Page 10 of Without Warning
I set my bag on the sofa and walk to the rack waiting for me.The dresses are all slinky and black, some definitely my sister’s style.One catches my eye.It has a halter neckline with a long satin ribbon trailing from the bow that ties at the back of the neck.I like it and decide that’s the one I’m getting.
Nelly returns with another black dress with what looks like cutouts at the hips, and I’m not sure about it.I don’t want to draw too much attention to myself wearing something overtly sexy.
“I’m not sure about that one,” I say, but she just smiles at me.
“Wait until you see it on yourself.You have the perfect body for this.”
“Um, okay.”
Stepping behind the curtain, I undress down to my strapless bra and panties.Nelly helps me into the dress, and it’s worse than I thought.It’s not cutouts at the sides but open, with only a strip of fabric across my mid-back, exposing my waist and most of my back.The dress sits low on my hips.I immediately shake my head.
“No.This is too much.”I spin to look at myself in the mirror.
“Step out here.”I hear my sister’s voice and can’t believe Nelly called her to video chat.
I step out from behind the curtain and see the tablet Nelly set up.My sister’s face fills the screen.
“OMG, Daphy, that’s it.That’s the one right there.”
“No.This is a formal black-tie fundraising event for the aquarium.I can’t embarrass my boss or my employer.This is too much.”I turn back toward the dressing room.
“Wait,” Delly says, and I stop before stepping off the platform.“Nelly, grab a pair of black pumps.”
“Got them.”She holds up an expensive pair of heels, and I keep shaking my head.
“I don’t want to spend that much money on shoes I’ll only wear once in a while.”
“You’ll love them.”
I slip the shoes on and take in the full effect.I’m stunning.The slit on the left side exposes my leg to mid-thigh.The heels lift me from my five-foot-three height by over four inches, making my legs look longer.I’m lean from mountain biking, yoga, and hiking, so I knew the dress would look good on my body, but I stare into the mirror in shock.This isn’t me.
“Go ahead and try on the one you want, but that’s your dress,” Delly says, and I return to the dressing room.
I keep the heels on as Nelly helps me into the satin dress.It’s also open-backed, but the large ribbon gives the illusion of more coverage.This one is a simple, floor-length design with no slit.Like the other dress, my shoulders are exposed, showing the lean muscle from all my working out.
I step out from behind the curtain and glide to the platform in the sexy black heels I’m beginning to like, even though I know it would be useless for me to purchase them.
“Now this one I like,” I tell Nelly and my sister, but they both shake their heads.
“It’s pretty and you wear it well, but the other dress was made for your body.Your back looks amazing in it, and your leg.This one is just nice,” Nelly says.
“Ugh, you guys, this one is more me.”
“Yeah, but like Nelly said, Daphy, the other one is perfect.Come on, get it.”
“No.I think I’m going to get this one, but not the shoes.”I lift the hem of the dress and admire them.The red soles are the perfect pop of color.
“I’ll make a deal with you.You buy that one for another occasion, but get the other one for the Regents Gala.”
“I don’t want to spend the money.”
“Nelly, can you put it on a twenty-four-hour hold?She’ll come back for it, and the shoes too.Every girl needs at least one pair of Louboutins.Granny and Mom would agree.”
“Fine.”
I head back into the dressing room and change into my street clothes, slipping the other heels back on.My feet don’t feel as comfortable as they did in the fancy ones, but I won’t tell my sister.
When I step out, the dresses are already bagged up.I say goodbye to my sister, who tells me I’ll be back tomorrow to get the other dress.
