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“What?”

“My bossiness.”

“No,” he tells me. “I appreciate it.”

That makes me smile.

Nick follows me to my closet, still carrying Fernando.

“Friends help each other pick out outfits,” I say, flipping through dresses. “What should I wear?”

“I don’t know,” he says.

I stop and look at him. “Haven’t you ever had a female friend?”

“Not like this,” he admits.

“You’re missing out. This is where all the best gossip happens.” I pull out two dresses. “Which one?”

“Either one,” he says.

“What’s your favorite color?” I ask, shoving them back onto the rack as my eyes scan across the many colors.

“Green,” he says without hesitation. “Like the color of your eyes.”

I grin and pull out my emerald silk dress. “Turn around.”

“Seriously?”

“Unless you want a show.”

“I mean …”

“Nick!”

He turns, covering his eyes with Fernando. “The llama sees nothing.”

I drop the towel and slip into the dress quickly. “Okay.”

He turns back, and his mouth falls open slightly. “That’s … you’re …”

“Words are sometimes hard.”

“You’re going to cause accidents.”

“Don’t flatter me,” I say with a laugh.

“Honest.” He sets Fernando down and moves closer. “You look incredible.”

“It’s just a dress.”

“It’s never just anything with you.” He reaches out, fingers barely grazing the silk at my waist. “Tonight will be torturous.”

“Why?” I ask, picking up the towel and doing my best to dry my hair.

“Because I’ll have to perform through dinner, pretending you’re mine as everyone wishes you were theirs.”

I laugh. “So, sell it. Let them know I’m yours. Give no doubts.”