by Holly Rayner
Alyssa gaped at Lucy. “Wow,” she hissed. “Don’t hold back.”
Lucy shrugged, all of it no big deal to her. “Oh, and they’re very traditional.”
“Got it.” The woman winked. “Well, we certainly have something here that will make both the parents and your boyfriend happy. Let’s start with our going-out dresses, shall we?”
At the back of the store, the saleswoman and Lucy got busy rifling through the racks and piling their arms with dresses. Alyssa stood back, a little overwhelmed by it all. Every once in a while, Lucy would hold something against Alyssa to see how it looked, and then she’d either add it to her pile or put it back on the rack.
“Too bad you're just no good in yellow,” Lucy said.
“I’m not?” Alyssa asked.
Both Lucy and the saleswoman shook their heads.
“You’re cool-toned, dear,” the saleswoman said, like it was obvious. “Let’s try some pinks on you.”
“Okay.” Alyssa shrugged. “Sure.”
From her purse, Alyssa’s phone buzzed. Pulling it out, she found a text from Ali.
I cannot wait to see you tonight. Dinner with my parents will be short, I promise. Afterwards, we can spend some alone time together.
Alyssa smiled, some of the tension she’d been carrying around all week long dissipating.
I can’t wait. Seems forever since Wednesday.
Choosing to leave it at that without mentioning his parents, Alyssa sent the text. Almost right away, a new message came in.
What are you doing right now?
Alyssa paused with her fingers above the screen. Did she want to tell Ali about her shopping for a dress that night? She didn’t want to look like she was trying too hard.
Then again, if he noticed she’d deposited a check, she wanted him to know she’d done it with him in mind. She’d done it for him.
Getting ready for tonight, Alyssa typed back. If Ali complimented her on whatever dress she picked out, then she’d tell him she used his money to buy it.
Send me a picture? Ali asked.
Smiling happily, Alyssa lifted the phone and took a selfie with the plain wall as background.
“Alyssa.” Lucy stood behind a mountain of dresses, her face nearly hidden. “Let’s try some of these on.”
The saleswoman led them to a lavish fitting room. Mirrored doors surrounded a circular couch, and fresh roses sat on a small table. The woman opened one of the dressing rooms and got busy arranging dresses on hooks.
“I’ll look for some shoes,” the woman said. “What size are you?”
“Seven,” Lucy answered.
“Wonderful.” The saleswoman’s heels tapped on the hardwood floor as she walked back out to the store.
“I have shoes,” Alyssa pointed out.
“Not like the ones they have here,” Lucy replied.
“True.” Alyssa ran her fingers over a light pink dress hanging in the dressing room. “Okay, I’m trying this one on.”
Closing the dressing room door, she kicked off her kitten heels, wiggled out of her skirt, and slipped off her blouse. The pink dress was delicate, its fabric light and flowy. Putting it on, Alyssa opened the door and walked out.
“What do you think?” she asked.
Lucy sat up straighter and gasped. “I love it!”
Alyssa eyed the champagne in her friend’s hand. “Where’d you get that?”
“The saleslady brought it. There’s one for you, too.” Lucy nodded at the champagne flute sitting on a coaster next to the roses.
“Okay, now we really know this place is expensive,” Alyssa said under her breath.
“I love that one. Really.”
Smoothing her hands over the dress, Alyssa inspected herself in the mirror. It had cap sleeves, and the skirt came all the way to the floor. It looked like something a movie star would wear to an awards show.
“I think it’s too much,” Alyssa said.
“What are you going for?”
Alyssa frowned. “I want to look…royal.”
Lucy guffawed, but then her face quickly turned serious. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh.”
“That’s okay. It’s stupid, I know.” Alyssa turned away from the mirror.
“If you want royal, try British princess goes to tea.” Standing up, Lucy went to the dresses hanging up and selected a bright green one. “Put this on.”
Alyssa obliged, coming back out of the dressing room for a full inspection. At the sight of her reflection, she gasped.
