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She shrugged. “I’m not wrong though, am I?”
I sighed. She wasn’t wrong. “I’m not even sure I need to go shopping. I have some beautiful dresses at home that Mother could ship me.”
“No!” Anna was horrified. “Of course you need a new dress! Tanner, tell her she needs a new dress!”
We both looked over at my best friend who was walking back from throwing our lunch trash away.
“Mia, you need a new dress.” I rolled my eyes. He didn’t even know what we were talking about. But I guessed there was no harm in getting something new for the ball.
“Alright, we can go—” I could barely get the words out before Anna was up, grabbing our coats, and pulling me toward the door. “Okay, I guess we’re goingnow. Bye, Tanner!”
He smirked and waved at us, knowing I was about to get eaten alive by the fashion police.
Modern Modiste was a small boutique in downtown Briar Lake, and Simone had been running it for years. I had gotten several dresses from her over my years at Briar Lake Prep when I needed something for one of my father’s events. This might be the first dress I could really pick out for myself. As if Anna would ever allow that…
“My girls!Bienvenue!Welcome!” Simone greeted us in her soft French accent and took our coats, before turning back with an excited face. “Oh! An omega! Congratulations, Miss Mia!”
I blushed. “How did you know?”
“Well, I can see your new collar,” she pointed out with a smile. “It’s lovely, by the way. But I’ve been busy all day with omegas who need a gown for the ball. Also, you smell a little floral, maybe roses, and I never noticed that before. Yourparfumis coming in.” She grinned like a proud grandmother.
I looked over at Anna. “Could you tell?”
She sniffed me and thought for a moment. “I didn’t pick up on it before, but now that she’s mentioned it, I can smell it.”
“Roses, huh?” I thought about it for a minute. Roses would be a nice scent to carry around all the time.
“Not quite roses,” Simone clarified. “But something floral…” she trailed off, wafting her hands toward herself as if calling the answer to her.
“Either way, that’s a great scent!” Anna cheered. “Much better than like… butter.”
Simone and I both cringed and then laughed. It could happen to some poor soul.
“So what do you think you’re looking for?” Simone asked, directing me to the ball gowns.
“I’m not sure yet. Something feminine, but modest.” I didn’t have to look at Anna to know she was rolling her eyes.
“Boring!” she whined.
Simone lovingly patted her back and said, “Your turn will come, sweet Anna. For now, let’s let Mia choose what she’d like.” I could’ve kissed her. “Look around, and let me know what you’d like to try on.” She floated away, and Anna and I started admiring the dresses. There were full princess ball gowns and slinky, little sheath dresses. There was lace and silk and sequins and even simple cotton. That last one seemed tempting actually.
I pulled a few to try, and Anna pulled twice as many, but we both agreed on just one.
A fitted, white, satin gown with a high neck and long sheer sleeves. But the perfect touch was that the dress was covered in a scattering of white pearls that matched my collar.
“This is it, right?” I asked Anna while twirling in the mirrors like a little girl playing dress-up.
“Yes, this is it. It’s perfectly you.” Her smile was genuine, and I knew she approved. She turned to the front of the boutique, waving an arm in victory. “Simone, we found a winner!”
Chapter Seven
CEDAR: Snow Ball. Saturday 8pm. Briar Lake Prep Grand Ballroom. Attendance is mandatory. No reply needed.
Anna fussed over me for hours. At one point, she removed all of my makeup and started over. You’d think as the older sister I would be the one doing makeup for the little sister, but no. She was better at it, and we both knew it, so I tried to sit still while she worked.
“I steamed your dress for you. It’s hanging in your closet, and your mask is sitting on the counter.” I knew she was trying to keep me focused and calm with these little details, and it was a sweet gesture.
“Thank you,” I sighed. “I’m nervous and excited and ready for tonight to be over.”
