Page 45 of Pursued By My Grumpy Fiancé
Landon plops down next to me on the couch and I smile at him softly. He smiles back as we settle in, throwing the blanket over us. I lean back against him as I start the movie.
“So, you like this movie?” he asks as the credits start.
“I love this movie; it’s my favorite,” I say back.
“Really?” He sounds surprised. “I wouldn’t have guessed that.”
“Why’s that?” I ask, holding the popcorn bowl out to him.
He takes a handful before responding.
“Well, it’s just that this movie is all about rich people.”
“It’s a movie about a woman who struggles to find her place in the world. It’s relatable.”
He’s silent as the movie starts, and I wonder how he’s never actually seen it.
Webrowsetheracksat the Second Chance thrift shop. At first, I was seriously shopping, but I could sense that Landon was bothered by this. I don’t think that he knew that almost all of my clothes come from second hand shops—it’s practical and affordable. Plus, it’s better for the environment, if you care about that sort of thing. Which, I do.
“Oh, look at this. Very Holly-esque.” I grin mischievously as I hold out an ostentatious pink frock.
Landon frowns.
“That is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.” He says as his jaw drops.
“Really? Is it? Or is this?” I ask as I pull a long, neon orange dress off the rack. It’s tiered, with layer after layer of tulle shooting out from the dress. The neck is high, with a big fluff of tulle puffing up at the top.
“Yikes. I dare you to try that on,” he says, grinning.
I mull it over.
“I have a better idea,” I say, putting both the outfits back onto the rack. “Let’s both pick out outfits for each other, and reconvene by the dressing room in fifteen minutes. We will try them on and those will be our outfits for the day.”
“For the day?” he asks incredulously.
I nod.
“Come on, it will be fun! Just let loose.” I begin browsing the racks.
I take peeks at him as I rifle through the clothing. Even though he might think this is silly, I can tell that he’s putting forth his best effort. It’s sweet really, when you take into account how much he’s changed since we first met. In truth, he’s funny and even though it doesn’t seem like it, he’s extremely caring, in his own way. I guess that what I’m saying is that I’m really starting to fall for him.
“If looking like a ragamuffin is fun, then I guess that’s what we will do.” I hear him mutter as he strolls off.
I get busy picking up different items of clothing. I manage to score some amazing finds, and I know it will be a bit of a chore to get Landon to agree to wear what I’ve picked out. I grin gleefully and stride to the fitting rooms. Landon’s already standing there, as if he’s been waiting for a while.
“Here you go!” I say as I pass him the small pile of clothing. He throws some items in my hands and we both go into the dressing rooms.
I take my clothes off and look at what I’ve got. The first item is a long sleeve yellow shirt. I’m confused about the ugly factor until I pull the next item up. I suddenly realize that Landon has a nuanced understanding of clashing clothes. They’re dark blue denim overalls emblazoned with huge purple polka dots of various shades. I put the overalls on and realize that one of the buttons for the straps is missing. I look in the mirror and laugh out loud. I look like a kid who had to get clothes from the lost and found. I’m gathering my clothes and about to exit the dressing room when I realize that I forgot something—it must have fallen when I picked up the overalls.
On the ground was a bright purple baseball cap with a screen-printed ladybug on it. A very poorly screen-printed ladybug. Even though the cap is purple, the screen printing wasn’t weeded even a little, so the backdrop of the ladybug is a white square, poorly positioned on the hat. I roll my eyes and come out of the dressing room. Landon is still in one of them, it seems.
“Landon? You done?” I singsong against the opposite dressing room curtain.
“I am not coming out,” he says indignantly.
I roll my eyes.
“Come on, Landon. Don’t be a baby.”
