Page 24 of Silver Fake

She looks contemplative for a moment, then flashes me a smile, her eyes sparkling with an excitement that's infectious. "I was thinking we could check out the boutiques downtown."

I nod, my eyes focusing back on the road. "Downtown it is, then." The drive is quiet after that, filled with nothing but the sound of the radio and the steady rhythm of the car's engine. I steal a couple of glances at Lisa, watching as she gazes out the window, her face bathed in the soft morning light. It's a moment that I want to freeze in time, to keep and revisit when things get tough.

* * *

Twenty minutes later, we pull into the Barton Beach Mall's parking lot.

The hustle and bustle of the midday rush hits us full on as people swarm in and out of the mall's entrance. I haven't been to this mall in years, and I'm surprised to see that it's retained its charm as a small and quaint shopping center, a stark contrast to the sprawling commercial complexes found in Houston.

As soon as the car comes to a stop, I unfasten my seat belt and reach over to take Lisa's hand, our fingers intertwining naturally.

I see a momentary flash of surprise in her eyes, a silent question that she doesn't voice. But she doesn't pull away, and a wash of relief unfurls within me.

As we step out of the car, Lisa takes in the bustling scene in front of us with a wry grin. "Wow, it's like the entire city decided to go shopping today," she comments drily. "I hope I find something worth my time in all this chaos."

Laughing, I gently squeeze her hand and wink at her, "I bet you'll find something that makes every head turn at the wedding."

Lisa blushes as I steer her through the throng of people to Mitchell's. It's a department store that carries formal dresses. Every now and again, I catch her looking around in awe, her eyes sparkling like a kid in a candy store. And that's when I realize that in spite of the chaos around us, I'm actually enjoying this.

As we walk in to Mitchell's I decide to break the silence. "How long have you and Denise been friends?"

Lisa's face lights up with a big smile. "Oh, Denise and I? We've been friends for over twenty-five years, since our college days at Texas A&M."

"Really?"

"Yeah, we were roommates during our freshman year and just clicked. We've been best friends ever since. She actually used to live in Houston just a few blocks down from me. But then she got divorced two years ago and moved back to Barton Beach."

"It must have been tough having her move away."

Lisa nods, her smile softening. "It was tough, definitely. But the move was a great thing for her. She moved back here to take over Sugar Breeze after her mom passed away."

I quirk an eyebrow at her. "Wait, Denise is the new owner Sugar Breeze? I would have thought for sure her brother Austin would be in charge."

Lisa snorts. "So did he. But Denise's Mom left it to her."

As I watch Lisa rifle through the dress racks, her brow furrowed in concentration, I can't help but be struck by how adorable she looks. She's got this determined look on her face, her pink tongue peeking out from between her lips as she sorts through a seemingly endless sea of clothing.

I lean against a nearby rack, watching her with a small smile on my face as a strange yet pleasant sensation wraps around my heart. She's so engrossed in her mission that she doesn't notice me looking at her.

After a flurry of assessing, discarding, and trying on several dresses, Lisa finally hones in on one she loves.

While Lisa retreats to the fitting room to change back into her regular clothes, I wait for her outside, leaning casually against the wall. Minutes start to tick by, turning into an agonizing wait as I find myself lost in a sea of thoughts. Finally, the fitting room door swings open, and Lisa steps out.

It's a stunning form-fitting navy blue gown with delicate lace detailing on the bodice. As she twirls around in front of the mirror, I can't help but think how breathtaking she looks.

"That's the one," I say firmly, my eyes meeting hers in the mirror.

She bites her lip, her brows furrowing as she examines herself in the mirror. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," I respond without a second of hesitation. "You look absolutely gorgeous."

Her frown dissolves into a timid smile, but the doubt remains in her eyes. This doubt, I realize, is something I want to erase – I want her to see the beautiful woman that I see.

We head to the checkout, the blue gown draped carefully over Lisa's arm. As the cashier rings up the purchase, Lisa reaches for her purse, but I'm quicker, pulling out my credit card and handing it over.

"John, no," Lisa objects, her hand still hovering over her bag. "I should be paying for this."

Ignoring her protests, I simply smile at the cashier, who completes the transaction. Lisa sighs in defeat, shaking her head at me.

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