181
Lucy
I stammered and pulled my hand back, but the roses continued to bloom. My face heated.
“It’s written all over your face,” he said. “I didn’t give you a rose seed. It was supposed to be aloe vera.”
I looked at the bush, and Duke grinned at me.
“I… I didn’t even realize what I was doing.”
“Transfiguration,” Lucian said simply. “Changing is just a step behind conjuring from nothing. Good job.”
“You were thinking about David, weren’t you?” Duke said, grinning. “Red roses, Lucy?”
“Leave me alone!”
Lucian chuckled. “Your magic responded to your emotions, Lucy. There’s nothing to be ashamed of… But we do need aloe vera, so next time, try to picture that instead of a rose garden when you’re fantasizing.”
Duke snickered.
The weekend arrived, bringing with it a sense of relaxation that I desperately needed. With my textbooks set aside for a couple of days, I was looking forward to some downtime. I had managed to grow one aloe vera plant once Lucian and Duke had stopped teasing me.
I was getting ready to scrape together some breakfast when a knock on my apartment door sounded. I opened the door to find Stacy standing there, a wide grin lighting up her face.
“Hey, Lucy! Guess what? I’ve got some fantastic news!”
I raised an eyebrow, curious. “What’s the news?”
Stacy practically bounced on her feet, barely containing her excitement. “I get to take you formal gown shopping!”
My eyes bulged. “What?”
“You can’t go to the Crescent Festival looking shoddy! Now let’s go, I’ve already got breakfast, and we have a full day ahead!”
She grabbed my arm and practically dragged me out of my apartment after stuffing my keys, phone, and wallet in my arms.
“Wait a second!”
“No time! We have appointments!”
She hustled me downstairs and into a car. A few moments later, I had a breakfast sandwich in hand and a large cup of iced hot chocolate, and we were on our way. Stacy was bouncing in her seat, scrolling through her phone and talking about the boutiques we were going to.
“Lucy, can you believe it? We’re actually doing this! I’ve been waiting for you to experience this kind of shopping forever! I was half planning to throw a gala just to take you shopping!”
Her eyes widened. “Now, I can do it twice!”
I couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth. Stacy’s infectious energy filled the car like lightning. I smiled, ate, and listened.
Soon, we arrived at the first stop: a trendy boutique without a name on the store. Stacy pulled me inside and immediately started sifting through racks of clothes.
“I’m thinking something that’s elegant but also a little flirty. Maybe a dress that’s not too formal but still makes a statement.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but I trusted her judgment and joined her in browsing through the racks, pulling out a few options.
“The green one is nice. Oh, this one too…” She was collecting a bunch of dresses while I had only managed to pick up one.
Then, she hustled me to the dressing room.
“Start with the green one!”
I shook my head, but I changed. It was a bit long and a little big in places, but I came out, and Stacy wrinkled her nose.
“No. Not the right tone and not the right cut.” She huffed. “Let’s go with the blue one next.”
The blue one was a little sparkly, but she said it made me look old. We went through all the dresses. I could see her taking notes, but I didn’t know what she was thinking. When we were done there, she led me back to the car, and we were off to another boutique. This one seemed a little fancier.
Its elegant decor and rows of gowns reminded me of something straight out of a fairytale. Stacy practically bounced with excitement beside me.
“How are you still so excited?”
Stacy grinned. “I have a deep and unhealthy love for clothing, Lucy.”
“Can I help you?” An attendant asked.
“She needs a gown for a ball in October. Something elegant, flirty, young, fun, you know? She’s got a hot date to impress. We’re just looking around to get an idea, but we’ll be making a final purchase in a few weeks for alteration…”
The attendant led us to a section of the store filled with an array of stunning formal gowns. There were way more dresses here than in the last place.
The attendant pulled out a few for me to try based on Stacy’s list before she went looking around. I came out in the four that the attendant pulled out, and Stacy took more notes, grinning.
“We are definitely getting closer.”
Then, we got back in the car. There was more food, and Stacy sighed happily.
“I’m so happy for you.” Stacy grinned. “Though now that we have a bit of a drive ahead of us, why don’t you tell me who you’re going with? David said you were going last we talked.”
I blinked. “I’m… going with David. He didn’t say that?”
She blinked. “What?”
We blinked at each other, and my stomach turned nervously. “Well… he asked me.”
“But… he’s like thirty, isn’t he?”
My jaw dropped. “David just turned nineteen.”
Her jaw dropped. Her face turned red, and she shook her head. “Lucy, you have to be joking with me.”
I shook my head. “We’ve… known each other since we were kids.”
She groaned and flopped back. “No!”
“What’s wrong?”
She let out a hopeless sound. “I’m never going to forgive myself for having a crush on a teenager. I’m too young to be a cougar and too old to date a teen!”
I blinked at her.
My heart did a double-take. Stacy liked David? “You have a crush on David?”
Stacy waved her hand dismissively, trying to downplay it. “Oh, it’s nothing serious, and it definitely isn’t going anywhere. I could never be a cougar.”
She shuddered. “Though, I am happy that he’s taking you.”
She wiggled her eyebrows. “Giving off the older man vibes but still young enough to have plenty of mileage left? Chef’s kiss, I say.”
I blinked. “Mileage… What?”
She laughed. “They say once a guy hits his forties or so, you have to worry about his back going out. Better start enjoying all the benefits of youth: great back, quick recovery time, eagerness, so much to learn, high sex drive—“
“Stacy!” I covered my face. “Oh, my—I can’t believe you’re talking about… About…”
“Sex?” Stacy quirked an eyebrow then she narrowed her eyes. “You’re embarrassed, not uncomfortable…”
A sly smile came on her face. “So, you may be thinking about David as a little more than just a friend, hm?”
“Please don’t… I … I didn’t know you spent so much time with David?”
She huffed. “Business calls.”
I nodded. “Wait… You said you weren’t old enough to be a cougar but too old to date a teen. I thought you were… twenty or so?”
She laughed. “I’m twenty-eight. Twenty-nine in December.”
I blinked at her. “But… you seem so… young.”
She grinned. “Well, that’s the magic of good skincare and a positive attitude, I suppose. Age is just a number, right? Look at David! He’s a baby, and I swore he was at least thirty.”
She hummed. “You’ve got some things to look forward to… unless he goes bald early. That would suck.”
I laughed, unable to stop myself.
Stacy smiled and winced. “Lucy, promise me something?”
“Sure.”
“Promise you won’t say a thing to David about it. I’d die of embarrassment if he found out, and I have a lot of meetings on my calendar with him in my near future.”
I laughed, realizing just how serious she was. “Don’t worry, Stacy, your secret is safe with me.”
Stacy let out a sigh of relief, her hand dramatically resting on her chest. “Oh, thank goodness! I can’t believe I even admitted that out loud.”
Her embarrassment was endearing, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, I’m honored that you felt comfortable enough to share it with me.”
“Well, you’re family,” she said easily. “Now, in return, I’m going to make you the most beautiful person David has ever seen.”
The car pulled to a stop, and she started texting again.
“I’m going to keep an eye on what he plans to wear, so you can coordinate. Won’t that be cute?”
“Oh, well… I’m not sure… I’m not sure if we’re going together like that.”
Stacy paused and offered a reassuring smile. “You know, Lucy, it’s okay to feel unsure sometimes. Love and relationships are complicated. Give yourself the freedom to be young, in love, and still figuring things out. You’re doing your best, and that’s all anyone can ask for.”
Her words struck a chord within me.
She winked. “Besides, October is a while away. You might figure it out sooner than you think.”
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