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“I’m proficient enough at both.”
“All right then.” She pulled a deck of cards from a drawer and slapped them down. “Your deal.”
Chapter11
“No.” Katie shook her head. In the floor-length mirror, her gaze traveled the length of Avery’s body. “No, no, no.”
Avery took in her outfit: stretchy jeans, a nice black top, and flip-flops. Okay, maybe the sandals had seen better days. “It’s just a casual dinner, and I’m really not looking to impress Rick.”
But Katie was already at the closet door, still in her scrubs, riffling through Avery’s clothes. “It’s your first date in ages. Do it for yourself. You used to enjoy getting dressed up. You’ve just grown accustomed to the scrub life and forgotten what it feels like get all dolled up.”
Avery studied her appearance. “It’s not that bad.”
“You’re a beautiful woman with a great body.” Katie’s voice echoed from the depths of Avery’s closet. “You shouldn’t hide it with baggy shirts and unflattering jeans. If I had long legs like yours, I’d wear dresses twenty-four seven.”
Katie might not be tall, but she was adorably petite. Add in heralmond-shaped blue eyes and gorgeous blonde waves and Avery could see why both her brothers fell for her.
“Good grief, have you bought anything new since college?”
“I’ve been a little busy with the clinic.”
“Do you even have any dresses in here? I had no idea scrubs came in so many colors—or that people actually hung them up.”
“That’s why they’re never wrinkled.”
“Aha! Ugh, never mind. Positively shapeless. Just for tonight you need a new look.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my look. It says...” Avery met her own gaze in the mirror and lifted her chin. “It says I’m confident. I’m comfortable with myself.”
Katie tossed a glance over her shoulder. “It just says you’re comfortable. Oh! Here we are. How about this one?” She held out a hanger, holding a short black dress.
“I bought that for med school graduation.”
“Well, it’s perfect for tonight. Put it on. Where are your shoes?”
Avery took the dress. “Right there on the floor.”
“This is it? You have four pairs of shoes?”
“Five, if you count the ones I’m wearing.”
“I don’t,” Katie muttered. She heaved a sigh and grabbed the black flats. “Luckily with your height, you can pull these off.”
Avery went into the bathroom to change into the dress. It slipped up her body and she managed to get the zipper all the way up.
“This is just like college!” Katie called through the door. “Except back then I didn’t have to beg you to dress up. How’s it look?”
“Okay, I guess.” Avery pulled at the hem. She didn’t rememberit fitting so snugly. It was modest for a little black dress: a sleeveless, fitted number with a gently scooped neckline and a hemline that showed off her long legs. Katie was right. Avery didn’t know why she’d left it hanging in the back of her closet so long. Maybe she didn’t have anyone to impress, but she did like dressing up on occasion. She just didn’t want to send Rick the wrong message.
“Let’s just keep things fun tonight, okay?” Avery said. “I’m not interested in anything serious.” Or anything at all.
“Of course it’ll be fun. Cooper and I are fun, aren’t we? And Rick seems like a good time too. Just relax. It’ll be a blast.”
Avery found herself thinking of Wes. Of the low scrape of his voice. Of his deep chuckle as they’d played poker the past two nights. He was an easygoing kind of guy. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, and the low-key flirting was fun and stimulating. His love of reading made him knowledgeable in a lot of areas, from politics to astronomy to world history.
She stared at her reflection. What would Wes think of this dress? He’d only seen her in scrubs and jeans.
“Let me see,” Katie called.
