Page 32 of Promising You
“Garret, I like the dress. It’s the type of dress I can wear a lot. Plus it’s black, which you know is my color. I’ll just keep it.”
“You don’t have to wear it to save my feelings. I don’t have a problem taking it back. Really, it’s not a big deal.”
“Did you pick it out or did someone else do it?”
“I kind of picked it out. I worked with the same woman who helped me with the dress I got you for the fundraiser. I described what I thought you’d like and she sent photos of some different options. Then I picked the one that looked most like you.”
The dress does look like something I would pick out. How does he know that about me? It’s not like we ever talk about clothing. He sees me in the same old boring clothes every day.
I get the dress back out of the closet. “I’ll keep the dress, but I need you to tell me next time. Ask me before you buy me any more dresses. Or any other clothing, okay? No more surprise purchases.”
I put the dress on. “Could you help me with the zipper?”
Garret’s dressed now, looking so freaking gorgeous with his dark suit, crisp white shirt, and silvery blue tie. He moves behind me, his hand on the zipper, pausing to kiss the back of my shoulder. “What about lingerie? Can I buy you that?”
“Yes. You can buy me that. I’m too embarrassed to buy it myself.”
He zips up my dress, then walks over to the dresser. He opens the top drawer, takes out a box, and hands it to me.
“Garret, seriously? When did you buy this?’
“Before we left. Open it.”
Inside the box is a cream-colored silk nightgown. Nightgown is not the right term but I don’t know lingerie terminology. It has thin straps and hits about mid-thigh. A pair of matching panties is also in the box, along with a matching robe. The whole set is very classy and elegant.
“Do you like it?”
“Yeah, I do.” I hold it up. “And I really like the color.”
“I almost got black, but then I changed my mind. I’ll get you black some other time.”
“You must’ve had someone else buy this. There’s no way you went in a store and shopped for lingerie.”
“Actually, I did. I went in this small shop a few towns over thinking nobody would be there and guess who walks in?”
“I don’t know. Ava?”
“Close. Sierra. She stands there wanting to talk, knowing I was trying to leave. But she didn’t see what I bought.”
“When did all this happen? We’ve been together since classes ended.”
“I went shopping the week of finals. I was going to give that to you when you got back from break. I was planning this whole welcome back night. But then you ended up staying here so I decided to save it for tonight.”
“I’m interested in what this welcome back night would’ve been like.”
“It was gonna be great.” He smiles. “But I guess you’ll never know. Now hurry up or we’ll be late and they’ll give our table away.”
As I put my makeup on, Garret goes in the other room and turns on the TV. I try my hair a bunch of different ways, but can’t decide what to do with it. “Garret, should I wear my hair up or down?”
“Up,” he calls back. “Down is for later.”
I smile, pulling my long, dark, wavy hair up into a loose and low knot at the nape of my neck, just like Harper showed me.
“I’m ready.” I slip my shoes on and meet him at the door.
“You’re more than ready. You’re beautiful.” He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses it, then opens the door for me.
We go to the hotel restaurant and have another really great dinner with more amazing views of the city. Again, there are no prices on the menu, so I’m sure it cost a fortune.
