Greta
“You look amazing, G. Perfect.” Callie eyed me, my long hair tumbling down my back. She’d been helping me do it all afternoon. I wanted to lookthebest. I wanted Aaron to forget how to talk. Why? I had been asking myself that all day, and no answer made sense besides to have one final, amazing night I would never forget.
The last hoorah. After tonight, things had to end. One final night of him pretending and me holding my heart together. My plan to save my heart had backfired—when I distanced myself from him, I ended up craving him more. Guys want what they can’t have, and his behavior had gotten more erratic. Showing up unannounced more often, buying me coffee every day, more social media posts and hand-holding.
I ate up the attention, even found myself pretending it was real. One side of my brain would bitch-slap the other and I forced myself to focus on the reality. It was fake.Fake. Fake. Fake.
Tomorrow. I would think about the end tomorrow. Tonight was for me. I would enjoy him one more time. Because Aaron loved like a flame, and the slightest wind would put it out. So, tonight was about burning, in all the good ways.
“You sure you can do it?” Her voice dropped low, her words chosen with care. “This charity event is big, but he can do it alone.”
“Yes.” I smoothed the red chiffon material down my thighs. It fit like a glove and was my favorite dress I owned. Aaron had also suggested a red dress, but this one had cut-outs on the sides. I wasn’t egotistical, but I rocked the hell out of it. And my confidence needed all the help it could get. Especially tomorrow. “Yes. I can do it.” I released a long pent-up breath. “When is Zade coming to get you?”
“In an hour.” She waltzed to the mirror and finished her own makeup. “I love fancy dinner dates. Who would’ve thought?”
“It’s like high school prom again. Only this time we don’t have those petty teachers watching us,” I quipped.Sure, use humor to avoid feelings. Totally normal.
“Yes!” She cackled, our eyes meeting in the mirror. “Do you remember how Katie got thrown out of prom, but showed up at the after-prom party anyway?”
“Epic. That year was epic.” The laughter relaxed me. The ball of anxiety inside my chest had taken root over the past week and the balloon of tension released some air at the fond memory. I needed to chill the hell out. “Whatever happened to her?”
“You know, I’m not sure. Last I heard, she moved to Chicago and is dating a hockey player.”
“Good for her. She knew how to break it down.” The minute of silence was enough to build the tension again, the smile on Callie’s face a mix between pity and concern. I knew she wanted to say something, but I held up a hand. “Cal, don’t. I’m fine.”
“I hate knowing you’re hurt. I hate it so fucking much.” Her clenched fists told me everything. That girl never got mad unless she was defending someone she loved. I happened to be on that list and I would be forever grateful.
“I agreed to it. I’ll be fine.” I blanked my face, found my battle mask and put it on. No more feelings. No more worries. No more thoughts about how all of this would be a mere memory the next day. The tall bottle of whiskey caught my eye. Without asking her, I poured two quick shots and gave her one. We clinked glasses, threw them back and winced. The burn felt good. “I’m going to dance my ass off, ride the shit out of Aaron and come back here for pancakes in the morning.”
“Fair enough.” She fought a small smile, not able to remain stoic much longer. “If you need anything tonight, let me know. Please.”
“Will do, C.” I hugged her, squeezing her tight against me, so hard she made anumph.“Love you.”
“Yeah, yeah. I think he’s here.” She pushed me away. I chuckled to hide the nerves. The faint thump of a car door traveled through from outside and Aaron’s heavy footsteps soon followed.
“Here goes.” My voice didn’t shake. Nope. Not at all. My palms didn’t feel like wet towels. And my legs weren’t trembling. I was calm, cool as a cucumber.Yeah, fucking right.
He knocked on the door three times. I lifted my arms, airing them out from the nervous sweat.Jesus. Why am I so goddamn nervous?My clammy hand clenched on the doorknob, turning it, and as I pulled it open, the familiar, enticing scent of Aaron hit me.God, he smells good.
“Hey,” I spoke first, leaning against the door. He’d dressed to the nines in a sleek dark charcoal suit with a bright red bowtie. Aaron’s old style, the flamboyant playboy, was back. And damn it, he looked good enough to eat. “You look amazing.”
He cleared his throat, his gaze roaming every inch of the front of my dress. It mollified me to see him struggle. The sick, twisted part of me wanted him to suffer. I knew I looked good, but speechless?Color me pink.
“Greta…just… Wow. Spin around.”
His caveman voice had me weak at the knees. I obeyed, showing him the back of the low-dipping dress. Because of the back, I was braless and he sucked in a breath. I guessed he’d figured it out when his gaze zoned in on my chest seconds later. “You’re perfect.”
It’s fake. Fake. Fake.
“Ronnie.” I fought a heavy blush. “Thank you. Don’t be ridiculous.”
“No. You’re perfect.” His large hand held my waist. The grip almost hurt.Almost. His other hand found my neck and tilted my face up to meet his. “Your red lips tease. I can’t walk away from them.”
“Yeah?” I puckered them, closing the distance and enjoying every taste of him. The dance our tongues did teased for what would come later, a slow-burning fire that I would cherish for the rest of my days. He bit down on my lip, pulling me toward him so we were chest to chest. He moaned into my mouth, the sound hitting me in the groin.
“God, you taste so fucking good. I should stop or we won’t make it. Coach told me to be there, so I need to go.”
“Of course.” I wiped my fingers over my wet lips, his arm slipping into mine as he guided me down the stairs. I shivered once the wind hit my back. The price of beauty was going sans coat.