The dress was just past her knees, with a full skirt reminiscent of the fifties. Flowers embroidered in black and white thread decorated one side of the skirt, and the bodice fit like a glove.
Alyssa did a twirl just for the heck of it, and the skirt flew out around her.
“Now that is royal,” Lucy said.
The saleswoman entered the room, several pairs of heels dangling from her fingers. “Oh, goodness,” she gushed. “You look like a princess!”
Lucy caught Alyssa’s eye and winked. “Bingo. Now, let’s match some shoes to it.”
Alyssa tried on the different high heels, and the vote between the three women was unanimous: the black suede ones were the best.
Just looking at herself in the mirror, Alyssa felt a surge of bravery. Looking as good as she did, she could do anything. Impressing Ali’s parents no longer seemed like a giant task she could easily fail at. It would be a piece of cake!
“You’re smiling,” Lucy commented, a beaming smile on her own face.
“What’s not to smile about?” Alyssa teased.
Lucy drained the last drops in her champagne flute. “Let’s scoot. I have class, and you have royalty to impress.”
The saleswoman looked at Lucy in interest but said nothing, just put the suede heels into their box. Alyssa changed back into her boring work clothes, and she and Lucy headed for the front counter.
“Shoot! Accessories. I know for a fact you don’t have anything that’s gonna go with this dress,” Lucy said, looking at the jewelry on-show under the counter in a brightly lit glass case.
“You’re in luck,” the woman said before Alyssa had time to protest. “We have some beautiful pieces from a local designer in this week. One moment…”
The saleswoman pulled a small selection of necklaces, earrings, and bracelets out of the case and set them on the counter.
“Can’t go wrong with diamonds,” Lucy said with a shrug.
“I like these,” Alyssa said, her voice soft as she pointed to a set of stud earrings and necklace made of pearls arranged into little flowers, with white on the outside and a black pearl in the center.
“Oh, yeah. Classy but not boring. Goes perfect with the embroidery on the dress, too. She’ll take them,” Lucy said.
The saleswoman rang up the items, and again Alyssa was reminded of how out of her league she was in this store—the woman didn’t even tell her the total, just motioned to the card machine.
She almost wished she hadn’t looked at the number on the little display.
Two thousand one hundred twelve dollars and fifty-eight cents! Holy sh—Alyssa nearly choked on an inhale.
Lucy elbowed her after looking at the amount. “Shoulda deposited both, huh?”
“No, it’s fine.” Alyssa fumbled for her wallet and swiped her card. She hadn’t meant to spend everything from the check plus over a hundred of her own dollars, but if that’s what it would take to make Ali’s parents happy, then so be it.
Ali had given Alyssa the money as an investment in her future, and Alyssa had come to see Ali as exactly that. Any money spent on making him happy was well worth it. Plus, if she went along with the whole fake engagement thing, it would probably help their real relationship.
Taking the carefully wrapped dress and accessories, Alyssa and Lucy left the store and walked for the subway.
“I feel weird getting on the subway with such an expensive dress,” Alyssa said. “I’m worried I’ll drop it or something.”
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“Yeah.” Lucy nodded seriously. “Or a homeless person will vomit on it.”
“Huh?”
“That happened to Ellie, remember? From college. For her sorority ball.”
“That’s right.” Alyssa shuddered. “That did happen to her. Okay. I’m getting a cab. Why stop spending money now?”
“That’s my girl!”
At the street corner, they hugged, with Lucy holding on a littler tighter than usual.
“Don’t worry,” she said into Alyssa’s ear. “It’s going to be fine tonight. Anyone who doesn't like you is out of their mind.”
Alyssa smirked. “Thanks, Lu. Have fun in class.”
“You know I won’t.” Blowing Alyssa a kiss, Lucy stepped back and headed down the street.
After waving down a taxi, Alyssa climbed into the backseat and gave the driver her address. The whole ride to her block, the boxes holding the new dress, jewelry, and shoes pulled her attention.
