"Why?" Marv's brows were drawn over his sparkling, silver eyes. Confusion clouded his handsomeface.
I sighed. "Marv, I need to know how much it is to know if I can afford it." It was embarrassing to admit, but I wasn't sure if I could afford even a headband in this place. I didn't particularly like Lindsey, but neither did I want to waste hertime.
"It doesn't matter," Marv huffed. "I'm paying for it. So, tell me, do you want to try onmore?"
"Marvin," I said, enunciating his full name. "You can't buy me a dress." His eyes scanned up, just over my head, I imagined atLindsey.
"Can you give us a moment?" he asked. I heard the clicking of her heels as she walked away. He waited a few more moments with his hand firmly gripping my arm before his eyes turned back to mine. "Sunshine," he began quietly, and I thought I heard something else I couldn't name in his voice. "I'm going to buy you thisdress."
"I–" Marv pressed two fingers to my lips to silence myprotest.
"Not only is this something you're going to need very soon, but you forget, I've been in your room. I know you don't have anything like this." I flicked a panicked glance over at Texas and Bellamy; both watched on. Texas wasn't laughing now. "You take such good care of your mom, you have such a big heart, Sweetie. Let us take care of you for just a little bit. Can you trust us to do that?" He leaned closer as though he didn't want the others to hear his next words. "Can you let me dothat?"
“What about Iris?” I asked. “I mean, if I’m working for them, then you don’t have to spend yourmoney.”
He scratched his chin. “If it will make you feel better to think of it as Iris, then dothat.”
“Marv,” Iwarned.
He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. Iama part of Iris and therefore, technically Irisisbuying you thisdress.”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. I didn't want them to take care of me. I didn't know how I was supposed to let them. I hadn't had anyone to help me or take care of me in a long time. My mom was too sick. Michael was gone. Who would have? A part of me was scared, truly terrified that the moment they got what they wanted – my cooperation and assistance – they would pat me on the shoulder and usher me back to my life with a farewell smile. I didn't want to get so involved in them, only to be used and rejected in the end. Marv's tone of voice, especially around his last plea, felt more like he was asking something else, something more intimate. But could I really tell himno?
"What do you say?" his inquiry drew me back to him. I shook under hisstare.
"O-okay." I nodded. I would let him buy me a dress. It wasn't a commitment. It was for the party. Whatever they needed me for, they would need me dressedup.
In the end, I was pushed back into the dressing room with Lindsey who took the red dress away and presented me with a new selection. Most of the dresses were similar to the style of the one I had originally chosen. Some were more outrageous that others. Some were simpler. I glanced through several, tossing them out of the pile before I even set one foot in theirskirts.
It came down to four options: the original and Marv's personal favorite, an empire-waist, teal dress that Lindsey had actually admitted looked good, a red, sheath dress with an over skirt that opened in the front and flared out, or the very last dress I had tried on: a jewel encrusted bodice with a sweetheart neckline and loose fabric that fell longer in the back than the front – it was gorgeous. I hadn't yet shown the guys. Marv had already chosen a favorite and so had Bellamy – the red dress – and anything that made Lindsey admit that someone might just be pretty was something to be considered. But this dress...it made me feelstunning.
I stood for a few more moments in front of the mirror, twirling back and forth. It was Texas who came to the dressing room door asking for me. I took a deep breath and told him to go wait with the guys; I would be out in a moment. He grumbled good naturedly about ‘girls taking forever to get ready’, but proceeded to do as Iasked.
I slipped on a pair of thick heeled, silver pumps that Lindsey had given to me, “to get the full effect," she had said. I wanted that to convince the guys that this was right. I liked the other dresses, but I loved this one and wanted them to love ittoo.
Feeling more confident than I had in a long time, I strode to the front of the hallway of dressing rooms where the guys had congregated to sit in a collection of lavish settees. I closed my eyes, inhaled, and stepped out, opening them again. My eyes immediately went to Marv. His lips parted and his own eyes widened. A hand reached up to the knot of his bowtie. I glanced over to Bellamy, whose expression was blank, as though shock had wiped away all cohesive thought. Was that a good thing? Last was Texas, who had stood when Iexited.
"That's the one." His voice was practically a whisper, like he didn't want to destroy the magic. I nodded, smiling wide enough that my cheeks began to hurt. I spun in a circle, staring down to watch how the dressflowed.
"I love it," Ibeamed.
Marv cleared his throat. "Yes...well, um...it's certainly..." He turned to Lindsey, who stood silently off to the side. "We'll takeit."
Thirty minutes and two hundred dollars later – I almost choked over how much the dress cost – and I was back in the front seat of the SUV with all three guys. "Where'syourcar?" I peered back atMarv.
"I caught a ride here," hesaid.
"Oh." I sat back in my seat as Bellamy drove. "So, whatnow?"
"Hmmm?" Marvanswered.
"I mean, what do we do now?" I repeated. "Are you going to teach me more self-defense? Do I need to know anything for thisparty?"
"No."
I huffed in irritation, flipping back to glare at him. "No, you're not going to teach me more self-defense or no, I don't need to know anything for thisparty?"
Marv scrolled through something on his phone. "Both."