“I’m fine,” said Andy.
“You don’t look fine,” she said.
“I’m allergic to perfume.”
“That can’t even be possible.”
Andy said nothing.
“Look, I’m sorry I roped you into this wedding date thing. If you’re uncomfortable, we can call the whole thing off.” She stopped and turned to face him in the aisle as Phoenix and Raya wandered further into the store.
He couldn’t look her in the eye. “I’m just worried,” he said.
“About what?”
“I’m worried that I won’t do a good enough job for you.”
Was she buying it?
Her gaze caught his. “Is that all? I think you’re doing wonderfully. I couldn’t ask for a better pretend boyfriend.”
The double-edged compliment cut Andy like an angel’s sword. “Thank you,” he said.
They hurried to catch up with Raya and Phoenix, who were having a tug of war over a dress.
“This one is too short,” said Raya.
“It’s just the right amount of too short,” said Phoenix.
Raya rolled her eyes. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Who makes these rules, anyway?” said Phoenix. “Too short. Wrong color. Too revealing. You mortals bedevil yourselves better than I ever could.” He won the tug of war but dropped the dress on the rack with a look of exasperation.
“Children, children,” said Andy, relieved to be in a situation in which he could maintain some semblance of control. “Stop fighting.” He turned to Erin. “Honey, do you see anything you like?”
The other three stared at him.
“What?” said Andy.
“Honey?” said Raya.
“Oh, sweetie darling!” said Phoenix, elbowing Raya.
They both collapsed into snickers.
“I like it,” said Erin, releasing Andy’s hand and threading her arm through his in a gesture of apparent solidarity. “Darling,” she added, bumping him playfully with her hip.
Andy beamed.
“Keep this up and you two are going to disgust everyone at that wedding,” said Phoenix.
“That’s the whole idea,” said Erin. “Now can we focus?”
“How about this one?” said Raya. She lifted a dress from another rack and held it up.
“That’s more like it,” said Erin. She took the dress and held it up against herself. “I’m going to try this one on. Raya, will you help me zip up?”
The women left for the fitting room.