Running her hand over the purple ribbon on the dress box, Alyssa smiled to herself. She couldn’t wait for Ali to see her in the dress. All week long, she’d been online studying Baqari etiquette. It turned out, things weren’t as different over there as she expected, excepting the bowing part—which, come to think of it, was pretty standard for royalty in general.
She had this. She really, finally did.
Closing her eyes, Alyssa allowed herself a brief little fantasy involving Ali. In it, he swept his fingers under her chin, lifted her face to his, and gave her the longest, most tender kiss of her life.
A fake fiancée. That’s what Alyssa was. But behind the facade, something else had been growing. Alyssa was almost afraid to think about it too much, worried that if she tried to grab onto a bright future it would vanish into thin air.
So for the time being, she focused on the night. Smile. Bow. Shake hands. Look pretty. All of those things, she could do. Especially with Ali by her side.
Chapter 16
Alyssa
From his favorite spot under the coffee table, Ralph watched Alyssa with wary eyes.
“Sorry, Ralph,” she told him. “I can’t stop.”
Indeed, she’d been pacing for…how long? Alyssa couldn’t remember. All she knew was that she was in danger of wearing a hole in her apartment floor.
Spinning around at the window, she made her way back to her bedroom door. Ali would be there to pick her up at any moment, and all the courage she’d mustered up during shopping had vanished sometime between curling her hair and trying on three different lipsticks.
Alyssa was freaked. Really, really freaked.
And, on top of that, someone was buzzing.
Alyssa stopped pacing and took in a long breath. Crossing to the box by the door, she hit the intercom button. “Hello?”
“It’s me,” Ali said over the crackle of the speaker.
“Come on up.” Alyssa let go of the intercom button and hit the one that unlocked the front door. A few moments later, and she heard Ali’s footsteps coming up the stairs.
Nausea rising, she opened the front door. There Ali stood, looking as handsome as ever in a dark blue suit and a black tie. At the sight of her, his eyes went wide.
“Alyssa,” he breathed. “Wow…”
She followed his gaze and looked down at her dress. She hadn’t put her heels on yet. That would have made pacing her apartment a little difficult.
“You like it?” she asked.
“It’s beautiful. And so are you.” His eyes staying on her, Ali entered and closed the door.
“Thanks.” Alyssa turned the delicate bracelet on her wrist over and over. It had been her grandmother’s, a simple cuff. Alyssa hardly ever wore it, but if there was ever a night to do so, she figured it was that one.
Ali’s brow knitted. “Are you all right?”
“I’m, uh…” Alyssa looked for a palatable lie but didn’t find one. “I’m nervous. Like really, really nervous. Earlier, I was like, ‘yeah, I totally got this!’ But now…” She shook her head and twirled her bracelet even faster.
Ali was solemn. “We can cancel, you know.”
“What? No!” Alyssa pressed her palms against his chest. “That’s not what I meant.”
Ali rested his hands on top of hers and looked into her eyes. “I know, but the option is there. It’s only a dinner.”
Alyssa pursed her lips. “We both know it’s more than that.”
“So what?” Ali ducked so that he was nearly eye level with her. “Perhaps it is time I grew up, Alyssa. Time I stopped worrying about what other people think of me.”
“It’s not so easy with your parents,” she muttered.
“No, it is not. I also know now, though, that pleasing my parents will never bring me the happiness I’ve been seeking.”
“Oh, yeah?” Alyssa asked breathlessly. Ali’s face was tantalizingly close to hers, and she wished desperately that he would kiss her and make her forget all about her fears. “And have you figured out yet where this happiness you’re looking for is?”
She knew it was a ballsy question. The suggestion behind it was all too clear. Before Alyssa could wish she could take it back, though, Ali spoke.
“Right now, it is with you,” he said.
Right now? What about in the future? Ali had mentioned the possibility of things turning into a serious relationship. Was he still considering that?
Alyssa looked down. She was overthinking things. It was a bad habit—something she tended to do when nervous. Things were going great between her and Ali. If she stewed too much over stuff, she would end up sabotaging their relationship. Right then, she needed to focus on the task at hand.
