She smirked, as her eyes glided over the rails of dresses. “What? Derek may get hungry.” Uh, I thought I might vomit. I made a gagging noise. “Seriously babe, you would look fierce in this dress. Try it on for me?”
I paled when I saw the dress Cam was suggesting. “No way, put it back.” Calling that scrap of material a dress, was pushing it; it looked more like underwear. It was a short sparkly little number, red in color, with a deep plunge line.
“Oh, come on Lee, it’s fabulous and you’ll look smoking hot wearing it tonight.” That was never going to happen.
“If my daddy thought I was wearing clothes like that, he’d whoop me from here back to Louisiana, Camryn Frey.”
Cam grinned wickedly. “It’s a good thing your daddy isn’t here then isn’t it.” She walked towards the counter and I practically tackled her.
“No, Cam, please put it back, besides I’m not going to the party so buying me something to wear is pointless.” I tried to grab the dress from her hands, but the damn giant held it up out of my reach.
“Chill Lee, don’t be so square,” Cam laughed, as she handed the dress to the girl behind the counter. “Oh and FYI, you so are going to be at the party tonight. I am tired of watching you hide away from life. It’s high time you got off the side-lines and jumped into the game.” I reddened and huffed loudly. That was not going to happen. I liked the side-lines.
“Hell will freeze over before I wear that Cam. Put it back. Please.” She ignored my pleas, as I stood there pouting.
“Easy princess.” Kyle’s voice came from behind me. I automatically jumped.
“Who rattled your cage?” Derek asked glancing from me to Cam, with an amused expression. Great the guys arrived to witness my shame. I winced.
“Oh guys, maybe you can tell Lee to loosen up.” Cam handed her card over to the cashier, who swiped it through the machine, then bagged the dress. “She’s having a coronary over a little dress shopping for the party tonight.”
I glared at Cam. “Little, being the operative word. And I told you I’m not going.”
Kyle raised his brow in surprise. “Whatcha buy?” I could hear the humor in his tone.
“Nothing, I didn’t buy anything and I won’t be wearing anything,” I grumbled.
“Whoa, Lee it’s not that kind of party,” Derek joked, covering his eyes with one hand and pretending to beat me away with the other. I grabbed the bag from Cam before she could embarrass me any further by showing them. “I can’t believe you actually got the ice queen to buy something other than jeans. I’m shocked,” Derek joked as he slung his arm around Cam’s shoulder. They both laughed.
“Are you guys done?” I snapped, storming off in the direction of the exit.
“Awh come on ice queen, we were joking. Come back.” I heard Derek call out, but I was too upset to stop. I walked out straight out of the store and made my way to the entrance of the shopping mall.
“Hold up.” An arm swooped around my waist and I stopped, my heart beat soaring from his familiar touch. Kyle pulled me closer, speaking into my ear. “They’re only trying to get a reaction out of you baby.” Baby… My heart jumped clean off the rector scale.
“I’m not like that.” I shivered and turned to face him. “I can’t wear things like that. Like what Cam wears.”
Kyle knitted his brow, “Come on, I’m taking you out of here.” He clutched my hand and led me outside.
“Wait. What about Cam and Derek?” We all drove here together in Kyle’s truck. We couldn’t leave Cam and Derek behind.
Kyle pulled his phone out and fiddled with it for a few seconds, before putting it back in his pocket. “They can get a bus, or walk, I don’t give a shit. I’m taking you for food.”
We got to his truck and he opened the passenger door for me. “I texted Derek, so don’t worry about them.” He lifted me up without a second thought and I sank into the passenger seat, my heart continuing to somersault around in my chest. Walking around the truck Kyle climbed in beside me. “You okay?” he asked, as he buckled me in. It was routine for us now.
“Yeah,” I breathed completely mortified at my reaction in the store. “I’m sorry for being dramatic. I don’t know why I reacted like that. I just hate when Derek calls me that. I know he’s only joking, but it hurts…” I ducked my head and let my hair cover my burning cheeks. I blinked back the tears that were threatening to spill.
Kyle’s fingers pressed my chin up gently. Those baby blues penetrated me. “He was an asshole to you. He won’t be again. You’re not used to being on show like that. Cam should know better.”