Page 140 of Withered

“I’ll take this,” I say.

“Would you like to try it on, dear?” She offers with a smile.

“Can I come for a fitting later?” I ask, hopefully.

She nods and leads me over to the counter. I pay for the dress and schedule the fitting for Thursday. I then head to a men’s clothing store. I look around, but all the suits seem the same to me.What makes them so unique?

I grab a magazine kept nearby and flip through the pages. My gaze is drawn to one in particular, and I request the same piece. It’s a standard black two-button suit with black trousers and a bow. Should I go for a tie? No. That would be far too formal. Jake is unlikely to wear the bow itself. I pay for it and schedule the fitting for Sunday, hoping Jake likes it.

I find Jake leaning against his car in the parking lot, and my anger flares up.

“Were you here all the time?” I rarely get furious at him, but he’s capable of evoking it.

Jake sighs. “Yeah.”

“Was it so difficult for you to be there with me?” I fold my hands and stay put.

“It was for your good,” Jake says, making me angry.

“You’re not going to tell me, are you?” I ask softly.

“No,” Jake sighs. “So, let it go.”

I turn around and walk away. “I’m taking the cab.” I need to calm down, or this fury will take over and I’ll become something I don’t want to be.

He runs and blocks my path. “Stop acting crazy; I’ll drop you off.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m acting crazy?” I snap, my hands flying in the air. “You started a small fight in front of strangers over a tux, then you’re all nice, and then you leave, and I’m the one acting crazy?”

I go past him, but he grabs my wrist and drags me toward the car. “Let me go.”

His firm grip on my wrist remains until I’m against the passenger door. “Just get in.”

He pushes me inside, and before I could get a grip of myself, he was in the driver’s seat, locking the doors.

“Jake, what is wrong with you? Are you on something? Did you perhaps eat one of your hash brownies?” There’s no way out, so I fasten my seat belt.

With a faint smirk on his lips, he responds, “Something like that.”

The ride home feels the longest, as it is one of the most uncomfortable. I don’t talk to him, and he doesn’t make an effort either. His facial expressions reveal nothing about what’s going on. I try to cut the icy silence with music, but he only shoves my hand away, getting me further annoyed.

He drops me off at home and leaves without sparing me a glance. I spend the day with my parents and Aria, who arrives shortly after I get home. Even she has no idea where Jake is.

My phone rings when I'm reading a book.

“Hello,” I say.

“Don’t you think that’s a little plain?” Kristy speaks.

I chuckle, and she asks, “Did you get yourself a dress?”

“Yeah, I’ve got one,” I tell her and ask, “Did you?”

“Tyler’s mom got me one. She owns several designer stores and had a new one, so she gave it to me.”

“How did it go with his parents?” I ask her. She had to miss the shopping because they were in town. That would never have happened otherwise.

“I think his mom likes me. I can’t say the same for his dad.” She sounds dull.

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