“This dance next month. What is the dress code?” she asked.
“Like cocktail dresses and suits, nothing as elaborate as tuxes and formals.”
“I’ll have to buy something. I have a few nice dresses for gallery openings and such, but I don’t think I have a cocktail dress of any sort.”
“Let’s go find you one now.”
“What? No. I wasn’t hinting that you buy me one.”
“I know you weren’t, but I want to. Come on. It’s my dance and it’ll be fun.”
“Fun? You’re one of those guys that likes to shop?”
“Not necessarily, but you can be like my Barbie doll and I can play dress up with you.”
“Okay. That was so sexist that I don’t even know what to say about it.”
“You know I don’t mean anything by it. Let’s go find you a dress.”
“Alright, but only because I need a dress for your dance and I’m on a tight budget. Don’t plan on making it a habit.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“I’ll pay you back one day.”
“I’ll send you a bill,” he laughed.
She smiled and took another bite of her sandwich before pushing her plate away. Ryan stood up and tossed some cash down on the table.
“Come on. Let’s go see what we can find down at Catherine’s.”
“You know Catherine’s?”
“I know everything in this town.”
“Of course.”
Ryan watched as she flipped through the racks, pulling out several dresses.
“I’ll try these on,” she said.
‘You can sit out here, Ryan,” Catherine said from nearby, pointing toward a small bay of chairs. “Would you like something to drink?”
“No, Cat. Thank you,” he replied. Cat had been robbed last year, held at gunpoint. She was a bit jittery since and he was surprised that she hadn’t closed the store altogether.
“Your girlfriend is just darling.”
“Yes, she is,” he replied, not bothering to correct her. There had been no labels applied in his relationship with Lucy, but wasn’t she his girlfriend for all intents and purposes?
“Oh, that’s lovely,” Catherine said, turning her attention back toward the door of the dressing room as it opened.
Lucy smiled at her uncertainly and looked in the mirror before turning back to Ryan and holding out her arms in a gesture of silent “What do you think?’
“It’s gorgeous.”
“It is, but I’m not sure it’s quite me. Let me try on the others.”
She disappeared into the dressing room and returned in a dress that he hoped she didn’t buy. It was square and ill fitting. She went straight to the mirror and looked it over.
“I can get you that in a different size,” Catherine told her.
“No. Thanks, but I think I liked it better on the rack.”
The third time she came out, Ryan had to catch his breath. She was wearing the peach dress she had picked up. He didn’t know what the material was, but it seemed very delicate, clinging to her every curve with utter perfection. She was stunning.
“That is . . .wow,” was all he managed to say.
“I take it you like this one?”
“That’s an understatement.”
“It’s so soft. It’s chiffon. Come feel it.”
Ryan stood up and walked to her, running his hand down her hip across the material of the dress.
“I love it,” the told her before turning to Catherine. “We’ll take this one, Cat.”
“Great. Do you need shoes?”
“No. I’m sure I can find some.”
“Don’t be silly. Let her show you some shoes.”
“I just don’t want to take advantage.”
“You never could.”
“Come on,” Catherine told her, taking her off, still in the dress to find matching shoes. Ryan returned to his seat and waited. They returned shortly with a pair of nude colored heels in Cat’s hand. Lucy smiled at him and ducked back into the changing room to take the dress off. Cat rang the purchases up and put them in their boxes to take home.
Overall, it had been a good day. They stopped off at his place so he could change out of his uniform and he urged her to spend the night.
“I’m okay. I have a test in the morning, so I really need to get home and study.
“That’s too bad.”
“Can’t afford to flunk out in my final year.”
“Alright, let’s get you home, school girl.”
Ryan’s phone beeped and he looked down at it. It was Kate with the results of his facial recognition. She’d found several faces that resembled it, one of which looked like the man Lucy had sketched. He put the phone back in his pocket and they headed out to her place.
“You want to come in for a few minutes?” she asked.
“I thought you had to study.”
“I do, but I can spare a few minutes.”
“Sure. I’ll bring in your packages and I want to show you something anyway.”
“What’s that?”
They sat on the sofa and he pulled out his phone, showing her the photos Kate had sent him.
“Do any of these look familiar to you?’
Kate studied them, squinting at their faces on his phone screen. When he flipped to the last photo, she looked at it for a bit longer and then back up at him.