I flip through dress after dress, each more hideous than the last.
“What about this one?” Thea holds up a navy dress encrusted with silver beaded detailing.
I gag. “No.”
She groans. “Nova,” she scolds. “You hate everything.”
“There has to be something here,” I whine.
“What about this?” Rae points to a deep purple dress on one of the store mannequins. It has a sweetheart neckline and a ball gown skirt.
“I like the color but it’s too poufy.”
Rae and Thea exchange a look. I know they’re getting put out with me, but if I have to wear a fancy dress I need to at least feel like myself.
I move to another rack.
“How about this?”
I turn around and bust out laughing at the pale blue confection Rae holds.
“I didn’t pick it.” Thea raises her hands innocently.
Minutes pass as we search quietly to ourselves.
“Oh, my God,” Thea gasps. “I think I found it. I’m serious.”
We both hurry over to her side to see what she found.
I gasp. “It’s perfect.”
I reach out to touch the silky black fabric.
“Try it on.” Thea shoves the dress into my chest. “Hurry, hurry. I want to see it on.”
She shoves me into a dressing room and swishes the curtain closed with a flourish.
I change as quickly as I can, but apparently not quickly enough.
“Are you not done yet?”
I scream when I look down and see Thea poking her head beneath the curtain.
“Thea!” I scold.
“What?” She looks up at me innocently. “You have a cute butt,” she notes.
“Get out.” I shoo her away.
“I know what a girl looks like naked,” she grumbles. “It’s not a big deal.” But thankfully she shimmies out from underneath the dressing room.
I can hear Rae laughing through the curtain. “I hate you both,” I grumble.
“Impossible,” Thea says. “We’re both far too lovable.”
I finish putting the dress on and appraise myself in the mirror. I run my hands down the front of the dress and smile.
It’s perfect.