Can’t wait. Car will be there in 15 mins!
What am I doing?I brush my hands over my torso.Getting your ring back of course. What’s the harm in flirting too?
18
It’safrivolousproblem,but I’m not sure what to wear. My outfit can’t scream “groupie in need of another fix,” but I don’t want to appear like a stick in the mud, annoyed and waiting to collect what was taken and then turn and leave. Maybe a black and red plaid skirt with a black spaghetti strap crop top. Simple but nice.
As I change, my eye catches the red leather jacket lying haphazardly on my bed. It wouldn’t hurt to try it on and see if it will make or break the outfit.
A boot hidden underneath a pile of clothes trips me and I go flying into a bookshelf. It wabbles but thankfully doesn’t tip over. Unfortunately, a dozen books rain down from the shelves, forcing me to cover my head for protection and wince as random sharp edges of hardcovered books strike my body.
Alice bursts into my room wearing a thin nightshirt that comes to her thighs. “What the hell are you doing?”
“What are you wearing?” I ask, rubbing my head where the corner of a book hit me. I check for blood on my hand and am happy to say I don’t see any. But I’m going to have a giant knot on my head. At least my hair will hide it.
“Emily and I got comfy on the couch,” Alice says, pushing the door open wider. She scratches the back of her leg with her right foot. “Did a bomb go off in here?” She kicks a pile of shoe boxes, and they tip over, spilling their contents.
“I tripped and was almost killed by books.”
“Sounds legit with the number of books you hoard.” She leans against the doorway.
“Hey, books are important,” I reply, while unburying myself from the books and standing on shaky legs.
Alice coughs when she smells one of the many perfumes on my dresser. “If I don’t need to rescue you, I’m going back to my movie.” She scrunches her nose as she replaces the perfume.
“I’m going out,” I say too fast, grabbing my leather jacket and pushing past her. “Turns out Sully did steal my ring.” I grab my phone from my bra and show her the picture he sent. “And he wants me to come get it.”
She forgets about my perfume collection and snatches my phone, zooming in as if I’m lying. A whistle sails through her lips as she taps a pink fingernail on the screen. “Of course he does.” She snickers. “You got him good.”
“Please. He’s stealing jewelry off my person as an excuse to see me again. Isn’t that borderline psychopath or something?”
She shrugs. “Depends on who you ask.” She clicks her tongue and grabs the jacket from my grasp. “This is a no. Are you trying to look like Lzzy Hale?”
“At least I’m not wearing sky-high boots,” I say, glancing down at my outfit.
She shakes her head, tossing the jacket onto my bed. “Maybe at a concert you can look all rock glam, but you’re meeting him at his place. You need to be more subtle.” She dusts invisible lint off my shoulder and walks around me with a finger pressed to her lips. “If you want, I can be your fairy godmother like what Cinderella had. I’ll dress you up before—”
“No. I’m not a princess and never will be.” I push her away and walk toward the living room. She’s hot on my tail and is about to argue when a car horn honks outside. I check my phone. It’s my ride.
Emily stands up, holding a mostly empty popcorn bowl. “What’s going on?”
Alice bats her eyelashes at me. “Veronica here has bagged a sexy bass player who stole her favorite ring to get her back into bed.”
“Damn. Sounds ripped out of the pages of a steamy romance novel.”
Alice snort laughs. “It does.”
“I can’t believe you two.” I sigh. “My ride’s here so—”
“Go nail that rock star.” Emily loops her arm around Alice. “We approve.”
Alice giggles, yelling, “You’re being safe, right?” as she makes a dick motion with her hands. Emily is cry laughing, slapping the top of the couch.
“I’m not a teenager. We’re good. Thank you,Mother.” I snag my purse and slip on a pair of flats and hightail it outside before she tries fixing my hair or adding lipstick to my bare lips.
Alice means well, but I don’t need her to be my big sister and dress me for a “hot” date nor do I need any advice from her or Emily. I like that Sully has seen me without a mask. He’s seen the real me and wants more.
I slide into the back seat of the waiting town car and dig inside my purse for my strawberry lip balm. The driver is the strong silent type, following the GPS while playing classical music on low. It’s awkward going to a place I’ve never been. Maybe insane. My stomach turns on itself as doubt gnaws at my brain.
