Taking Chances (BYC #3)

11. Anne

11

ANNE

T he morning after is much less awkward than the previous night. I guess the drinking game helped us make progress, and I think I can say we became friends.

Though, a part of me has very unfriendly thoughts. The same part that entered the living room while he was still sleeping and saw him in his full glory.

Well, almost full glory.

Still, the blanket I gave him rode low on his hips, giving me the front row seat to his sculpted chest and torso.

His hand was behind his head, making his biceps flex. My gaze traced his tattoos all the way from his arms to the ink-covered pecs. His cut abs were the only ones without tattoos which only made them more visible. Even his ribs were full of artwork, covered in quotes I was dying to read.

My nipples tighten in an instant, reminding me I’m not wearing a bra. And I’m staring at a sleeping person. Like a sleazeball.

I quickly retreat to the kitchen to make some coffee. He enters the kitchen not long after, wearing a shirt and pants. Unfortunately.

“Have any plans for today?” he asks, probably just being polite.

“I do, actually. I usually volunteer at the domestic violence shelter on Saturdays.”

His eyes grow large as he draws a quick breath in. “Really?” He clears his throat.

“Mhm. We had a client at BYC in need of some help that surpassed our abilities.” I take a sip of my coffee. “We helped her find and contact the shelter. And I’ve been volunteering there ever since.”

“What do you do there?”

“I help out however I can, but mostly I help them sort through donations or organize some classes.”

He nods his head, though still a bit slack-jawed, so we drink the coffee in silence. He then excuses himself because he has stuff to do at home. I blame the sudden mood change on the headache he’s probably sporting since my head is killing me.

Rina and Natalie join me on a mission to find a dress for the wedding. We just started and I already hate it. It’s hard for me to find something that doesn’t make me look stocky, so the whole process is another hit to my self-esteem.

“What about this one?” Rina says, showing me a dress that looks way too short for my taste.

“Tsss,” I wince. “I think that’s too short. Just a bit.” By a bit, I mean probably ten inches too short.

“This is not a time to be modest, hon. You need to show off them goods. We want Bryce to drop dead,” Natalie states, dead serious. “Here, take this one.” She puts a dress in my hands.

“Come on, this one has a corset.” I groan.

“Just try it.” Sighing, I accept trying it on, if only to show her how ridiculous I’m going to look in it.

I pick a few more appropriate dresses and head to the dressing room. Rina and Natalie make themselves comfortable on the royal blue chaise lounge and I get to work. I hope to find a good dress from the ones I picked out so it won’t be necessary for me to try on Natalie’s pick, but there’s no such luck.

The first dress fits me like a potato sack. I want it to hide my flaws, but it would be preferable if I weren’t just a head floating above the dress.

The second dress is not too bad, at least that’s what I think, but Rina and Natalie both say ‘nope’ as soon as I exit the dressing room.

One of the dresses fits me well, but it’s peach colored making me look like a ghost.

There’s only one dress left and I’m feeling desperate. Against all odds, I managed to find a fake date who is basically a thirst trap come to life, but finding a dress I look good in seems impossible.

I zip up the dress, not even checking myself in the mirror before I exit the dressing room.

“Yaas!” Natalie squeals.

“Damn, you’re a goddess,” Rina adds.

My brows furrow with confusion so I turn to look at myself.

I do look pretty good. But the dress is not something I would ever wear.

“It’s great. But I don’t think it’s really me.”

“Not you? Girl, this dress was handmade in heaven with your body as the model,” Natalie responds.

“Come on, Nats. Look at this cleavage. The girls are practically spilling out.”

“You have amazing tits; you should show them off,” Rina adds, choosing the wrong side in this debate.

“And with the waist nipped like this, my hips are huge.”

“Umm, yeah. You could pretty much model the hourglass figure in magazines.” Natalie is still not giving it up.

“And my pasty leg is almost all the way out.” I’m still not giving up the fight, though when Natalie decides on something, she’s like a shark.

“You mean your hot, porcelain-skinned leg will be tempting everyone with eyes?” Rina chuckles at Natalie’s dramatics.

My shoulders drop and Rina quickly adds, “Look, we want Bryce to be sorry for what he lost, don’t we?” She gets up and takes my hands in hers.

“Yes.”

“We need to show him what he lost, then. Show him everything he lost.” Her eyes gape at my breasts pointedly, making me chuckle.

They are right. Bryce had no problem dumping the girl I am. So, I better show him the woman I can be. One he can never have again.

“OK,” I say and both of them squeal with delight.

“So, did you and Lennox become friendly enough? You should really be less embarrassed in front of your real boyfriend,” Natalie says as we exit the store.

Great, my embarrassment was visible to everyone.

“He’s just. . . so hot.” I sigh.

“Sooo hot,” Rina agrees, and Natalie starts giggling.

“You should use the opportunity of sharing the room with that man.” Natalie points a finger at me.

This time, I giggle. It’s ridiculous to think that he would be interested in me in a sexual way. But I’ll enjoy the view at least.

The whole fake date thing makes me nervous. There are so many things that could go wrong. I really need to keep it together for this one night.

“Anyway, I can’t wait to hear all about it on Monday before we head out,” Rina says.

She’s taking some vacation days, and she, Eric, and Connor will be heading to a cabin in Stevens Pass. The rest of us will be joining them Friday after work. We started planning this trip over a year ago, and with everything going on, I almost forgot about it.

“Great, another thing I’ll be single for.” I groan. We made the reservations months ago, and they included Bryce.

“We should probably invite Lennox,” Rina suggests.

“You know we’re not actually dating, right? You were there when we arranged the whole fake date thing?” I ask.

“I know, I know. But we do have extra space now that Bryce isn’t going.” She shrugs.

“If he has any doubts about the realness of you and Lennox after the wedding, a group photo or two should erase them.” Natalie is practical as ever.

“Sure. I don’t mind,” I say.

Here’s to hoping I don’t embarrass myself further because that would only make the next weekend more awkward.