12. Revelations

12

Revelations

Emma

When I swing open the trailer door to leave, Robyn is waiting for me with a glittering smile, and I do my best to return it. Even if making new friends isn’t exactly my strong suit, she seems nice.

“Hey,” she peeps. “Ready to go?”

I nod. “Let’s do it.”

We chat about the production during the stroll to the subway station, but when the train arrives, she spends most of her time answerin g calls, which works perfectly for me. That way, I can mindlessly stare outside.

Soon enough, we arrive at Fifth Avenue, and Robyn seems to know the place like her own backyard. “I’m so excited to take a girl shopping,” she says, clasping her hands. “I usually only shop for men.”

I try to smile. “Oh, I didn’t realize you did Auston’s shopping.”

“Yeah, buying underwear doesn’t exactly top your priority list when you’re a world-famous actor.”

“Right.” I clear my throat, trying not to dwell on the fact that Robyn buys Auston’s boxers. “Well, I hope I’ll live up to your expectations. I’m not really a fashionista. And in case you were wondering, black is my color.”

She glances at my black leggings and black sweatshirt, then winks. “Yes, it certainly is. Trust me. I’ll find the perfect dress.”

Soon, we stride into a large department store, where everything is bright and shiny. I’m clearly not in my element here. Stylish women are carrying what seem to be bottomless shopping bags, their perfumes making me choke as they strut past.

Robyn knows her way around the store too. True to my word, I do trust her, but I’m not going to lie—it’s a little scary.

Finally, Robyn has curated half a dozen dresses with matching handbags and shoes, and we head to the luxurious fitting rooms. Everything is trimmed in velvet, and the dimmed lighting makes me feel like I’m in an old boudoir. Far from the fluorescent-lit, sterile fitting rooms at Uniqlo or Gap.

“Just so you know,” she begins, hanging the dresses in the fitting room, “it’s very unusual for Auston to ask me to go shopping with his girlfriend.”

“Oh,” I say, realizing she still has no idea we’re faking it. Auston was going to tell her later.

“Actually, in the five years I’ve worked for him, he hasn’t dated anyone.”

I frown, trying to find an appropriate answer. “Okay.” What else am I supposed to say?

“But here we are—”

“Let me stop you right there, Robyn,” I say in a hushed tone so no one can hear us. I guess I’ll have to be the one who tells her. “No need to say that I’m lucky, and that Auston is a catch or whatever, because this entire thing is a sham.”

She scrunches her eyebrows. “What? You’re whispering. I can’t hear you,” she says, her voice muffled by the clacking of hangers latching on the hooks and the ruffle of clothes.

Heat rises to my face. “We’re not really dating,” I say again, a little louder, but then I notice one of the store assistants standing only a few feet away, talking to a customer.

“Hold on,” Robyn says, finally done placing the dresses on the hooks. I bite my nail in frustration, forcing myself not to just yell it to her. She runs her hand over the fabric of the dresses to smooth them, then nods in satisfaction.

“Sorry, what were you saying?” She plants both hands on her hips, facing me.

“Auston and I are only pretending to date,” I whisper slowly, pausing after each word.

Her eyes widen. “What!”

I look around in a panic, but luckily, no one seems to be paying attention. “We’re only doing this because some pictures of us together were leaked, and since we were in high school together, the Internet is now convinced we’re an item.”

“Seriously?”

I nod. “Nothing is happening between us, but we need everyone to think we’re dating. Especially Madison. I assume you're familiar with her obsession with Auston.”

She gives me a pointed look. “Oh, the girl who went to a printer to get wedding invites done for their wedding before casually dropping one in fron t of the paparazzi? Yes, I’m familiar.”

My eyes widen. “Wow. She’s even crazier than I thought.” Releasing a small breath, I shake my head. “Well, now you understand what’s going on. Auston can give you more details if you want, but we can’t discuss this here. Too many people around.”

She still looks stunned, and I can’t really blame her. I just unloaded a huge secret on her. Tropes may be part of my day to day, but I know it’s not the same for everyone.

