I trail over her face, all the freckles and smile lines. She’s really cute when she’s interested in a topic, the way her entire face brightens up. “Yeah. Interesting that.”
“It didn’t bother your alpha that you wouldn’t be the prime of your pack?”
I shake my head. “No. I mean, the only true alpha thing about me is my size.”
Opal snorts. “And your standoff-ish beginner personality.”
That takes me back. “My what?”
Her amusement isn’t deterred. “You know… how you grunt your way through a conversation when you don’t know the person you’re talking to?”
Oh, gosh.“I do that?”
Surprise flickers over her features. “You didn’t know?”
“I mean, I knew I was quiet, but I didn’t know I was sosurly.”
She laughs. “Oh, the surliest. The most shy, surly alpha I’ve ever met. But it’s a part of your charm. Don’t worry about it too much.”
I find myself cracking a smile. “Well, if my friend tells me not to worry too much about it, then I guess I won’t.”
Opal gasps and puts her hand to her chest. “What’s this? Did you just call me your friend?”
“Oh shush, someone will hear you,” I say. “And I have a reputation to uphold, apparently.”
“It’s a winter miracle!” she singsongs, and her joy makes me grin openly, the surliness she spoke about crawling inside me to sleep. It feels nice, being open with someone, bantering. From the elation it grants me, I don’t think it’s something I should hide from anymore. Especially not around her.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Playing: “Crush” by Cigarettes After Sex
“Pick one. Green or Pink?”Cindy asks, holding up two very different dresses. One is velvet, and the other is frilly with a lot of tulle, but my finger immediately points to the green one.
“That one,” I answer.
Cindy laughs and puts both of the dresses on her bed. “Of course you’d go with green,” she teases me. “It’s lucky that this one is for you anyway. I’ll wear the pink.”
“Oh?” I say. “Where are we going?”
“To the dance, of course!” she exclaims. Her voice cracks a little, and it sends us into a fit of giggles, but then I process what she said and my stomach feels queasy.
“I don’t know… I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“And why not?” she asks.
“Because Vicky and the others will be there! I really don’t feel like being pointed at and laughed at today.”
“You can’t let them walk all over you forever,” she tuts at me, but her tone is kind. “This is our first dance. You can’t let those bullies keep you from having good experiences. I guarantee they won’t bother you.”
I purse my lips. “But how do youknowthat? They’re always staring at me anytime I walk into the room. There’s no way they won’t say something.”
Cindy gives me a sneaky smile. “Because if they do, they’ll have to go through me. And I unfortunately have a habit of spilling my punch.”
I gasp and laugh. “Cindy!”
She shrugs, her smile both devious and warming. “I heard they’re making blackberry punch, too. I bet Vicky’s dress won’t survive it.”
“That’s diabolical!” I say with a huge smile, the pronunciation all twisted. Cindy gives an evil laugh, joking as she moves her hands together like an evil mastermind. As we get dressed, I keep admiring her courage, her freedom to live carelessly, and happiness bleeds into the warped reality, dousing me in color. It’s a good time. The best time.And when she holds out on her promise and douses Vicky’s light blue dress in liquid the color of licorice,I think… I have the best friend in the entire world.
