When I glanced over my shoulder, he was lounging against the couch, one arm draped across the back, watching me with an intensity that made me shiver.
Roxanne whispered, “If the two of you want to make use of my dressing room, I won’t tell anyone.”
I laughed. “I think we can manage to keep ourselves in check.”
Although her offerwastempting.
CHAPTER15
Lucas
It wasn’t ten outfits,but it was pretty damn close. Not that it mattered, because Faith looked stunning in each and every one, which made it easy to sit here and chill and watch her as she showed off for me and asked my opinion as if it really mattered.
I was wrong about Roxanne. She knew exactly what would pull out Faith’s natural beauty without the look screaming rocker girl.
A simple, black wrap dress with a flared skirt and a bright red sash. It clung to her curves in a way that made me fantasize about grasping that sash and tugging it free, letting the dress fall open to show me whatever sexy lingerie she had on underneath.
I shook my head and focused on the next outfit.
Another black dress, this one sleeveless and fitted, with a sheer, animal print shawl and nude pumps. I liked it, but I doubted the animal print would go over well with an ultra-conservative family. When Faith turned around to show me the cut-out back that drew the eye to that sexy tattoo that chased down her spine, I knew it was definitely a no-go.
The next dress was dark blue with lace on the sleeves, and Roxanne matched it with another pair of nude pumps with sky-high heels. I liked the way this one pulled out the pops of color in Faith’s hair when she moved her head a certain way.
After the fourth dress, I realized Roxanne was complimenting the conservative idea with small, bright highlights that were totally Faith. Any one of them would be perfect.
In the end, Faith selected two dresses, both solid black, and black patent leather heels to match. One dress had three-quarter length sleeves and a severe, straight neckline that stretched from shoulder to shoulder, and the other was long-sleeved with gold buttons running up the front, giving the impression of a suit, although it was all one piece. I wondered if she’d add a string of pearls to complete the totally un-Faith-like look.
I didn’t voice that opinion, though, because the last thing she needed right now was me encouraging her to push back against the family dynamics she’d had to deal with for her entire life.
Roxanne handed the final two dresses and matching accessories—including hats that would help to disguise the bright colors in Faith’s hair—off to an assistant who had been hovering quietly in the background all this time, but then she stopped the young woman before she could head over to the register to start boxing everything up.
“This one too,” Roxanne said, draping the clingy wrap dress over the other lady’s arm. “I saw the way his eyes lit up when Faith had it on.” She winked at me, and I wanted to kiss her for being so damn perceptive.
And then it was my turn. “Up, up, up,” Roxanne said, clapping her hands. “Time to fit this gorgeous hunk into one of my signature suits.” She led us upstairs, making sure to bring along the champagne.
The first option was gray with a subtle blue plaid print, and off the rack it fit my form perfectly. I was ready to buy, but Faith shook her head. As I tried on suit after suit with Faith rejecting each for one reason or another, my dad’s words whispered in my ear.
“If there’s one piece of advice I can give you, son, it’s not to let a woman destroy you.”
I shook my head. That wasn’t happening here. This wasn’t Faith trying to destroy me. This was Faith trying to fit into a life she didn’t belong to and me going along with the plan because I knew it would be easier on everyone. Especially Faith.
And I was okay with that.
