Page 25 of Fake As Puck
“I look like I’m auditioning for a role in a tragedy.”
“Can I see?”
I step out in the least offensive dress. It’s navy blue, simple, inoffensive to the point of being boring.
“What do you think?” I ask, doing a half-hearted spin.
“It’s nice.”
“Nice?”
“Yeah. Nice.”
“That’s not helpful, West.”
“You look good.”
“I look like I’m going to a business meeting.”
“You look professional.”
“I’m not trying to look professional. I’m trying to look like your girlfriend.”
“You look like my girlfriend.”
“Your girlfriend dresses like she works in accounting?”
“My girlfriend is beautiful and would look good in anything.”
I freeze. The way he says it, like he actually means it, makes something flutter in my chest.
“Even a paper bag?” I ask, trying to keep my voice light.
“Even a paper bag.”
I roll my eyes, but I can feel heat creeping up my neck. “That’s ridiculous.”
I retreat back into the fitting room before he can see me blush, and while I’m changing back into my clothes, I do something I’m not proud of.
I Google “malls near me.”
“You know what?” I say, emerging from the fitting room. “None of these are quite right. Maybe we should check out the mall. Just to see what else is out there.
“I thought you said we could find something here.”
“I said we could try. Trying and succeeding are different things.”
He sighs, but he doesn’t argue. “Fine. The mall it is.”
The mall is exactly what I expected. Bright, overwhelming, and full of stores that actually specialize in clothes that don’t also sell groceries.
West, on the other hand, looks like he’s been dropped into unknown territory.
“Are you okay?” I ask as we walk past the food court as people stare at him.
“It’s just... loud and everyone’s staring.”
“It’s Friday. This is normal mall volume.” I notice everyone is staring at him, but I get it. He’s tall. He stands out. His aura screams athlete.
