Page 76 of Power Play

I turned toward the mirrors.

I liked it.

The skirt moved beautifully, the fabric skimmed my waist without clinging, and the navy made my hair look warmer.

“It’s beautiful.”

Gabriella adjusted one shoulder. “The color is wonderful on her.”

Crystal smiled before narrowing her eyes slightly at my hair. “We definitely need the smoothing treatment.”

My gaze moved immediately toward the frizz around my temples.

Five seconds earlier, I had liked everything.

Now all I could see was my hair.

“The navy will photograph beautifully,” my mother continued.

“I like it.”

She smiled. “Then let’s hold it while we look at Maison Claire.”

I looked at her. “You don’t like it?”

“I do.”

“But?”

“There might be something extraordinary at the next appointment.”

My phone vibrated again.

Ryan: You straightening shit?

I looked down.

My fingers were aligning the hanger holding the ivory dress with the others.

A laugh escaped.

My mother glanced over. “Bliss again?”

“Yeah.”

The lie felt heavier this time.

Crystal smiled. “I’m glad you girls are still so close.”

“So am I.”

Maison Claire gave us seven more dresses, three glasses of sparkling water, and enough opinions to erase whatever remained of mine.

One made my hips look too narrow. Another made my shoulders look too sharp. A third needed better posture. A fourth would photograph better if my hair was up. The black gown looked beautiful until my mother remembered Aunt Elaine disliked black at celebratory events.

By the time we returned to Valentina’s for the navy dress, I couldn’t remember whether I had liked it because I actually liked it or because it had survived the longest.

Gabriella wrapped it carefully in tissue paper.