“My goodness,” she breathes out, shuffling out of the room to sit down on one of the plush velvet sofas. “Wait,” she whispers, recovering quickly. “Who else knows?”

I sit down next to her. “No one, for now. But Auston said he’d tell Cillian.”

She nods. “Okay. I guess my job just got a little more interesting.”

I laugh quietly. “Glad you’re seeing it that way.”

“So, tell me.” She places a hand on my forearm. “How was Auston in high school? Anything juicy to report?”

I shake my head, unable to hold back a smile. “Unfortunately, no. Unlike every other teenager, Auston never had an awkward phase. I don’t think it’s in his genes.”

“Tell me about it,” she says with a chuckle. “Oh, and before you think I might be interested in him, I’m not. I have a boyfriend. His name is Mike, and he’s back in LA, where we live.”

“Oh, okay,” I say in a casual tone, even if, in the back of my mind, I’m glad we cleared that up. Madison will be enough of an opponent in this fake relationship.

“So, are you ready to try on the dresses? The theme for tonight is ‘tropical,’ so I found three that could fit the theme and three more general evening gowns.”

My eyes widen slightly. I’m not sure “tropical” is my style. I’m more “comfy-couch chic.”

I walk to the dressing room and slip into the first dress. It’s a long black number that looked fine at first glance, but it’s seemingly made of nothing. I look into the mirror, and I might as well be naked.

“So? Does it fit?” Robyn calls from outside. “Show me.”

“Absolutely not. You do know I’m going to be seen in public in it, right?”

“Too revealing?” she asks, and I snort out loud.

“Yeah, you could say that. I have a feeling this dress was designed to showcase your underwear.”

She pauses thoughtfully. “I mean, you have an incredible body, and with the right bra and—”

“Hard pass,” I say, slipping the dress over my head.

I fight my way out of the sheer fabric, being extra careful not to rip it. By the time the gown is back on its hanger, I’m already breaking a sweat. This is why I don’t do shopping. Next, I try on one with long sleeves. At first, it looks decent, but then I notice the deep slit over my right leg. Seriously?

My shoulders sag, and a sigh escapes me. Why on earth did I say yes to this? Trying on fancy dresses is so not me. I glance at my reflection, and while the dress is flattering and the slit only shows my skin in certain positions, it couldn’t be further from who I am. It’s like looking at an alternate-universe version of myself.

“Everything okay?” Robyn calls.

“It was, until half the dress split over my thigh.”

I can almost hear her freeze on the other side of the curtain. “You tore it?”

I roll my eyes. “I’m talking about the slit.”

“Oh.” She blows out a breath of relief. “Well, it’s sexy. I’m sure you look fantastic in that gown with your long legs. Let me see.”

I reluctantly open the curtain, and she squeals when her eyes land on me. “Yes. Absolutely. Perfect. Now, turn for me.”

I rotate like a robot, trying my best not to “activate” the slit, and she claps her hands together. “You should still try the last one, but I think we have a winner.”

“Really?” I look down at the dress. “I’m not so sure.”

“I am. Trust me on this.”

I let out a sigh. “Fine.”

Closing the curtain again, I shrug out of the gown and reach for the next. The last dress is an off-shoulder black gown with beige leaves embellishing the fabric. I immediately vibe more with this one. Tropical enough to fit the theme, but still low-key enough for me.

“I’ll take this one,” I tell Robyn, swinging open the curtain.

“Good choice.” She approves. “I do prefer the other one, but since it’s your first red carpet, comfort is important.”

“And the theme is tropical, so I think this one fits the bill.”

“It does, but you should take the other one too. I’m sure Auston will have more events to take you to. And he has a premiere coming up soon.”

Sweat prickles on my neck. “Um, I’m not sure . . .”

“Or I can go back and look for something even better,” she says with a shrug.

I can feel my eyes widening. “No, it’s fine. We’ll take both, just in case.”

Guess I’ll just have to master walking in that dress without flashing everyone. If there’s a need for me to wear it. Suddenly, something spikes in my che st, and a small part of me hopes there will be.