“Not that one.”
Pausing in my perusing, I look at the man who must be the one trying to give his opinion on my shopping choices.
I’ll admit it, he is cute with a smart vibe emanating from his casual attire. He looks very put together in his blue plaid button down and light blue jeans. The green in the plaid draws attention to his equally green eyes, making both pop.
“That shirt you have been holding up for the past minute will look too frumpy on you. I wouldn’t even waste your time.”
I humph. “For one, I try on everything that catches my eye before I determine whether I’d consider buying it. And two, who makes you an expert on how clothes would look on me?”
I watch as his eyes glance quickly down at what I am wearing. Knowing what he saw, I blush. There is a reason I am shopping for clothes.
“Sawyer!” At the sudden noise, the man in front of me stops with a grimace and glances towards the dressing room. “Sawyer!” She yells again.
“Sounds like your girlfriend needs you.” I chuckle.
He rolls his eyes. “My sister can wait two seconds.” Striding over, he stretches out his hand. “I’m Sawyer.”
“You know, I kind of guessed that already.” I cock my head to the side with a smile as I shake his hand.
“And you are…” He prompts.
“Sawyer!” This time a small sprite of a teenager comes storming out of the dressing room, almost running me over.
Hands on her hips she stands between Sawyer and me. “You didn’t answer me.”
“Lilah, I wasn’t going to holler through the store as you were.”
Instantly Lilah spins around to face me. “You can help me!” She squeals, grabbing my hand, hauling me in the direction of the dressing room.
Startled as I am, I allow myself to be steered to the dressing room she had just vacated.
When I look back, Sawyer shoots me a look of apology. When we reach the room I find a variety of dresses hanging all over the walls.
“Help.” Lilah sighs.
Mind whirling, I take in the variety of dresses, from sun dresses to maxi dresses to a few formal dresses. “Ummm.” I glance at Sawyer and he gives me a grin that makes my toes curl and my stomach leap. “I guess my first question would be what are you looking for?”
“A dress.” Lilah’s shoulders slump, as if my question tells her how unhelpful I am going to be.
“Yes, I already gathered that. But what I am asking is what purpose is the dress serving. Are you looking to go to prom?” I point to the formal ones. “Or are you wanting to look cute at a beach party? Or is it an everyday sort of dress that you can wear?”
Instantly Lilah brightens. “School mostly. I am giving a speech on Friday. So I want formal but not too much and cool enough that I don’t look like a deadbeat dud”
“Do you mind if I take a few of these out so we can look at your options?” I gather up all the dresses that wouldn’t work.
Lilah called out so the whole store could hear her again. “I like her Sawyer. Where did you find her?”
Sawyer groans. “Lilah, she isn’t a lost puppy. I didn’t find her and you can’t keep her. She came here to shop for herself, not you.”
I can practically hear her pouting. “Aww come on. The girls you date are never this nice. Why can’t you go out with her?”
“With how nosy and pesky you are being right now, I doubt she’d go on a date with me.”
I ignore them both and finish clearing out almost half the dresses that are cluttering up the space. Then I spread out the rest so they are all hanging up.
“Have you tried all of these on?” I ask her, refusing to look over at Sawyer. I was beginning to wish he would ask me out.
“Not all of them. I tried the green one but I hadn’t gotten to the others yet.” Lilah smiles weakly, shrugging.
“How about this; you try on each dress and we can talk about what you like and don’t like about each one. It’ll help you narrow it down.”
With an eager nod Lilah grabs the first dress and closes the door with a grin.
Sawyer flashes me a half grin. “You can escape and continue shopping while she’s distracted. I can help her figure out a dress.”
“Sometimes girls just need another girl to talk to while they are trying things on. And you don’t qualify.” I sit down on one of the chairs set outside the dressing room. Sawyer sits in the one right next to me. “How did you get roped into taking your sister dress shopping?”
“I’m here for the weekend and mom had work. And for some reason Lilah likes dragging me shopping.” He shrugs. “I don’t mind.”
“Here for the weekend? From where?”
“I’m at school a few hours north, studying microbiology. I come home most every weekend if I can manage it.”
Lilah pops out with a pink floral maxi on. “Ta da!” She gives a spin.
“Do you like it?” I ask.
She nods.
“Do you love it?”
Again she nods, still twirling.
“Anything wrong with it?”
Turning this way and that in front of the mirror Lilah looks like she’s thinking hard. “I’m not sure I want a dress that goes all the way to the floor.” She giggles. “But it makes me feel and look so grown up!”
“Ok so keep that one and try on another.” I suggest.
Lilah grabs a deep purple skater dress and disappears.
Sawyer turns his head to look at me. “You are a marvel.”
“Why? Because I am willing to help your sister?”
“No. Because you are letting her help herself instead of telling her which dress she should get.”
Sawyer leans back in his seat as I shrug. “You found me out.”
Lilah and I go through several more dresses while Sawyer and I chat between dress changes. Surprisingly I learn more about him then I usually do when on an actual date. He also somehow manages to learn that I am going to school online so that I could stay in town to be near my dad who suffers from intense anxiety.
By the time Lilah picks the one she wants, I am hoping Sawyer would at least ask for my number. I don’t want this to be the last time I talk to him.
“Well, I guess I’ll get back to my shopping.” Giving them some space, I move back to the racks as they move to go pay. I catch a glimpse of Lilah glaring at Sawyer.
Out of the corner of my eye I watch them pay for her dress while I browse through the racks. When I see Lilah prance to the door my shoulders slump a little. However Sawyer makes his way over to me, and my heart begins thudding, thumping, and twisting in my chest all at once.
“I couldn’t leave.” Sawyer blurts when he is close enough. “Could I get your number? And your name?” He smiles. “I’d like to ask you out on a date.”
