Page 57 of His Choice

“The look is supposed to reflect you, right? But it still needs to be sexy. So, we’re going to make you look like the studious, serious boy you are—only in a staged quiet moment of you reading in your bedroom.”

“How is that sexy?” I wondered.

“Because you’ll be wearing only a pair of pajama bottoms,” he answered.

Considering everyone had already seen me shirtless, the suggestion didn’t seem too frightening. I wasn’t sure it would impress anyone, but at least it wouldn’t make me uncomfortable.

“Okay,” I agreed.

“Yeah?” He seemed surprised by my quick approval.

“It beats putting on a pair of adult diapers. Can you believe Dani was considering those?”

Aaron chuckled. “Please tell me people who are into that scene don’t make a mess in them, too. So gross.”

I began rummaging through the pajama selection, looking for a pair of men’s small. They were all cheap polyester, and the patterns were generally awful. I held up a pair for Aaron to see. “Maybe these? Plaid?”

Aaron shook his head. “Red and green? Too Christmasy-looking for this weather.” He pulled out a pair that had a print of little puppies. “Here. Wear these.”

I frowned. “Aren’t they kind of dorky for a grown man to wear?”

Aaron nodded. “Yes. They said to put on something that reflects your personality.”

He had the ability to deliver a putdown with a straight face, and it just made me laugh more. “Asshole.”

He ignored me. “One of the dressing rooms is free. Go change. No underwear underneath.”

“Why not? How would Cliff know if I have on underwear?” I challenged.

Aaron rolled his eyes. “Because you’re going to wear them as low on your hips as possible without showing off the goods. You’re supposed to look sexy, remember?”

“Oh no,” I protested. “I didn’t agree to that.”

He shoved me toward one of the three-sided closets that had a curtain on the front where people were expected to change. “Nobody asked your opinion. You said you trust me. Just do it or kiss winning this thing goodbye.”

I harrumphed. “Fine! What are you going to wear? It had better be just as revealing.”

Aaron smirked. “You’re the one who wants Cliff.”

“But you need to pretend to for now,” I reminded him, looking around the store. “If it’s supposed to reflect who you are, you could put on that devil costume. It’s sexy, considering it’s just red bikini briefs, boots, and a pair of horns.”

“Are you still talking? Go change while I find something better suited for me—something angelic.”

“Yeah, right,” I mumbled.

“Call me when you’re ready,” he ordered. “I’ll make sure you look good before you commit to the outfit.”

I closed the curtain behind me after entering the dressing room, checking the perimeter of the space to make sure it didn’t have cameras. The establishment seemed seedy enough where it wouldn’t have been a shock.

Even though I was silently cursing Aaron for his bossiness and insistence that I show more skin than I had intended, I had to admit his bedroom bookworm idea was a better choice than anything I could have found in the costume area. Despite the way he enjoyed needling me, Aaron somehow seemed to know what’s best for me more often than I did.

After removing and folding my shirt and jeans, I piled them on a corner stool. I slid off my underwear as Aaron had instructed. I rushed the pajama bottoms up my legs, fearful that one of the contestants would be careless enough to enter the room, even though the drapes were closed. Once I was covered, I put on the glasses that Aaron had loaned me and assessed myself in the full-length mirror. I was surprised that the outfit did make me look kind of attractive in a nerd-boy sort of way.

“Are you done yet?” Aaron asked from outside the curtain. “I see the pajamas are on.”

I turned, looking down toward my feet. I hadn’t realized the hem of the curtain was at least a foot from the floor. I whipped the drape aside. Aaron stood with his arms crossed as he stared me up and down.

“Well?” I asked, hoping he would agree that this look would be good enough.