Once Dad has paid, we all head to Sable & Steam. Jack and I walk up to the counter together, and without even looking at the menu, we both order the exact same thing. I can tell he's not about to let me outdo him in the iced coffee department.
The barista gives us an amused look as we hand over our orders, and I can't help but smirk. Jack's happy for once, not because of anything specific, but because we're finally doing something that feels... normal. Even if we're not exactly on the same page, it's nice to see him acting like this.
He says, "So you also get the Iced Caramel Macchiato with extra caramel drizzle and a splash of whole milk?" I laugh slightly and nod. Jack grins, "Want to go halves on a lemon muffin?"
"Sure, why not," I reply, and we share the muffin between us. The sweetness lingers, a brief moment of normalcy in the chaos.
Once we've finished eating, we head to the dress shop. As soon as we step inside, a strange feeling hits me. I glance at the rows of delicate, frilly dresses and suddenly feel out of place.
"I suddenly feel uncomfortable," I admit, my voice quieter than usual.
As we look around, I catch Xavier's gaze across the store. He's standing near a display of dresses, his eyes locked on a red silk one. His attention shifts to me, and for a moment, I catch the way his expression softens, just slightly, before he speaks.
"What's your favourite colour?" he asks, his voice smooth, almost casual.
I blink, caught off guard by the question. It feels oddly personal, yet... not. "Black, red, and olive green," I reply without thinking, feeling a strange warmth rise in my chest at the simplicity of it.
Xavier gives a single, thoughtful nod, his gaze returning to the dress in front of him. There's something unspoken between us, a silent understanding—or perhaps just a flicker of connection.
Before I can dwell on it too long, I feel a sudden tug on my wrist. My body jerks slightly as I look down, only to see Jack's hand gripping my arm, pulling me toward another section of the store.
"Come on," he says, a mischievous grin on his face. "You need to try these on."
I try to pull my wrist out of his grip, but he's already dragging me forward, past a row of dresses, all in various shades of pinks and pastel colours. I glance back toward Xavier, but he's no longer looking at me—he's already moved on to another part of the store.
Jack pulls me toward a cluster of frilly, delicate dresses, the kind that make me want to cringe. "Trust me, you'll look amazing in these."
I pull my wrist free, glaring at him. "No, I won't."
He just smirks and grabs the first dress he finds—a light pink number—and holds it up. "Just try it. You never know. You might like it."
I look at the dress, then back at him, but before I can protest again, Jack's already dragging me toward the changing rooms, his determination outweighing mine.
Once I slip into the dress and glance at myself in the mirror, I'm hit with a wave of uncertainty. I don't feel like myself, but then Jack pokes his head in with a grin and says, "Look at how beautiful my sister is."
The words catch me off guard, and a warmth spreads through me at the sincerity in his voice. As if on cue, I feel a shift inside. Maybe I can pull this off. Maybe it's not so bad after all.
Before I can second-guess myself, Jack drags me out of the changing room, and I'm thrust into the open space. My heart races as I stand in front of everyone, suddenly aware of every eye on me.
I glance around, and my eyes meet Xavier's. He's standing by the door, his red eyes flicking over me with an intensity that makes my breath hitch. There's something in his gaze—something that makes me feel seen in a way I wasn't expecting.
And for the first time, I see myself differently in the dress. Maybe it's not so bad after all. Maybe it's actually... pretty.
Mum stands up, her eyes softening as she smiles at me. "You look so beautiful," she says, her voice filled with pride.
"Thank you," I mumble, feeling the warmth of her words settle over me, but before I can say anything else, a deep voice cuts through the moment.
"Isabella is beautiful no matter what she wears."
I freeze, the words washing over me. I turn my head toward the source of the voice, and there stands Xavier, leaning against the doorframe. His red eyes are fixed on me, a strange mix of intensity and something softer in his gaze. His words linger in the air, making me feel like he sees something in me I wasn't sure I was capable of seeing in myself.