Page 36 (1/2)

I sigh and give up all hope of understanding anything Then I change out of the red dress and into the black one and presenta slow staccato rhyth ate every inch of e It’s so e, I cover my face with my hands

"Stop hidin’, lass You’re not ten years old"

"Ugh"

"Look at e and look at hi me self-conscious"

"Why?"

"Because you look like you’re about to puke!"

He stares attime in cavernous, terrible silence, his eyes black, his brows drawn together, that spasticaround like crazy "Lass"

"What?"

"What you know about men wouldn’t fill a teaspoon"

I crossmy chin in a fake show of bravery "I don’t knohat that’s supposed to e of his nose and exhales heavily, closing his eyes He mutters, "For the love of all that’s holy, this woexpectantly at Cam The saleslady hovers nervously a few feet behind him

Cam rises to his feet "Aye Let’s talk over there"

They walk away, and I run back into the dressing roo my ankle on the way as I stumble over an invisible imperfection in the carpet

No,feet

Now I re

In the cab on the way home, Cam is silent I try several times to make conversation, but when he only halfheartedly responds, I give up and take to staring out theinstead

I ended up buying the red dress It’s folded on the seat between us in a gar, probably just as confused as I am as to why everyone’s so tense

On the ride up the elevator, I thank Cam for all his help He seems to think that’s really funny, but I have no idea why

When I ask him if he’d like to have dinner with Mrs Dinwiddle and ht--he politely declines, saying he’s e

I’m stupidly deflated by that news but tell hiives ma

When he quietly closes his apart what I did wrong, replaying the whole day over and over in my mind

I don’t knohat happened, but I’ to fix it

Dinner with Mrs Dinwiddle is a blur Onfull of beauty products and tells me I must use the hot oil conditioner on oes to visit her sister in Cornwall in the spring I agree quickly, because although her dogs are cute, they’re also psychotic

I sleep fitfully and don’t dreaoes off at 4:30 a in It’s still hell, of course, but even thougho I’d actually be enjoying exercise, I’d have told him to seek psychiatric help, but here we are

Thanks to Cam