Libby was excitedly droning on and on beside me, talking about the various new styles of dresses that were fashionable for the season. I looked around the store, instantly feeling overwhelmed. Perhaps seeing my distress, a saleswoman grinned as she made her way over to us.
“Good afternoon, ladies. Can I help you with anything?” she said. She was rather fashionably dressed herself, and I knew she would have had plenty of suggestions for us.
“We’re just looking around for now,” I said, before Libby got the chance to answer her. I had a feeling that Libby would have welcomed the woman’s help, but I didn’t want it. I never liked when salespeople hung over my shoulder, determined to make a sale, but confusing me with too many options. I preferred just taking my time and finding what I wanted on my own.
The saleswoman nodded her head. “Very well. Let me know if you need anything,” she said, and then headed toward another set of customers.
Libby nudged with her elbow. “She could have helped us find the perfect dresses!”
“We don’t need her. The perfect dresses will find us,” I said. “Come on.”
We began wandering the racks, stopping here and there to admire different gowns, and gathering ones we wanted to try on.
“I think I want something dark,” Libby mused. “You know, maybe like black, or navy blue, or forest green… Those colors aren’t necessarily in season, but they look good on me. I’ve always found dark colors to be more figure-flattering. How about you?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I’ve always preferred brighter colors. I’ve always been on the small side, so I feel like I need something to help me stand out. Otherwise, I’ll get lost in the crowd.”
Libby huffed. “Are you kidding me? Joanna, you are gorgeous. Nothing can make you get lost in the crowd!”
“I’m not so sure about that,” I said. I had heard similar sentiments as Libby’s. However, most people didn’t know how plain and insignificant I’d felt for the majority of my life, particularly when I was growing up as an impressionable teenager. No matter how I had blossomed in adulthood, those feelings still lingered and were difficult to overcome.
“I don’t mean to be a party pooper,” Libby said, “but how have things been going with you-know-who? I haven’t heard you say anything about him in a while.”
“Zander?” I said.
Libby nodded.
I sighed. “That’s because I’ve been trying my damned best not to think about him. He’s been… Well…”
“What?” Libby asked. “He hasn’t called you again, has he?”
I shook my head, knowing that what I’d been suspecting was a lot worse than a phone call. “No, but sometimes, I just get the feeling that I’m being watched.”
Libby froze, the latest dress she’d been admiring slipping from her hand to the floor. “He’s here?” she asked.
“No!” I said quickly. “He can’t be. He doesn’t know where I am.”
“Are you sure about that, or are you just in denial?”
“I’m positive,” I said, although it felt like an outright lie. I wanted to believe Zander couldn’t be anywhere nearby, but I could never lose sight of how unpredictable he was.
Libby breathed a sigh of relief and picked the dress up from the floor, hanging it back on the rack. “Well, what makes you think you’re being watched? And who do you think is watching you?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know. I wish I knew.”
“Anything strange happen lately?”
I nodded. “I didn’t want to say anything, but yes. The other day here, when I was leaving the office, I could have sworn someone was watching me in the parking lot. It really freaked me out. So much, in fact, that I ended up telling Tobias.”
“So he finally knows what’s going on? Good. What did he say about it?”
“He freaked out nearly as bad as you did when I told you about Zander’s call. Started talking about how I needed to get a restraining order, just to be on the safe side.”
“Your brother is a wise man then,” Libby said, nodding approvingly. “It would be nice if you listened to him…”
“Just like I told you, I told him that a restraining order wasn’t necessary. Even if Zander lucked out and found my office phone number, he has no chance of finding where I actually am. I was just tired that day and imagining things.”
However, a different thought began to occur to me.