“Too old, I’m looking for something more . . . red.”
“You always buy red. Or black. Or grey,” Aria pointed out.
“I look good in those colors.”
“You look good in any color as long as you wear it like you own it.”
Mira continued, “I can’t just own it. I need to like it too.”
Therefore, the search continued. Although Aria knew it wasn’t bad to be picky when it came to spending their money, she noticed that Mira was being extra difficult.
She honestly couldn’t figure out why. It was just a family get-together, and Mira wasn’t the type to put effort into finding something nice to wear. Either this wasn’t a normal family get-together or Mira was about to be engaged to the next drop-dead gorgeous billionaire.
Whatever the reason was, Aria was going to find out.
“So this party,” she started, making sure her tone was as casual as possible.
“The party.”
Aria contemplated on her next words carefully. “What’s with all the effort? Is this some sort of inheritance party or something?”
“Pffft, I wish. There’s just going to be a few old family friends who are going to move down here, and I haven’t seen them in ages.”
“Wait,” Aria paused, “are you trying to impress someone?”
“What? No!” Mira exclaimed as she made a face.
“Do you have some old childhood friend moving down here too? Some cute high school romance starter pack or something?” Aria teased.
“No!” Mira replied.
“M’kay.”
“I’m serious!”
“M’kay,” she repeated.
“Aria!”
“What?” She raised a brow before she added, “I’ve never seen you try so hard to impress anyone really. Not since Chance.”
Mira made a face before she replied in a gravely tone, “I thought that we agreed to never speak of him again.”
“I wasn’t aware,” Aria said as Mira pulled out another hanger.
“It’s girl code.”
“I didn’t read that book. Can I have it in manga form?”
“You’re so difficult.”
“Just love me, ‘kay?” Aria held up another dress to show to Mira.
“Too pink. Let’s go to a different store.”
And they did.
Before they went to three other shops.
Aria thought that she was a patient person especially since this was pretty important for Mira, but when her stomach started to give the telltale signs of hunger, Aria couldn’t help but feel slightly annoyed, especially when her best friend was starting to get overly picky. Aria even had to listen as to why the last dress wouldn’t work at all with fifteen different reasons. She was almost convinced that Mira really was about to meet some multi-billionaire bachelor.
“How about this?” Aria showed her the nth outfit option for the day.
“It’s so bright.” Mira shook her again.
Another rejection.
“It’s summer,” Aria pointed out.
“Nearly fall.”
Aria scoffed, “Uh huh.”
“Why did I bring you here with me again?” Mira sighed.
“Because I’m honest?”
“True,” Mira agreed before she checked the price tag. “Why is everything so expensive?”
Aria looked at the tag and made a face. “That outfit is not worth fifty dollars.”
“You’re telling me.”
“I am.”
Mira took a good look at her. “Food break?”
“I do require that, yes.”
“God, you sound like a robot.”
“AR-51 at your service.”
“God, you’re such a dork. Let’s go.”
Eventually they made it to the food court. After they grabbed something quick and easy to eat, they sat down in one of the many booths available.
Neither of them spoke much and were too busy focusing on the food in front of them. Eventually, Mira sped through her meal, while Aria preferred to take her time. Indigestion, heartburn, and a stomach aches were not her ideal versions of fun.
“What am I going to do?” Mira groaned into her hands.
“Didn’t you like that one dress?”
“Which one?”
Aria raised a brow at her. “There were multiples?”
“Sort of. I didn’t love them, but I didn’t hate them either.”
“Hmmm . . .” Aria mulled over this before she continued, “Why don’t you just wear something you already have?”
“I don’t want to be boring.”
Aria was taken aback. This was new. Mira, for as long as she had known her, was never one for high fashion. In fact, she was pretty much the opposite and was the jock with the lazy athletic style.
It wasn’t a bad thing of course, but the words “Mira” and “trendy fashion” never really mixed. Aria even suspected that Mira wouldn’t dress up for anything except a funeral.
Whatever this meeting was, it was clearly important.
But why?
“Who’s coming down again?” Aria asked before she finished her meal.
“Like I said, some old family friends.”
Aria clearly wasn’t buying it so Mira decided to give her another sales pitch instead.
“There are going to be some people who are coming to our school and—”
“Do you like one of them?” Aria interrupted.
“What? No!”
“Are you sure?”
“I haven’t even met them!”
“Then why are you trying so hard?”
“I don’t know,” Mira admitted with a frown.
“Then don’t worry so much about it. You don’t have to dress to impress. Literally.”
Mira groaned.
“What?”
“I was just . . . really looking forward to it.”
This interrogation clearly wasn’t going anywhere. Aria didn’t really understand why Mira was trying so hard for a family gathering. A part of her itched to know the truth about what made her best and first friend in Reno so nervous, but another was willing to wait until Mira was ready to talk about it.
The internal debate continued but the minute she saw her friend’s face, Aria decided to try a different approach.
“How about we try to find some necklaces or maybe a new jacket?” she offered.
Mira seemed to contemplate on the idea.
“It’s easier and cheaper than buying an entire outfit. Plus, you could do something classic like wear a jean jacket, white top, and
