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Looking to my left, I saw a shop full of stunning dresses ranging from what you’d wear for a fancy date night to ballgowns that would fulfill any woman’s dreams. Yun-Sun held open the door for Lysse to enter, ducking slightly so I didn’t hit my head. Once we reached the center of the store, he let me slide down.

The shop looked like a fairy garden vomited all over the place. Lush velvet chairs in jewel tones were scattered around the space. The walls were brick but covered in ivy and other flowering greenery. Wisteria hung from the ceiling, and the lights were all crystal chandeliers sending glittering rainbow light all over the store. When I finally got to absorbing the fact there were racks of dresses in every color I could think of, I almost fainted with excitement. Waffles took up position behind me, offering his support and giving me something to lean on.

“Whoa,” I managed to say, covering my mouth with my hands, feeling so overwhelmed.

Vili, grinning like a cat who’d just been given a bowl of cream, bowed and extended a hand to me. “Mrs. Thatcher, would you go to the ballet with me tonight?”

A squeal of joy burst out of me as I did a little happy dance before leaping into Vili’s arms. “Yes, oh my God, yes. I would love to go to the ballet with you.”

Vili cuddled me close, purring his delight before setting me down. “Then, my kitten, pick your dress.”

Gawking at him, I tried to say something but instead just impersonated that silly signing fish as I flapped about. “I-I get to pick a dress from here?”

“Of course, why else would we come?” Vili questioned, trying not to laugh at my reaction.

“This is like that moment in all those romantic movies every woman dreams of,” I blurted as I looked around the shop. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“Maybe I can be of some help,” a woman around my age offered as she approached us.

She looked like an elf with her delicate bone structure, bright tawny-brown eyes, and shoulder-length cotton-candy pink hair. Instantly, I wanted to be her best friend.

“Zelly,” Vili greeted eagerly. “I didn’t know you were in town. Is Elora here too?”

“No, big sis is home doing some interviews for her new album that’s releasing in two weeks. Since the music is done and she didn’t need me for a while, I decided to visit Mom and Dad. Mom mentioned you’d be stopping by with your new bonded Omega and figured it would be fun to help,” Zelly explained.

She then turned to me with a giant grin blooming on her face as she held out her hand. “Name’s Zelia, but most people call me Zelly.”

I took her hand, impressed with the strong grip she had. “Bailey-Rose, it’s so nice to meet you, Zelly.”

“God, you have amazing style,” Zelly added, twirling me around. “This is going to be so much fun. Come on, B-Rose, let’s find you some dresses.”

And like that, I was swept away in the current that is Zelly. Every so often, she’d pull out a dress and hold it up to me then shake her head or toss it on the rack she dragged with us. In a matter of minutes, I had twenty different dresses to try on, and that was only looking through half the shop. Zelly hurried me into the large dressing room and, without batting an eye, helped me undress.

“Um, Zelly…” I started to say, only to have a face full of tulle as she dropped a dress over my head.

“Sorry, what was that?” Zelly asked, pulling the dress into place.

“I’m fine to try these on myself,” I shared as she spun me around so she could zip up the dress.

Zelly looked at me in the mirror, cocking her head as she took in the dress. “It’s no big deal. I help my sister when she’s on tour for outfit changes. I promise I’m not a creepy creeper, and you’d need help with the zipper anyway.”

It was clear this was a losing battle, so I just let the matter drop and focused on the dress. It was a pretty shade of purple with gauzy sleeves and lace stitched on to make it look like it was covered in white ivy. “It’s nice…”

“Only if you were trying to get your baby brother back from the Goblin King,” Zelly commented as she started to unzip me.

“Oh my God, you know the Labyrinth?” I asked, shoving the dress down and stepping out. “I love that movie.”

“Of course you do because whimsical fairies like ourselves eat up that shit.” Zelly chuckled. “Let’s go more Stardust this time.”

This dress had more of a fitted bodice and loose skirt for more of that vintage look. We both looked at it, and instantly, I was kicking it off. Five more dresses of various styles later, Zelly sat down on the mushroom puff stool, cross-legged, tapping her chin as she stared at the dresses left. I sorted through the options, but none of them called to me.

“Of course,” Zelly exclaimed. “You’re Alice.”

“I’m what?” I questioned, but she was already racing out of the dressing room.

“Ah… Care Bear, you two doing okay in here?” Warrick asked, peeking behind the curtain. “Holy shit, it looks like pageant queen hurricane blew through here.”

That had me giggling as I took in the disaster of dresses thrown all over the place.