Page 2 of Under His Skin

Waverley turned to see a willowy saleswoman with long brown hair and red-tinged lips smiling in her direction.

“Can I help you find something?”

This was what she was talking about. Coming here was the right decision. But she owed it to Janet to let her have first dibs.

She offered an apologetic smile to the woman. “I’m good, thank you, but—”

Whatever she was going to say next was cut off by a high-pitched voice behind her. “Yes. I was looking for something for a party I’m going to tonight. Do you carry Stella McCartney?”

Slightly bewildered, Waverley glanced behind her to find a striking blond woman who was staring down at something on her phone as she walked. The phone’s distraction was probably why she thought the saleswoman was talking to her, when it was clear that she—

“We do, if you want to follow me,” said the willowy saleslady, whose tag identified her as Brenda. “I can show you a couple new markdowns and a few other styles that just came in. You’re probably a two, correct?”

With the blonde following, Brenda turned and led her away, leaving Waverley standing there.

Humiliation and horror washed over her in waves.

Keep smiling, Waverley. Pretend nothing happened.

A difficult feat as she blinked furiously to keep back the tears that threatened.

Sucking in some air, she continued walking. She could salvage this.

By the time she reached Janet, she was speaking to another sales associate, a younger redhead who, when she saw Waverley approach, didn’t pause her conversation.

“Janet? Hi,” Waverley said and waited for Janet to turn and recognize her.

Janet’s brown eyes looked back at her in confusion. There was nothing in their depths that indicated she knew her.

“It’s Waverley Johns—Abbott,” she corrected then waited expectantly, willing the woman to see her.

Really see her like no one else had today.

There was shock in Janet’s eyes followed by recognition, and then an uneasy smile spread across her face. “Yes, Waverley. How nice to see you. What can I help you with?”

“I need a dress,” she said, trying to play it cool and like she wasn’t in the midst of a panic attack. “My father is hosting a party tonight and I need something appropriate for the event.”

There was a pause as the woman looked Waverley over, top to bottom. “For tonight?”

“I’m afraid so. Nothing flashy though. Black would be great. I saw a dress online, I think it was a Badgley Mischka. It had some pearl embellishments along the neckline.”

Janet cleared her throat. “Yes, I think I know which dress you’re talking about. But I’m afraid we’re not going to have that one in your size.”

We haven’t even talked about my size yet.

“No? Oh, um, I thought I saw some available in a variety of sizes. Maybe you have something similar you might recommend instead?”

“I’m afraid we only carry up to a size twelve here in our store. Our more expanded plus sizes are only available online. I could order you a few different selections, but they wouldn’t get here for at least two days with the holiday.”

And Waverley had thought her humiliation had been complete a few minutes before.

She’d give up entirely right now if the prospect of returning home with nothing to wear to tonight’s event wasn’t more daunting.

“It’s just that I really need something for tonight,” she said, hating how pleading her voice had become. “You really don’t carry anything that would work?”

The two sales associates glanced at each other, not saying anything, but their derision was clear. “Nothing in our designer selection, I’m afraid,” Janet said just as the redhead caught sight of a new customer arriving in the section and, after casting a sympathetic smile at her coworker, scurried away. “Have you tried that plus-sized shop around the corner?”

“N-not yet. I thought I’d check here first.”

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