Alice
"Let me grab this one for you," Javier said as he reached for a champagne-colored gown from the rack. He lifted the fabric delicately, letting it flow between his fingers, studying it like he was already imagining how it would fall against my body.
"You'll look amazing in this," he added, sounding proud—almost smug—about his choice.
I bit my lip, not because of the gown, but because of the way he said it. As if he wanted to take care of me. As if he wanted to show me off.
And that familiar sting of guilt crawled into my chest again.
But before the guilt could swallow me whole, his hand brushed against mine. Quick. Light. Barely there.
Yet enough to pull me back into the moment.
"Come on," he murmured gently. "I want to see you in this."
I followed him, carry
