“Hmm.” Rose folded an arm, touching her red lips with her other hand. “I hate that. It’s the color of creamed salmon.”
I motioned to the front of it. “What’s with this gathered twisty thing?”
Lily huffed, standing tall behind me, her blond hair long. “That gathered twisty thing is actually super flattering.” She was dressed impeccably, which compelled me to listen to her advice, but I looked back in the mirror and frowned.
Rose rolled her dark eyes. “Old ladies wear dresses like this because it hides stuff.”
“Like hot dogs and lies,” I said. “I do feel pretty old in this. I look like sexy frozen yogurt.”
“I don’t see what’s wrong with that,” Lily said.
“Salmon flavored frozen yogurt,” I added.
“It’s like a cougar dress,” Rose added. “You could really rake in some high school boys with this beauty.”
Lily threw her arms up in the air. “You guys are the worst. Next,” she sang, turning on her heel like the ballerina she was. I swear, she could look graceful scrubbing a toilet.
I sighed and walked back into the dressing room, looking over the mess I’d made. I’d tried on at least fifteen dresses, all of which were wrong for me in one way or another. I reached for a nude chiffon dress with an open, draped back. When I pulled it on, I looked like I was naked, and it was so tight, you could see everything. Like, I’m pretty sure I could see the hamburger I ate for lunch.
I opened the door, even less amused than the time before.
Rose laughed. “You look like those memes where people dress pugs in costumes.”
“I feel that level of shame. Right here.” I motioned to my heart. “And here.” I motioned to my butt.
Lily sighed. “That color just won’t work.”
“I look like I’m just wearing pantyhose over my entire body.”
Rose snorted, and Lily rolled her eyes again. “It’s not that bad.”
I turned around to look in the mirror. “I dunno, it’s pretty freaking bad, dude.”
“Ooooh,” Lily said and stepped in behind me. “The back of this is gorgeous. Look at this, Rose.”
She stepped in and nodded. “Really pretty. But she still looks like a flesh popsicle.”
“Or a meat tube.”
Rose wrinkled her nose and laughed. “Ew.”
“Next,” Lily said with a wave of her hand, and they left me alone with the cocktail dress nightmare I’d found myself in.
Every one of them had been wrong. Too poofy. Too naked. Too long, which happened a lot since I had the frame of a leprechaun. Some of the sleeveless ones were pretty, but with my luck and lack of girl skills, I was likely to lose a boob out of the top. Plus, if I took any selfies, I’d look naked. And if I was putting on mascara and eyeliner, I was taking a goddamn selfie.
It was one of the last dresses to try on, and I tried not to think about what would happen if I didn’t find one. Maybe I’d just back out. I could always claim my period. Or diarrhea. No one questions diarrhea, they just smile and look uncomfortable and tell you they hope you feel well soon before sending you on your way and washing their hands.
I stepped into the black dress with my expectations in the can, fully prepared for another epic failure, but when I slipped my arms in and looked in the mirror, I drew in a breath. It fit me almost perfectly — the neckline was high with cap sleeves, but from the neck to the sweetheart bodice, the fabric was sheer, gathered ever so slightly at the hem at the neck. The waist was fitted, but the skirt flowed away from hips without being too full or poofy.
I felt prettier than I’d maybe ever felt in my life. The dress transformed me, accentuated my small waist, the swing of the skirt hitting me mid-thigh, the angle from my bust down steep enough that I looked curvy.
“Cam? You okay?”
“I think this is it, guys,” I said as I opened the door.
Lily gasped, and Rose’s eyes were wide as they looked me up and down.
I stood there, waiting in the silence with sweaty palms with my eyes darting between them. “What? Is it bad?”
Rose shook her head. “No, Cam. This is very, very good.”
Lily motioned for me to come out to see in the big mirror. “God, look at your waist in this.”
I inspected my reflection. “Will you do me up in the back?”
Rose laughed and stepped behind me. “That’s what she said.” I felt her fingers against my back as she buttoned it up. “This is so pretty, Cam.”
“How the hell am I going to get in and out of it by myself?”
“You’re not,” Rose said. “But lucky for you, you have Tyler to do it for you. I’m sure he won’t mind,” she said with a smirk as she stepped back to look into the mirror. “Yeah, that’s it, all right.”
Buttoned up, it was even prettier. I laid my palm on my stomach, finding it a little hard to believe that the girl in the mirror was me. “This is insane. Why haven’t I ever done this before? I didn’t know I could look like … this.”
Lily laughed. “Just wait until you’ve got heels and makeup on.”
“It’s so dumb. I mean, it’s just an article of clothing, but I feel transformed,” I said in wonder. And then terror washed over me at the thought of fixing my own hair and walking in heels through a banquet hall with Tyler. I swallowed hard. “How am I going to do this? I don’t think I can do this.”