Rock My World Read Free Page B

played for her.
    He regretted the way they got married, and even
worse, his proposal—or lack thereof.   He hadn’t been the best boyfriend (for which Jenna was all too
forgiving) but he could have at least given her a proper proposal. Instead,
while their parents sat them down, deciding what to do with them and their
compromised futures, Alex blurted out, “We’re getting married!” It had the
desired effect: shutting their parents up. But Jenna didn’t say a word. She
looked down, hands on her stomach, silent.
    When everyone finally settled down and came to
terms with their impending parenthood, they went to the courthouse and signed
the papers. That was it. All it took to become man and wife. It was quite
possibly the least romantic proposal and wedding of all time, despite being on
Valentine’s Day.
    That’s why tonight was so important to him. He
could finally give her the proposal she deserved, having realized the success
they’d both worked so hard for. He intended to make up for everything he hadn’t
been able to give her all these years and get that sad image of her with her
hands on her belly to stop haunting him.
    ***
    Jenna strolled along the newly cobbled courtyard,
its equidistant palm trees strewn with fairy lights. Lampposts draped with
hanging flowers lent a vaguely European feel to the outdoor mall. She loved
shopping for so many reasons, but her favorite thing was looking at window
displays. Perfect mannequins dressed for every occasion transported her to
alternate realities: a romantic gondola ride through Venice; a group of four
best friends out for a fashion forward night at the trendiest hotspot you’ve
never heard of; a single woman of eccentric yet chic taste, clearly in control
of everything in her life. Each window promised that anyone could become an
entirely new person if they only dressed the part.
    The way the monochromatic whites played off the
textures of colorful displays and bold accessories stirred in her a longing to
be this store. In her next Zen meditation session, this would be her happy
place, she thought as she perused rack after rack of bizarre accessories.   On their own, they could look gaudy or
garish, but paired just so, they evoked an image of a woman whose confidence
allowed her to play with fashion, utterly unconcerned with labels and seasons
of acceptability. She could be anywhere in the world, equally happy on her own
or with a lover or friend. Jenna wished she could be her.
    “May I help you?” a teenage salesgirl asked. Jenna
smiled, reflexively about to refuse.   Instead, she found herself saying, “This store is incredible! Do you
sell shoes too?”
    The young sales girl, glancing from head to toe at
Jenna’s haute couture ensemble, raised a skeptical eyebrow.
    “Yes, the shoes are in that corner back there,”
she said pointing to the other side of the store. “Let me know if you need help
with sizes.”
    “Thanks! You know … I’m not crazy. I just don’t
get out much.” She said, feeling ridiculous to be swooning like a crazed
love-struck schoolgirl.
    She found the perfect pair of kitten heels to go
with the dress she’d picked out; a large multi-stoned jeweled bangle to go with
an almost-but-not-quite-matching pair of earrings; a too warm but amazing pea
coat; and finally, a tiered chiffon dress perfect or Felicity. The way the
fraying mismatched fabrics fell together into a soft silhouette seemed perfect
for her daughter, who was anything but a “girly girl.” Felicity hated when
Jenna bought her clothes, claiming that she was trying to “impose an antiquated
anti-feminist ideal” onto her. Those were her actual words. Where that
vocabulary came from, Jenna would never know. Never mind. She would look amazing in this dress! Jenna thought as the
salesgirl rung it up, folding it neatly into sheets of ivory tissue paper.
    Outside the store, the velvety blue sky warmed her
skin, which tingled with excitement at the mere thought that the day