4-to-1

Eight - Emergency Shopping Trip

Blaine

"You think we'll get to see her in any of her selections?" I glanced over at Gray, sitting in the chair next to mine outside the dressing room. His head was resting on the back of the chair, looking up at the ceiling. We had been waiting awhile for Lexi to come out.

"Honestly," I sighed, looking back at the entrance to the dressing room, "I'm not sure at this point. I don't even know how much I care if we get to see her in any of the items she took in." I paused as a thought occurred to me.

"Hey, did you see how many items she took in to try on?"

"Yeah, it was only about three or four. I tried to suggest a few, but she shook her head each time."

"Hmm. I wonder why she's so hesitant. I know she's not very outgoing these days, but I've seen her at the beach once or twice in recent years."

"What type of swimsuit did she wear?"
"Styles very similar to those you suggested."

"Huh. Seems odd she would reject the same type now. Wonder what changed."

"I do as well. She was very hesitant, even with some of the more modest options."

"Yup. It was weird. Maybe something she's trying on will-."

He stopped talking and straightened as we heard footsteps near the entrance. We knew it was Lexi, because we were the only ones in the store at the moment.

"Damn Baby Girl! That looks great on you." Gray's comment caught my attention.

When did he start calling her by pet names?

I mentally shook myself and focused on Lexi. She was wearing what appeared to be bikini bottoms with a rash guard style top. I was a little surprised by the top, since we wouldn't be at the beach with boards, but the suit fit her very well.

"He's right, Lexi. That looks really great on you."

"Yeah? I was a little hesitant about the cut, but really like the leafy pattern."

"The blue leaves on the black background do seem to look nice against your skin tone."

"Plus, y'know, your legs look amazing." I watched as Grayson openly trailed his eyes down her legs, before bringing his grin back up to Lexi's now blushing face.

"Great. I'll get this one then. Let me go change, and we can head out."

As she turned back towards the fitting rooms, Gray let loose a soft whistle.

"That's not a bad view either."

I couldn't disagree with him there. Lexi had always had a shapely rear end, even when we were little. It was one of the reasons Dex had had such a huge crush on her back then. He had developed a fascination with girls' butts pretty early on.

The awkward chuckle that floated back indicated she had heard his statement, as intended, but it had a slight quiver to it that suggested she might be a little embarrassed.

"It's nice to hear her laugh, even softly. I don't think I've heard that sound in years."

"Really?" Gray and I sat back down to wait for Lexi to change back into her regular clothes. "I know you all had a falling out years ago, but I figured she must laugh with other friends, or at the random jokes we all hear circulating the school in not so quiet whispers."

I frowned at that, as I struggled to picture Lexi hanging out with anyone at school....and couldn't recall a single friendly face in her presence.

"Hmm. I'm actually not sure I've seen Lexi hanging out with anyone at school. Aside from you, that is."