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As usual, there were a few options that I didn’t even like enough to take out of the dressing room and show the others. But when I finally found one that fit, I grinned in the mirror.
I stepped out of the dressing room at the same time Sadie did, and my jaw fell to the floor.
It wasthedress. The black one that contrasted her light skin and colorful hair and made her look like a total babe. “Sadie!”
“I know!” she said sheepishly.
“You look so good,” I said, gently touching the sequined fabric that flared from her waist.
“I’m going to live in it,” she replied, holding the skirts to her chest.
From outside of the dressing area, Mom called, “Are you going to show us?”
I gripped Sadie’s hand, and we walked out of the dressing room. As soon as they saw us, Mom put her hand to her heart, and Harini covered her mouth.
“Beautiful,” Mom breathed.
“Do a spin,” Harini instructed.
Sadie looked at her mother like asking her to do a spin was the equivalent of asking her to prance around naked.
“Come on,” I said, spinning in my dress so the skirt flared around me. “It’sfun.”
Sadie joined me, looking so uncomfortable I had to laugh.
Our moms laughed too, and my mom said, “That has to be the one, Sadie. It’s gorgeous on you.”
Sadie pressed her hands over her mouth, her shoulders shaking as tears began to fall down her cheeks.
Harini set her champagne glass down and went to Sadie while Mom and I exchanged a glance.
“Sadie, honey, what’s wrong?” Harini asked, her thin arms around her daughter.
Sadie looked up, wiping at her eyes. “I’ve just never feltprettybefore. Not like this.”
Harini’s eyes were moist now too. “Sadie...”
I reached out for my friend’s hand, holding it as her mother held her. “Sadie, you’re the most beautiful person I know. Inside and out,” I said.
Smiling through her tears, Sadie said, “I’m so glad I met you.”
“Me too,” I replied earnestly. No one had ever made me feel so comfortable and accepted like Sadie had. She had a gift that way.
“I didn’t mean to take up all the attention,” Sadie said, composing herself. “Is that the dress for you?”
I’d almost forgotten the pink satin dress I had on. Looking down at myself, I said, “I think I need to try on a couple more.”
We both went back to the dressing room, and while Sadie changed back into her clothes, I tried on the next couple of dresses.
When I found the one, I sat in the dressing room and stared at myself in the mirror. I imagined Diego next to me in a suit, his dark eyes glittering as he looked at me with nothing but admiration.
How was this me?
How was this my life?
And yet again, I had to thank Diego. The boy who’d taken me through waves scarier than the ocean, tugged on my leash, and let me know he was there, and it was all going to be okay.
Forty-Two
