If I Knew Then

Chapter 14: An Embarrassed Model Crashes a Wedding

Amelia: Wear something that's a perfect mix of casual and fancy.

      I blinked at my phone. What? What did that even mean? I glanced between my phone and closet with rising panic. Should I ask for clarification? Surely if she thought it required more explaining she would have done so? Did she expect me to know her well enough to seemingly read her mind like she did me?

      "I'm only barging in because my angel senses are telling me you're decent." And barge in Jaxson did, only he was accompanied by Leonard and one of the house's newest members. Arms decorated with hangers and outfits, all three sat on my bed and watched me expectantly. I blinked at them, eyeing the clothes laid out on their laps with apprehension.

     Jaxson pulled at his collar dramatically, breaking the awkward silence. "Jeez, I think you're worse than I was with Lexi," he said. "The stress spurting from your body is making me angsty."

      I narrowed my eyes at him. "I'm so sorry to inconvenience you." Did I have to remind him that he was the one to barge into my room?

      Jaxson dismissed me with a wave of hand, tossing me a pair of black trousers and a lace white blouse. "No more fear, your guardian angel is here!" He was way too excited about this. Leonard and I groaned at the same time. It was a groan of defeat, a groan of knowing that there would be no derailing his thoughts if he had an idea in mind. He looked at the outfit hanging off my arm and then nudged his head towards the furthest corner in my room. I followed his gaze to the new Chinese dividers and understood what he wanted. We were having a fashion show and I was the model. I cringed but took my place behind the flowery divider. I was too tired to deal with the stubbornness of Jaxson Scott. I didn't bother refuting his intentions or asking where the dividers came from.

      Outfit after outfit, I twirled in front of them, posing in the ridiculous ways Jaxson requested. He also felt the need to take pictures of every outfit. He claimed it could be used for their final decision if needed, but I suspected it was for blackmail purposes. Surprisingly, I was enjoying myself. I didn't enjoy being the centre of attention, but amongst three different personalities, their commentary was hilarious, and I found the previous tension in my muscles, gently unraveled.

      Jaxson had a pretty good sense of my style. Every outfit was something I would have chosen for myself... except the equestrian one. I hesitated behind the dividers, already cursing. This one had to be for his amusement.

      Stepping out in jodhpurs, a fleece jacket, and a brown cowboy hat, I didn't need to use my words. Jaxson understood my thoughts by my narrowed eyes. Leonard and our newest member fell into a fit of laughter as Jaxson tried to explain himself.

      "I'm just exhausting all of your options," he tried. "Who knows what she has planned for your d—outing."

      "And what led you to believe that horse riding would be her brilliant idea?"

      "Can't think of anything closer to a unicorn. I mean you did buy her a balloon horse."

      I froze. His words weren't completely absurd. I had a friend from elementary who brought us horseback riding for her birthday. I enjoyed visiting the ranch, witnessing the way they cared for the horses. But when it came to the riding... It was an hour of tense bouncing, consumed by the fear that I would go flying off my tall black mare. And the pain in my rump lasted for days. If anyone was seeking for buns of steel, I'd know where to aim my recommendations.

      "But she said a mix between casual and fancy," I reasoned. "We're not horse riding."

      "Maybe it's a special horse related event."