Page 177 of Knot Baked Out For This
Surprised? Not in the slightest.
I wander toward the dress section, trying to look casual, but Luca's already there, dark gaze tracking my movement like I'm prey and he's deciding whether to pounce.
"See something you like?" I ask, aiming for nonchalant.
"Maybe," he says, but he's not looking at the clothes.
Lord give me strength.
"Oh my god!" Levi appears with a vintage dress that definitely wasn't made for people who eat carbs. "Hazel, you have to try this on!"
"Absolutely not."
"It's perfect!"
"It's tiny!"
"It's stretchy!" He tests the fabric, which protests audibly. "See? Room for cookies!"
The dress is admittedly gorgeous—deep emerald green, vintage 1950s style with a fitted bodice and full skirt. The kind of dress I used to dream about wearing before I learned that wanting things led to disappointment.
"Try it," Luca says quietly, and something in his voice makes me take the hanger.
"Fine. But when it doesn't fit?—"
"It'll fit," he says with such certainty that I almost believe him.
I'm heading toward the changing rooms when I spot it—a firefighter jacket in the clearance bin, complete with reflective stripes and "CHIEF" embroidered on the back.
"Oh my god." I hold it up, grinning. "Levi, you could borrow this when you bake! It's flame-retardant!"
"I don't need flame-retardant clothing!"
"You literally set bacon on fire. Twice. This week."
"Those were isolated incidents!"
"Buy it for Rowan," Luca suggests. "He can put out the fires Levi creates."
"Speaking of," I say, "why couldn't he come again?"
"Station's doing performance training," Luca explains. "First week of November's the assessment. That's why he gets the next few days off."
"Perfect for Halloween!" Levi bounces. "Three whole days of spooky pack activities!"
"Please don't say spooky pack activities."
"Spooky. Pack. Activities."
Reverie appears with an armload of what looks like every crop top in existence.
"Changing room fashion show! Let's go!"
The changing area is in the back, a row of curtained stalls that have seen better decades. The lighting is fluorescent andunforgiving, the mirrors slightly warped, and someone has carved "Brad + Jennifer 4EVR" into the wall.
Brad and Jennifer did not, in fact, last forever.
I squeeze into a stall with my pile of clothes—the green dress, several sweaters Reverie insisted on, and a witch costume that's basically lingerie with a pointy hat.
