Submitting to my Ex Uncle-Chapter 177

Three hours later:

.....

"This is a stunning Chapter." Celeste said above Amara’s head, her eyes still glued to the scribbled page, with her lips curved in awe. "Here, fix the zipper," she added, tugging lightly at the fabric that had slipped down her back.

Amara rose from the velvet seat of the boutique changing room, her notepad balanced in one hand. She slid the zipper up with slow, careful fingers, grazing over the warm silk of Celeste’s dress.

Celeste’s gaze caught the mirror and lingered, admiring the way the champagne satin clung to her curves. She tilted her chin with a little smile. It was the kind of smile she showed whenever she was perfectly aware of the effect she had.

"Let me see that," Celeste reached for the notebook.

Amara tucked it against her chest like a secret. "No."

Celeste turned then, all gleam and shimmer, and leaned forward until the tip of her nose brushed Amara’s. The touch was feather-light, and playful, but the gesture left Amara’s breath hitching.

A laugh spilled from Celeste, soft and warm. It wasn’t a kiss, but it was something that hummed dangerously close to one, the kind of affection only they dared.

"Elias is your muse?" Celeste teased, her eyes narrowing with mock suspicion.

Amara rolled her eyes, though her lips twitched. "Hardly." She pushed Celeste toward the mirror with a gentle hand. "Every cloth you try on looks stunning. It’s unfair."

Celeste spun lightly, the dress catching in the boutique lights like liquid gold. "Says the one who could put Aphrodite to shame just by blinking."

Amara only laughed, shaking her head, and scribbled a quick note in the corner of her notepad. "I meant what I said," she smiled, when she raised her face to Celeste again.

Celeste turned her head, lips tugging into a grin. "That’s because you’re my audience, Amara. I’d look stunning in a potato sack if you said so."

"True," Amara deadpanned, but her eyes sparkled. "But also no. This one actually looks like it was stitched with your name in the lining." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Minutes later, Amara emerged from the fitting room in a forest green wrap dress. The way it cinched her waist and let the skirt spill in soft waves was almost unfair. Celeste gasped so dramatically that Amara covered her face with her hands.

"Stop!" Amara laughed behind her palms.

"No, you stop!" Celeste cried, rushing to her, prying her hands away. She leaned close, their reflections doubled in the mirror, and rubbed her nose against Amara’s again.

"See?" Celeste whispered against her skin. "Stunning. You are always stunning."

Amara smiled, taking Celeste’s hands in her. "I love you, C. I love you beyond measure. You’ll have to multiply the stars in the sky by seven to know the amount of love I have for you."

Celeste’s heart melted. She rested her chin on Amara’s shoulder. "I love you."

Both ladies blink, they’re eyes glistening. Amara chuckled, and broke the atmosphere. "Let’s wear some more dresses, and shoes, shall we?"

They tried on dresses as though the boutique were their playground. Celeste in a fiery red slip, Amara declaring her a living flame.

Amara in a powder-blue off-shoulder gown, Celeste insisting she looked like the sky bottled into fabric. Every time one of them stepped out, the other gasped as if seeing her for the first time.

"Spin for me," Amara said, tapping her pen against the notebook.

Celeste obeyed with dramatic flair, her skirts flying. "If you don’t write me into your story as the goddess of every dress, I’m disowning you."

"You’ve already stolen half the pages."

"Good. I’ll take the rest."

Amara laughed, her eyes gleaming with admiration.

The saleslady watched from a polite distance, smiling knowingly. She’d seen women come in with heavy purses, with sharp eyes, and with bored expressions.

However, these two... these two carried the kind of bond that lit her world up, and made every mirror in the boutique a portal to something tender.

Amara changed into a pale pink dress next. Celeste’s hands flew to her mouth. "You can’t wear that unless you want every man on the street to trip over himself."

Amara arched her brow. "Good. Let them trip."

Celeste dissolved into laughter. She pulled Amara close, pressing their foreheads together, with their noses brushing once more. Their reflections kissed in the mirror even if they didn’t.

By the time the fifth round of dresses ended, their cheeks ached from smiling. Amara jotted more words in her notebook.

Celeste picked up her phone, her lips curling into a secretive little smile.

"What?" Amara asked, suspicious already.

"I have a surprise for you," Celeste said, her lashes lowering as if she were hiding something delicious.

Before Amara could even question it, a soft ding chimed from her own phone. She frowned, ignoring it, and kept scribbling in her notepad, thinking it was from Elias.

Celeste tilted her head. "Pick it up."

"Later," Amara waved it off.

"No," Celeste insisted. "Now."

With a huff, Amara finally reached for her phone. She unlocked it, her eyes skimming across the glowing notification. Then, she froze. Her entire body stiffened.

Her jaw dropped. "Celeste... no. No way."

On the screen was a bank transfer alert. $5,000,000.00 received. From Celeste.

Amara’s eyes widened so much she looked like she might faint. Her fingers trembled as she threw the phone onto the velvet couch like it had burned her. "No way!" she gasped again, breathless.

Celeste only shrugged innocently. Right now, she looked like the perfect picture of mischief wrapped in silk. She leaned back, crossed her legs, and smiled like it was the most casual thing in the world. "What?" she teased, "You said you needed new dresses. I’m just helping."

Amara’s chest heaved. She stared at her best friend for a heartbeat too long, then let out a disbelieving laugh. "You’re insane."

And before Celeste could move, Amara launched herself forward with a gentle dive. She landed right on Celeste, knocking her backward onto the couch with a squeal.

Celeste’s laughter burst free, high and bright, as Amara straddled her, fingers flying mercilessly to her ribs.

"Take it back!" Amara cried, tickling her furiously.

"Never!" Celeste screamed between laughter, her voice breaking into breathless giggles. "It’s yours now! Spend it!"

Amara pressed her forehead against Celeste’s, both of them shaking with laughter, their noses brushing once more as if even in chaos they couldn’t help but find that closeness.

"You’re impossible," Amara whispered, still tickling.

"And you love me for it," Celeste shot back, grinning wide even as tears of laughter pooled in her lashes.