Okay, my bitterness toward her might just border on plain hatred at this point.
There is just something about someone who makes it their entire life’s mission to outdo you when you have never been anything but nice to them that just sends you a little over the edge. I tried being her friend, invited her to events, and even hung out with her. She used every little thing against me, turned every situation into an opportunity to climb the ladder above me. Her personality is toxic. Thankfully, I’ve always been able to outmaneuver her. Well, until she finally managed to sleep with Chase. I really didn’t think that would happen. An oversight on my behalf that Chase wouldn’t someday give in to her open legs.
Which is why I need to kick ass at this party.
Now, I just have to pray that this dress fits me. As gorgeous as a dress looks on the hanger, you never know how that’s going to translate on your body.
I turn to look for the dressing room and bump into a hard body. A strong, tattooed hand comes down to steady me.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise.”
My body shivers as the voice runs over me, and I look up into a pair of deep emerald eyes. His mouth is broken out in a smile, and I feel mine pulling to match.
“Aleksander.”
Somehow, Aleksander’s grin gets even wider after I say his name, his left dimple becoming more pronounced. It’s an adorable smile, completely at odds with the rest of his look. He is wearing a plain black tee that shows off his tattooed, muscular arms—arms I am becoming unnaturally obsessed with—ripped black jeans, and cobalt Odissea sneakers. He looks hot again. Of course.
This guy oozes sex appeal in the way you only read about in books or see in movies. He could probably knock me up with a single look. Utterly mesmerizing.
“Stevie.”
Oh, thank god, he remembers my name.
“That’s quite the dress you’ve got there.”
I bristle at the comment, shoulder raising. “What? Too much?”
“Not at all. It seems like a showstopper.”
The tension melts away with relief at his response. I’m so used to my mother telling me that my dress choices are “too loud,” that my brain instantly reverts to that expectation.
“Thank you, I have an event coming up. I was just about to try it on.” I pause. Screw it. “Would you mind giving me a second opinion?”
Surprise flashes in his eyes before a lopsided grin steals onto his face.
“I would be honored.” He winks at me before guiding me over to the dressing rooms I had been searching for.
I peek at him from the corner of my eye. His arms are sexy as hell, veins peeking out from the taut muscles. The leather jacket he wore the other day hid the strength he was packing underneath…that and the extra tattoos. They look like the patchwork kind; a bunch of different small tattoos dot his arms. I can see an intricate sword tattoo that disappears under the sleeve of his T-shirt. The linework is gorgeous. Tattoo artists truly are in a league of their own.
My eyes snag on a small scar by his eyebrow before tracing down his sharp jawline. He wears a small black hoop through his left lobe with a chain that is cuffed to the top of his ear. God. He really is dangerously handsome. With his soft, fluffy hair, he gives off boy-next-door meets delinquent-skater-boy vibes. Like he is the kind of guy who would rail you in the backseat of his car before heading inside the house to charm the pants off your parents at dinner. Well, maybe not my parents. They’d probably have a heart attack at the sight of him.
My abdomen clenches.
Great, now I’m picturing him railing me in the backseat of a car.
“Are you getting your car fixed?”
I startle at his question. “My car?”
He laughs at me. “Yeah, the car you crashed.”
Right. Right.
“I’m bringing it in to get repaired soon. It’s a pain, but they should give me a loan car while they fix it.” In all honesty, I haven’t called the dealership yet and I’m dreading it. Paying to fix cars is one of the worst things in the world. It costs a stupid amount of money.
“That’s good.” He hums.
We finally make it to the changing rooms and the woman managing it gives me a smile that could reach the moon with how large it is.
“Hi, just one item today?” She chirps.
“Just the one.”
“Perfect, you can use the room over here.” She gestures behind her.
Aleksander gives my shoulder a small squeeze. “I’ll just wait outside. Let me know when you’re ready.”
“Thanks, Aleksander.”
“Just Aleks is fine.” He winks.
“Alright, Aleks.” My mouth tips into a small smile before I follow the employee. She leads me around the corner to a dressing room, unlocking the door for me. “Would you like me to get you a pair of heels to try on with the dress so you can check the length?”
“That would be helpful, thank you. I’m an eight and a half.”
“Of course. I’ll be right back.”
I shut the door and lock it, dropping my forehead against it briefly. I need to get my brain out of the gutter. My body is already heating up just from being near him, it’s ridiculous. I didn’t think I was this dick deprived.
I drop my handbag on the stool in the corner before toeing off my platform sandals. I slip out of my high-waist linen pants just as a pair of nude heels slide under the door.
“Here are the shoes. I’m Luisa, by the way. Give me a shout if you need anything else.”
“Thank you!”
I throw my black crop-top onto the stool and hang my nude lace bra over one of the hooks. Standing in just my thong, I unzip the dress, excitement bubbling through my veins.
Something tells me that it’s going to be perfect.
I step into it, shimmying the dress up over my hips and slipping my arms through the holes. A quick glance in the mirror confirms my suspicions. Oh yeah, this is going to be flawless.
I reach around and bend my arm so I can zip up the dress. I get halfway before it snags. I pinch my shoulders together and manage to get the zipper up another inch…but it halts again. I look over my shoulder to stare at my back in the mirror. I’m close. There’s barely two inches of zipper left. I try shifting the angle of my shoulders, contorting my arms to get the zipper the rest of the way, but it’s just not budging.
Huffing, I stick my head out the door, searching for Luisa, but the hallway is empty.
“Luisa.” I call her name in a loud whisper and wait.
I bite my bottom lip after a few moments of silence have passed. The woman is nowhere in sight, and I’m not about to start shouting for her. That’s just embarrassing. But is it more embarrassing than what I am about to do? Debatable.
“Aleks?”
There’s no response.
“Aleks.” I whisper his name louder.
“Yeah?” His tall frame pokes around the corner.
“I can’t get the zipper up.”
His eyes crinkle, and it makes his dimple even more pronounced.
“I’ve got you.” Those three words release a handful of butterflies from my stomach.
I open the door wide and spin around so my back faces him.
“Thank you,” I mutter.
I watch him in the reflection of the mirror as he walks up behind me. I feel his hands grasp the top of my dress, the tips of his fingers brushing against my skin, and I have to stop my body from shivering at his touch. I should not be having such a visceral reaction to a guy I barely know.