Tags:
Fiction,
General,
Romance,
Contemporary,
Montana,
Western,
Westerns,
Teenage girls,
Sheriffs,
Single mothers,
Problem Youth
blonde glanced around the store and headed toward the lingerie section, and Caroline went back to sorting through bras. Some she liked, some she hated and some, well, they looked like something Mandy wore even though it was only gym class.
The woman wound up at a rack near her.
Ask. Sheâd know what to buyâ¦the manager would, too. But she couldnât. That would be way too mortifying. And only a moron would even have to ask what to get. Caroline glared at the stupid sizes and tried to make sense of them in comparison to herself. She stared at the cup, then down at her chest. Why had she thought this would be easy?
âI hate doing this, donât you?â
She glanced up, embarrassed. Had she been staring at her boobs or the bras when the woman asked her the question? âE-excuse me?â
âShopping for things like these. Oh, thatâs lovely.â She indicated the bra in Carolineâs hand. âAnd look at that.â She pointed out another. âI think that would be beautiful with your peaches-and-cream skin tone.â
Peaches and cream? Sheâd always considered herself a polka-dotted mess, sort of like oatmeal with too much brown sugar in spots.
Caroline didnât acknowledge her comment, and looked at the bra instead. It was light blue with a little lace around the edge to make it pretty. Nothing sexy or skimpy butâ¦that was okay. Until she had someone like Travis in her life, pretty would do. But should she pick up something for later? Just in case?
âI guess. The sizes are weirdâ¦arenât they?â Shewaited for the woman to laugh. She shouldnât have said that and felt stupid because of it, but the woman didnât even crack a smile. Maybe it wasnât so stupid?
âMost definitely. I wore the wrong size for years until I saw this show on television where this woman told how to pick the right one.â
âReally?â Why couldnât she have seen that?
âOh, look at this one.â The woman showed her a pretty tan bra with thin straps. âI love it. This would be perfect to wear under T-shirts. Itâs got a great liner.â She leaned toward her and lowered her voice. âThat way no one can see if youâre cold .â
The woman put the bra back where it came from, and Caroline tried to act casual while she moved to that side. She definitely needed one of those. Some mornings she got chilled going into school, and sheâd noticed Travis looking at her even though he was supposed to be dating Mandy.
Travis was cute. Way cute. A senior, starting quarterback and a track star. If she could date, heâd be the one .
Irritated at her useless dreaming, she glanced at the woman again. âSo, um, how did she say they should fit?â
The pretty blonde continued looking at the bras and lingerie sets while she went over the requirements, not making a big deal out of having to talk to an idiot like her while she shopped.
âHave you tried any on yet?â
âA few.â What a humiliating experience that was.
âNo luck, huh?â
âNot really.â Caroline bit her lip and wondered if her dad would give her a lecture about talking to strangers. âYou, um, think this is about the right size?â She felt her face getting hot and hated how easily she turned redwhen she got embarrassed. Mandy always made fun every time it happened in school. Especially in gym class. If only she could show Mandy and steal Travis away. Talk about payback.
Like Travis would date a loser who didnât even wear makeup.
âI think itâs close.â The woman paused in what she was doing, her head tilted to one side. âBut if you really want my opinionââ
âI do! I meanââ Geez, Caroline, act like a grown-up! âI mean, sure.â She shrugged. âWhatever.â
âWell, I think this one might fit a bit better. Or this one. Maybe try this one, too?â she