The Four Beta Brothers – Chapter 36
JUNIPER
Axel handed me a pile of dresses in all different shapes and styles and then guided me to the dressing room. I picked a champagne-colored dress to try on first. It was a slender fit all the way down my body. It pooled at my feet, making it clear the dress originally belonged to someone easily over six feet tall. The chest also hung loosely on me.
As I looked in the mirror, I hated how I looked. I felt like a child playing dress up.
r side of the dressing room.
ll at all.” I turned in the mirror and cringed.
our size.”
hat make clothing fit well.”
ow.
at the thought. I never wanted anyone to see me in something l
sing room. I jumped when Axel’s head popped over the top of the door.
but his tone didn’t match his words. His eyes narrowed as he looked over the dress.
t, trying to hide how ill fitting the dress was, but I knew it was too late. “I told you I didn’t want you to see.”
was the only way.”
e and exposed, knowing there was nowhere to hide in here.
ve been a nice treat.”
ed from his comment, and I knew he
to have input on all of your dresses so I can find the perfect fit.”
You just want to make fun of me for some of the ridiculous dr
ps, but it doesn’t make the oth
es. Now get down so I can get changed.”
felt both wrong and right.
It was something about the color that I didn’t like. The red seemed to wash out my skin.
d at me for a moment before letting a puff of air escape in laughter.
y time I come out of the dressing room, I’m not going to show you any other dresses.”
dress? It looks like you have a tail feather.
bric flutter like a tail.
ck out for me? Do you want me to get bullied even more?”
uld only imagine Moira’s reaction to a dress like this, and the idea of the cringe on her face made me laugh even more. It was almost enough to be tempted
g us both laugh.
ghter died down.
step back. “Guess I’m not a good volunteer then.”
ctually suitable options?” I was having fun with Axel, but I didn’t want to spend all day putting on ridiculous dresse
on the purple one next.”
signs that he was messing with me, but his face was completely serious. “Okay, but if it makes me look like any animal, I’ll make you regret it.”
“It won’t. I pr
le dress Axel mentioned. I looked it over, and it didn’t have any obvious malformities or strange additions.
t it wouldn’t budge. I bit my cheek, trying to hold in a groan of frustration.
thing okay in there?” Axel sounded like he was right outside of the door.
e zipper again. That time I failed to hold in my groan. Knowing I wouldn’t be successful on my own, I pressed my left hand over the bodice to make sure the dress didn’t fa
“The zipper is stuck
said each word with hesitancy.
”
ipped inside with me before shutting it behind him. “Turn around.”
, and I watched him move in the mirror.
but he held them steady as he grabbed the zipper. He tugged on it gently, testing it out. When it didn’t wor
when he was done, his fingers lingered at the back of my neck.
sleeves of the dress, and then his fingers ran down my arms.
reathe as he looked at me. There was a longing in his eyes, and his unspoken words filled the air. Thoughts of what if filled my own thoughts, and I swallowed hard, feeling a thrum in my skin, setting my nerves on fire. A part of me ached for the alternative, wondering how things would’ve turned out if I had picked Axel instead of Asher.
another word.
p.”
tared at each other through the mirror, and several moments passed before either of us spoke. It was as if we wanted to treasure this moment, knowing that these stolen moments were all we would
ack. “So what do you think? Is it everything you ever wanted?”
y shoulders, and the bodice was tight.
sparkles inlaid throughout it. I twirled back and forth, making the skirt sparkle under the lights.
long time.