No One to Trust by Julie Moffett Read Free Book Online

there in silence until I blurted out, “I’m not sure I know what I’m doing. Do you think Finn really likes me?”
    “Of course he does.”
    “Because?”
    “Because you’re you. ”
    “That’s not providing the boost of confidence I was looking for.”
    “What do you want me to say? Are you the prettiest, savviest girl Finn has ever dated? Not likely. But that’s a good thing. He’s probably had his fill of that. A guy like him wants someone genuine. So I beg you to stop trying to analyze it to death. It’s not math, which means it’s neither linear nor logical. Now, I believe the reason we’re here is to get you an evening gown.”
    Before I could protest, she practically dragged me toward Nordstrom’s.
    “When you relax and are in your comfort zone, you’re actually quite pretty, Lexi. Having an inner glow is all about being self-confident, poised and comfortable with your body and sexuality. It would help to start practicing ways to exude your femininity in the real world.”
    “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
    “Do you want to impress Finn or not?”
    I let out a deep breath. “All right. Inner glow. Exude my femininity. How hard can that be?”
    “You can do it. You have lots of wonderful qualities.”
    “Such as?”
    “You’re loyal, intelligent and funny.”
    That didn’t sound very feminine to me, more like a beloved pet. I tried not to be more depressed. “Okay. And that affects my inner glow, how?”
    “You need to build on that so you can loosen up and go with the flow a bit more. Take more chances in life and love. Let’s decide right now that tomorrow night with Finn will be the start of a new, feminine, sexy you.”
    It was a hell of a pep talk, so I kept trying to imagine my element while we browsed around the gown section. Basia chose gown after gown for me to try on, and I attempted to keep a happy face as I donned one after the other. I didn’t like any of them, mostly because they were in girly colors like peach, luscious lemon and butter cream. Instead of feeling gorgeous or in touch with my feminine side, I felt ravenously hungry. But I gave it my best shot.
    Had I been alone, I would have picked a long-sleeved black sheath that I saw hanging on a fifty-percent-off rack. When I made one small suggestion about it, Basia nearly had apoplexy, saying that I needed color to stand out in a crowd and to brighten up my apparently lackluster complexion.
    After trying on gown number twelve, I no longer cared about my inner glow or whether or not I was feminine. I was seriously cranky, hungry and ready to kill someone with my bare hands. I decided I was pathologically unsuited to clothes shopping.
    “What the hell am I wearing now?” I snarled, parading around in a strapless gown.
    “It’s a Gucci in dark Victorian teal.” She fussed with some ties at my waist. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
    “No. Why can’t I buy a black gown?” I kept tugging on the bust. I didn’t have enough boobs to hold it up and it kept gapping open like a toothless fish every time I breathed or moved.
    “Do you want to look acceptable for Finn or do you want to look fabulous? Remember your new mantra—exude an inner glow.”
    She stepped back from me and squinted critically. “No, this one won’t work either. Try this one.” She grabbed another gown off the rack and handed me a sleeveless, greenish gown with spaghetti straps.
    Just the thought of spaghetti made my stomach growl and I tried to remember if any of the food-court restaurants sold pasta.
    “Remember the mantra,” she said, apparently seeing my upper lip form a snarl of protest.
    “Oh, all right, all right,” I snapped as I marched back to the dressing room. “I’m focusing on my damn inner glow. What the hell color is this gown? Pee-pee-green?”
    “English-yew-green,” she said, rolling her eyes. “It’s the rage in Paris this fall.”
    “I’m not wearing anything French. It goes against my