“We’re going to dinner,” she said, looking up at Ali. “And then, after that, we’ll have all the time we want to be happy in whatever way we choose.”
Ali beamed. “I like the sound of that. Shall we?”
“Yes.” Alyssa grabbed her black clutch.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” he asked.
She looked around the apartment, her eyes landing on the cat. “I already fed Ralph. Or do you mean, did I leave a light on? Good idea.” Scooting to the kitchen area, Alyssa turned the light on above the stove. “There,” she said. “Now we won’t walk into furniture when we come in later.”
“No,” Ali chuckled. “That is not what I was referring to. Do you plan on wearing shoes tonight, or…?”
Alyssa gasped and looked down at her bare feet. “Right.”
Snatching up the suede heels from where they sat by the door, Alyssa put them on.
“Those are just as nice as the dress,” Ali said.
“Thanks. They’re new.” Alyssa paused. She’d planned on telling him she had deposited the check if the topic came up, but now she found she didn’t want to. Like before, the whole talking about money thing felt way too awkward.
Whatever. He’d given her the money to help herself out, and she’d used it to help him out. There was no shame in that, and there was also no reason to bring the matter up.
“Ready,” Alyssa announced.
Downstairs, a limo waited for them. Whether it was the limo from the fundraiser night or not, Alyssa couldn’t tell. They all looked the same to her.
“Where are we going?” she asked once they’d settled into their seats.
“Plated,” Ali said. “You know of it?”
Alyssa shook her head.
“It’s American. I thought I’d give my parents a little taste of the country while they’re here.”
“That’s nice,” she said absently.
Ali slipped his hand into hers. “Still nervous?”
At his touch, peace flowed through Alyssa. “Not with you next to me,” she answered honestly.
Ali’s gaze simmered. “Tonight, after dinner…would you like to come back to my place?”
Desire rushed through Alyssa. The meaning to his words was clear, and she felt herself wishing they could just fast-forward to that part of the evening already.
Ali grinned and kissed the top of her hand, a gesture she’d already come to count on.
The limo took them to a spot a few blocks away from Columbus Circle, pulling up right in front of the restaurant. Alyssa leaned past Ali to do a quick survey of the place. A metal door with blue lights surrounding it. A small front window with nothing but the restaurant’s name written on it. Was this the kind of place the rich and famous came for quiet family dinners?
A hint of the nerves she’d felt earlier surfaced again, but this time, Alyssa was able to swallow them down. She had Ali by her side. With him there, she could do anything.
“Should we go?” she asked, looking at him. The limo was idling in the street in front of the restaurant, and neither Ali nor the driver had made a move to open a door.
“One moment. There is something I need to give you.” Ali reached into his suit’s breast pocket and pulled out a small jewelry box.
Alyssa’s breath caught in her throat, and her heart fluttered as Ali opened the box, revealing a ring with a giant diamond at its center. He took her hand in his, his touch gentle and caring, and slipped the engagement ring onto her finger.
“Wow,” Alyssa whispered. “You really went all out.”
“My parents will expect me to have,” Ali said.
His parents. Right.
With those simple words, the illusion was shattered, and Alyssa remembered—once more—that this was all pretend.
Why did she keeping doing that? Getting caught up in the fantasy of the engagement? She had Ali. Behind the scenes of the fake romance, a real one grew. Why did she want more?
Alyssa couldn’t allow herself to think about that. There was no time. Ali had hit a button on the limo’s control panel, and the driver was opening the door. Time to hit the stage.
With their hands clasped, Alyssa and Ali entered the restaurant. The host seemed to be expecting them, because he hurried forward from behind his stand right away.
“Sheikh Ali,” he said, bowing his head. “It’s an honor to have you here. Please, right this way. Your parents are already settled.”
In true New York style, the restaurant was larger than its front had suggested. The space was dimly lit, and round booths upholstered in white surrounded circular tables. The host guided the two of them past a bar that sat in the middle of the floor and to the back wall.