Wish you were mine

16. Caught In Between

PENELOPE

I stand in my walk-in closet, staring at the sea of designer clothes that line the racks. Every piece, carefully curated over the years, is a testament to my taste-elegant, bold, expensive-but tonight, none of it feels right. My eyes drift from one hanger to the next. Sequins, silk, lace, satin... so many choices, but I'm completely stuck. A knot of nerves twists in my stomach. I hate to admit it, but I'm not sure if it's because I can't choose an outfit or because of this date with Adrian.

"Penelope!" I hear Sophie calling from the hallway, her voice muffled through the walls.

"I'm in the closet!" I call back, my voice louder than intended, the frustration seeping through. I sigh and sit down on the ottoman in the center of the closet, tugging my robe tighter around myself. I've been here for what feels like forever, and I still have no idea what to wear.

A moment later, Sophie steps into the room, her eyes scanning the racks of clothes before landing on me. "Are you going anywhere?" she asks, one brow arched, hands on her hips. She's still in her work clothes, neat and composed as usual. I must look ridiculous sitting here in a bathrobe like I'm not about to go out in less than an hour.

"Yeah," I say casually, not quite meeting her gaze. "I'm going on a date with Adrian."

Sophie's eyes widen, her mouth dropping open in pure shock. "Wait-what? Adrian? Tonight? Was this planned?"

I shrug, playing it off like it's nothing. "Sort of. We made plans this afternoon."

Her expression softens slightly, but the surprise still lingers. "And have you, uh, decided what you're wearing?" she asks, eyeing the untouched racks of clothes, as if she already knows the answer.

I shake my head, feeling a little foolish. "No. I can't decide. Everything feels... wrong, I guess." I gesture helplessly at the abundance of dresses and shoes, an ocean of choices that are somehow paralyzing me tonight. "Could you pick something for me? I just-I don't know. I'm too confused."

Sophie gives me a look that's a mix of exasperation and fondness. It's a look I've seen so many times before. "Fine, but where are you going? That'll help."
"La Rosa Celeste," I say, glancing down at my hands. "You know, that fancy Italian place downtown."

She lets out a low whistle, her lips curving into a smile. "Well, if you're going to La Rosa, you definitely need to look stunning." Her eyes flick over the racks before she reaches out, her fingers brushing over the fabric of a dark blue sequin dress. She pulls it out and holds it up for me to see. "This one. It's elegant, but sexy. Perfect for a date at La Rosa."

I stand up and take the dress from her hands, running my fingers over the sequins. The deep blue sparkles under the soft lighting, the slit along the thigh just daring enough to feel confident but not over the top. It's perfect. "You're right," I say, smiling for the first time since I stepped in here. "This is the one."
I slip into the dress, the fabric hugging my curves in all the right places, and quickly pair it with matching blue heels. Sophie hands me a pair of silver earrings that shimmer just as much as the dress, and I clip them on, feeling more like myself with each piece.

At the vanity, I keep my makeup simple but bold. A touch of mascara, a hint of bronzer to give my skin a soft glow, and finally, a deep red lipstick. As I swipe the color across my lips, I can't help but think back to when I knew nothing about makeup, when Sophie used to do my face for me, teaching me little by little. It feels like a lifetime ago. Time really does change fast.