9
Gianna aka Ria (17years)
“I don’t think I should come. It’s a school night.”
“Nonsense. You’re a fucking geek and it’s just for an hour or two. My uncle and aunt won’t even know you’re going.” Ishara scowled at me over her shoulder. “Anyway, now you can meet Jake seeing as you have no idea who the other guy is and not likely to meet him again.”
Ishara was accompanying Rex to a party at Jake’s house and Rex had invited me. She’d fetched me from home two hours ago, telling my parents she needed my help with a work project and that she’d drop me off at school in the morning. My reluctance had nothing to do with meeting Jake but everything to do with how I couldn’t stop thinking about the stranger’s kiss since meeting him five days ago. “You never know,” I mumbled
She pivoted away from her closet door, the flare of her cocktail dress swinging around her thighs. “The man’s just going to stay in your dreams, babe.” Laughing, she wiggled her brows.
What I hadn’t told her was that I could’ve sworn I’d seen him outside my school yesterday and the store I’d gone to with Bhavna the day before that. When I looked again, he’d disappeared making me believe I’d imagined him. I figured Ishara would call me delusional, so I kept quiet about it.
“How do you plan on losing your virginity before your eighteenth birthday, if you don’t meet any guys? One of her perfect brows arched, and I shrugged having forgotten all about my vow. She held out her hands. “So, what do you think?”
My gaze traveled the length of her body and I let out a long-drawn-out sigh. The red mid-thigh halter-neck brought out the sparkle in her smoky brown eyes. “You’re way too freaking gorgeous for Rex if you ask me.” My cousin might not agree but she was just too hot for the guy.
“Love is blind, babe.” She winked, clasping a row of pearls around her neck. “Now get a move on.” She tipped her chin at the white dress she’d laid out for me on the bed. “Put that on.”
Grumbling incoherently, I picked my body up from the beanbag I’d been slouching in and scrambled out of my jumper and bra. Moving to the bed in my cotton underwear, I reached for the dress, loving the soft silk before stepping into it. Sliding up the zipper at my side, I walked over to the mirror and stared, not recognizing the girl staring back at me. “Wow,” I whispered.
“What did I tell you?” Ishara moved to stand behind me and our gazes met in the mirror. “Beautiful.” She kissed the back of my head. The cap-sleeved dress with its plunging neckline, tucked-in waistline, and flared mid-thigh skirt added years to my young age. Earlier, she’d curled my long locks to swirl around my waist then gripped up one side with a diamond comb. She’d also done my make-up like hers. Smoky eyeshadow made my green eyes look larger and the glossy pink lipstick made my lips fuller and thicker.
“My beautiful cousin is all grown up and so ready for some cock.” She chuckled. Blushing, I stuck out my tongue at her. She returned the gesture before her arms came around me. One holding a pair of silver heels and the other, a jewel box holding a pendant with diamonds outlining the shape of a silver dolphin and one in the eye with matching earrings.
“Oh, my God.” I stared at the jewelry. “I can’t wear those, they look expensive, and I don’t want to lose them.”
“Then you’re going to have to take good care of them because they’re yours.”
“What?” My gaze snapped up to meet hers in the mirror once more.
“I was going to wait until your birthday to give you your gift but I figured this was better because you get to we—”
“Shut up,” I choked, grabbing the jewel box. “These are mine?” She nodded. “Oh, God, Shara.” I turned around and hugged her. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” I kissed her cheek.
Laughing, she broke the embrace and stepped back. “I’m glad you like them.”
“I freaking love them.” Switching my flower stud earrings with the dolphins and then clasping the necklace around my neck, I admired them in the mirror. “They’re gorgeous.” My cheeks were pink from blushing so much.
“Now the shoes.” Ishara held them out. When I slid them on and buckled the clasp, she stepped back to look at me. “Yep, all grown up. Let’s go show the men out there, the beautiful new addition to the female adult population.” Laughing, we left the room.
“Ria, I’d like you to meet Jake Steiner,” Rex introduced me to his friend fifty minutes later as he greeted us at the door.
