Help Me by Clara Bayard Page B

that ended in a soft vee low between my breasts. It hung a bit weird around the waist because of the open zipper, and then skimmed over my hips with a tiny flare that highlighted my hourglass shape.
    “Don’t fall in, Narcissus,” Trey drawled from behind me.
    I spun around and giggled nervously. “No chance of me falling in love with my own reflection.”
    “Ah, you got the reference.”
    “I just graduated from college with a Literature degree. Useless for anything but trivia.”
    “I’m sure that’s not true,” Trey said, but his voice was distant and somewhat vague. His eyes were glued to the dress.
    “What? Is it terrible? Oh, don’t tell me it’s terrible. This is my favorite one so far.”
    He shook his head but wouldn’t meet my gaze. “Turn around so I can zip you.”
    I did, feeling deflated. I knew it wasn’t perfect, but I thought he’d at least pretend to like it. As soon as he zipped me up I turned and pushed him out of the dressing room.
    “Go see if you can find Rose, okay? I want to get this off so I can move on to the next one.”
    “Why do you sound so glum all of the sudden?”
    “I’m not. I just…none of these are me. These are dresses for tall beautiful girls.”
    Trey grabbed my arm and pulled me out into the waiting area. “You’re an idiot.”
    “Thanks,” I replied, frowning.
    “Fuck, Amanda. You look amazing. Stunning. Gorgeous. And really damned sexy.”
    “I…what?” There was a mirror out here and I glanced at it. The dress did hang much better zipped up. But still. It was just me in it. “You had too much beer, Trey.”
    “Stop it. Look at you,” he said. “No, don’t stare at some tiny part you think is a flaw. Look at you . You’re perfect.”
    I blushed and shook my head. “Far from it.”
    “Yes, you are. You just don’t know what perfect means. It isn’t looking just like the model you saw walking the runway in that dress or the actress who wore it on a magazine cover. Perfect is the way the silk lays just right to highlight your cleavage. The way the skirt skims your hips. The way the whole thing makes me want to drag you back into that dressing room and tear that thousand dollar dress off of you right this second.”

Chapter Six
    He stared at me for a long time and in his face I saw the truth in his words. He meant it. He wanted it. Wanted me. And for a second, I saw what he did. Felt it too. Heat flared deep within me and I took a step forward.
    A strong hand ran up my arm, leaving goosebumps in its wake. His eyes were hooded, his lips slightly parted. As our bodies came closer together everything else fell away. The soft music playing in the background, the lightly perfumed air. The lights, the other people in the store all disappeared. Trey and I existed in a tiny bubble universe there, alone together.
    “Trey…” I started.
    But just like that, the sound of my voice popped our little bubble, breaking the spell. He shook his head and stepped backwards.
    “Shit, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Any of it. What I meant to say is, you look really nice. We should get this dress.” He turned away and went back to his bench. In a second he’d picked up his tablet again and it was as if nothing had ever happened.
    My heart ached a little as I went back into the dressing room to change back into my own clothes. I was done shopping for the day.
    Rose came back while I was putting my shoes on. She carried an armload of lovely things, but this time I wasn’t interested.
    “I’m sorry,” I said. “I have to go.” I walked out of the dressing room before she had a chance to respond. Trey was at the counter talking to one of the other women who worked there. I glanced over, but wasn’t ready to face him, so I just went outside without saying anything.
    So many thoughts were zooming around in my brain that I couldn’t catch any of them. I leaned against the wall and watched people strolling past the boutique. There was a woman walking