"This would look fabulous on you, Lizzie," I offer, holding up the electric blue pants suit that I find.
"Hell yes! It will so make your eyes pop. Hunter is going to love it," Betsy replies, grabbing it from my hand and pushing it up so that she can hold it in front of Lizzies lithe form.
Lizzie smirks, "Why ladies, I think you could be right!" stealing it from both of us and moving quickly into the change room.
I walk around the pretty boutique as I wait for Lizzie to change. Don't get me wrong, it is full of lovely stuff, just not the lovely stuff I like. Besides, I already know what I am going to wear.
Once changed, Lizzie flings the change room curtain open and struts dramatically around the store, showing us her catwalk prowess along her well-versed poses. We stand there applauding and laughing her on. Of course, she is well experienced, being a popular catwalk and photographic model for a few of the more traditional brands. Her face has graced a few billboards and fashion spreads.
She turns and shakes her ass at us, "Does my butt look too big in this?" she smirks, she knows it doesn't. She is drop-dead gorgeous.
It takes only a few minutes for her to change back and charge it to her Amex. We stand around chatting whilst waiting for the clerk to wrap her goods.
"So Gin, did you accept Dom's invite?" Karen asks as she slides her arm up over my shoulder, I look at her from the corner of my eye, her mirth sparkling in her eyes. She knows that I didn't.
"He asked again, didn't he?" Lizzie asks as she grabs the bag and we move further down the mall.
"I need food first, then we can talk about guys," I suggest and we all shuffle eagerly to grab a muffin and coffee.
We are just about to start our boy chat when my mobile rings, unsurprisingly it is Dom. I hold the phone up for the girls to see, then excuse myself as I take his call out in the mall.
"Ginny, you look gorgeous today," his deep voice laughs down the phone.
"Dom, now why would you be calling me today? Do you need my notes from Chemistry? Or did you need me to pick you something up from Trader Joe’s?" I respond good-naturedly. That's the thing about Dom, he is so damn easy to be around and he makes me smile.
"You evil woman, you wound me! Gin, it is time for my daily, beg-Gin-to-be-my-date call, so how 'bout it pretty girl," he asks softly, his question so full of hope.
"Dom...," I say looking back at the girls who are all lost in chatter, not paying me any attention. It's probably lucky that they don't see me, or they will see me lose myself as Hunter walks past in the distance, not even noticing me. Even from here he takes my breath away, and that is my problem with Dom. He is amazing, he is funny, dating wise he will be a safe bet. But he doesn't do that to me, rob me of my ability to breathe, see or hear.
"Gin, are you there?" he asks and I realise that I have dropped the phone to my side, his distant voice calling out.
"Sorry, yeah I am here. I just got distracted. Dom, I am sorry but my answer is the same as it was yesterday. Nope, I won't do it to you, until I know I can give you what you need from me. And today, I can't do that," I finish and realise that I am holding my breath waiting for his response.
"I don't get it Gin, how will you know if you don’t even give me a chance? All I am asking for is one night," he retorts back, his frustration, hope, and resignation evident in his voice. His response has me squeezing my eyes shut, as I try to escape the reality that it is my doing.
"Talk to you tomorrow Dom," my response is whisper soft. I hang up and hang my head in shame. I am not stringing him along but at the same time, it hurts that I did this to him. I know that he wants more than friendship from me.
I turn back to the girls, with a big pasted smile on my face, ready to face the grilling. They surprise me though, having all our stuff packed up, walking out to meet me on the street. Lizzie gives me a reassuring smile while Betsy winks in my direction.
Thankfully coffee is our last stop and we all pile into my car for the short drive back to St Joseph’s. It is good to get off campus today, away from the drama and just see something new. The next town over is only a thirty-minute drive away, and the mall certainly takes advantage of the young, rich crowd with the shops, cafes and stores. The discussion in the car steers clear of Dom, thankfully but we are all talking about the dance which is this weekend. I just need to get through the next week, a mountain of assignments and an increasing awkwardness between Dom and I.
Interestingly the study sessions with Hunter are less dramatic, even less awkward, than I thought they would be. Being in the library certainly helps. He is a very good tutor and he keeps things very platonic, without his usual all encompassing domineering persona. I haven't seen this side of Hunter since we were kids.
"You got it wrong here," he points to the middle sequence of my shitty code, using his pencil to show me where, before he places it back into his mouth, biting it while watching me through his glasses. Hunter is gorgeous. But Hunter in glasses is drop-dead-hallelujah stunning. I am pretty sure that the first time I saw him wearing them, I spluttered.
I get lost for a few moments, watching the pencil in his mouth, and when I do catch myself staring at him, my eyes flare in alarm before jolting to his, thankfully he is watching my code, although the small smirk on his face has me second guessing myself.
"I did exactly what we did the last time," I whine while I rub my eyes, the jumble of code is a long, detailed one.
"No, look at it again, you are better than that Gigi," he moves the pencil again from his mouth, spinning it in his long agile fingers before dropping it and using his finger instead to point at the screen. He leans closer to do so, as do I unintentionally and within moments Hunter's scent envelopes me. He responds as I do, looking at me in surprise, and then thankfully, or not, my phone interrupts him as Dom calls again.
"What does he keep calling for?" Hunter asks while staring at my screen as his name keeps flashing, "does he know that you are with me?"
His words have my eyes flying back to his in confusion.
"Well, you are. We are here studying Gigi. You are with me. Surely you are not confused by my words," his head tilts as his pretty blue eyes lock with mine. The small smile that dances over his lips is proof that he is enjoying the game he plays with me.
I lean away from him before grabbing my ringing phone, "Hey Dom, sorry I nearly missed your call," I say, my eyes locked on Hunter.
