“Sicily,” she says, placing her phone on the arm of the couch next to her elbow. “It’s a new Italian restaurant downtown. You’ll love it.”
“Is it expensive?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at her. All of us are in college, and funds are monitored closely. Or they should be anyway. At my last college, a lot of people dropped out because they no longer had the money to support themselves. I told myself I’d never be that person. I have the income from that calendar picture, and I have it budgeted out to last me until I have my brand-spankin’-new degree. Ivy, on the other hand, lives paycheck to paycheck.
She shakes her head. “We tried it out with my family when it first opened. It’s not unaffordable. Trust me.”
“All right,” I sigh out. I do love pasta—if my figure is anything to go by. With no excuses left, I pull my legs off Ivy and sit up.
“Where are you going?” she asks as I pick up my backpack and stand.
“To study before I get ready for tonight.” I head toward the hallway, shoulders slumped.
“Wear something cute tonight!” she hollers when I reach my room.
I do as she asked and put on a flowing black dress that does wonders to hide my hideous curves. It’s the reason I bought it. The girl in the fitting room at the store told me so, and that was all I needed to hand over my card in the checkout line. That was right after the Neil situation, and I was desperate to feel pretty again. I may or may not have gone on a shopping spree that day,but thankfully, my parents covered the cost. They understood and put the money in my account the next day.
Spinning in the mirror, I get a good look at the backside. Itdoesmake my ass look fantastic. And my makeup is totally on point; not too much, but it highlights my cheeks and my eyes and makes my face look thinner.
A knock sounds at my door. I stride to it and open it to find an impatient Ivy with her arms crossed and her foot tapping. She’s been checking in periodically, constantly reminding me of the time but also helping me curl my hair into soft beach waves. I’m not entirely thrilled about going, so I took my time, but now, I can hear a voice in the living room, and I wish I wasn’t the one everyone was waiting on.
“Dustin’s here,” she says, then she gives me a once-over. “You look gorgeous, girl.”
I do a little curtsy. “Thanks.”
“Ready?” I nod and she hesitates before she whispers, “Don’t kill me.”
I scowl. “Why would I kill you?”
She grimaces and looks down the hallway. “Just…remember that you love me.”
She takes off down the hall, and I follow her, a needle of fear in my heart. What did she do?
As soon as we enter the living room, I stop dead in my tracks. Standing and talking with Dustin is Reid. My heart stutters and leaps with joy before I stomp it down quickly. I may be excited that he’s standing in my apartment, looking fine as hell, but he can’t be here.
He’s dressed in a black, long-sleeve, buttoned-down shirt that’s rolled up at the sleeves, showing off his tan, muscled arms. His dark blue jeans hug every part of his hips and thighs, and his hair is styled in its usual carefree way. There’s a slight stubblealong his jaw that was there today in class, and it’s extremely appealing on him.
I look at Ivy and take in her guilty expression. “Is this a double date?” I accuse, my cheeks flaming hot.
My brother laughs out loud. “Absolutely not.” He slaps Reid on the shoulder. “He knows better than to date my sister.”
I frown at Reid’s sneaky smile but ask Dustin, “Then what’s he doing here?”
He shrugs. “I invited Reid when Ivy asked if you could come along. Figured we could make it a thing.”
I fidget under the weight of Reid’s stare, almost daring me to tattle on him and tell Dustin that, despite his wishes, Reid is pursuing me. But I’m not an asshole, and I can turn Reid away myself. If I want to. I definitely want to.
Ivy claps her hands together once, interrupting the silence that was probably awkward for everyone but me and Reid, and says, “Shall we?”
Dustin snakes his arm around Ivy’s waist and leads her to the door. “You got reservations, right?”
“Yep,” she confirms, popping the ‘p.’ “Table for four.”
“Who’s driving?” I ask as they head out the door. Reid and I are still rooted to our spots, the space charging between us the farther and farther Dustin and Ivy get away.
“Dustin,” Ivy calls over her shoulder.
As soon as they’re in the hallway, Reid returns his gaze to me. He holds it for a few heartbeats.
“What?” I ask quietly when he stares too long.
