Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
SLOANE
I gaze at my reflection in Mandy’s full-length mirror, tugging at the bright red minidress she basically forced me into wearing. It hugs my curves like a second skin, showing off every inch I usually keep hidden under jeans and an oversized sweatshirt.
Mandy’s already dressed in a hot-pink minidress, her silver heels making her legs look like they go on forever.
I managed to wedge myself into the lowest pair she owns, because unlike her, I can’t walk in heels to save my life.
“Okay, I look ridiculous.” I toss my waves off my shoulders and scowl at the mirror.
“You look smokin’ hot.” She leans in to inspect the makeup she did on me and grins like a proud stylist.
From her expression, you’d think I’d actually pulled this off, but I just don’t see it.
I tug the neckline higher when it dips too low, but the second I do, the hem creeps up my thighs like it’s got a mind of its own.
Apparently I get to choose between flashing my ass or my boobs tonight, and I genuinely don’t know which is worse.
“Stop fidgeting.” Mandy steps behind me and adjusts the spaghetti straps. “If Kirill saw you like this, he’d have a hard-on for days.”
My face lights up like a stop sign. “Stop. We’re just friends.”
“Mm-hmm. How many times do you have to say that before you actually believe it?”
I groan. “Well, good news is he’s not gonna see me dressed like I’m about to audition for Magic Mike.”
“That makes no sense since, ya know, they’re dudes. But either way, you’d kill it.” Her lips twitch. “Now give me your phone. We need a picture of you.”
“What? No. Why?”
“Oh, shush.” She waves me off and snatches it off her dresser. “Come on, do something sexy. Who knows when the next time I’ll be able to get you into a dress will be?”
“Please tell me you’re not posting this anywhere.”
“Of course not. I know you hate that.”
Instant relief hits me. She thinks it’s just because I’m private. That’s been enough of an explanation for her.
“Fine,” I mutter, stiffly placing my arms by my sides.
Mandy stares at me like she’s genuinely reconsidering our entire friendship. “Okay, no. That’s not gonna work. Put your hand on your hip and pop it out a little.”
She demonstrates, effortlessly striking a pose I could never pull off in a million years. I try to mimic her the best I can, turning slightly, one hand awkwardly on my hip, and forcing a smile that is about as real as the lashes glued to my face.
Honestly, I still can’t believe I agreed to go to this club in the first place. The night is already starting off like a disaster.
Mandy doesn’t seem to care. She snaps a few pictures, hums with satisfaction, and then starts typing something into my phone like she owns it.
“Mandy, what are you doing?” I reach for it, instantly suspicious.
She backs away just enough to keep it out of reach, wearing that sly grin I’ve learned to fear.
But it’s too late. I catch the name at the top of the screen, and my heart drops straight into my stomach.
Kirill.
Crap!
“Mandy! What the hell are you doing?” I lunge toward her, panic rising.
She giggles as she spins away, but this time she hands it over without a fight.
It doesn’t matter. The message is already sent. A photo of me in the dress. And beneath it:
Sloane
What do you think of this dress?
I slap a hand over my mouth, groaning into my palm like that might somehow rewind the last thirty seconds.
“Are you insane? I cannot believe you just did that.”
Mandy just shrugs, completely unbothered, irises twinkling with mischief. “Oh, please. I didn’t say anything embarrassing. If anything, I did you a favor. The ball is in his court now, and, babe, you look so good he’s gonna be licking the screen.”
“I don’t want him to lick anything!”
“Except your…” Her laugh makes a blush creep up my face.
I groan louder. “Mandy—”
“Don’t Mandy me. These are the best years of our life before marriage and kids and obligations. So go get laid by the sexy Russian and have some damn fun, for fuck’s sake.”
I almost laugh. Fun isn’t really in the cards for me. My life is obligations. One in particular with a toothy smile and a favorite stuffed dinosaur. I don’t get to be a carefree twenty-three-year-old, not anymore.
But of course, I won’t tell her that. Not revealing my past is the only way I know how to keep Milo safe from it.
“He doesn’t care about me like that. I’m nothing more than a charity case.”
“You keep telling yourself that.” She crosses her arms. “But I know obsession when I see it.”
“Can we just go before I—”
My phone dings.
We both freeze.
Kirill
Where are you?
“Crap, he texted back.”
“What did he say?” Mandy practically leaps over me to peer at the screen. “Oh, shit. I bet he’s gonna show up at the club.”
I frown. “No he’s not. He’s got a son. Why would he even—”
“Sometimes you’re so oblivious it hurts.”
Before I can stop her, she grabs the phone right out of my hand and types something. I shake my head, officially giving up.
“There,” she says, handing it back like she just sealed a deal. “Now he knows where we’re going to be. Let’s see which one of us is right.”
Sloane
Club Viper. VIP section. It’s my friend Mandy’s birthday and she forced me to come. I’m excited though. I haven’t been dancing in forever, and that’s all I’m thinking about.
“Seriously?” I blow a harsh sigh.
Mandy just grins. “He’s going to lose his damn mind picturing you in that dress, surrounded by guys with their hands all over you. He’ll show up just to keep you in his sights. And by the end of the night? He’s gonna throw you up against the nearest wall and kiss you.”
“You’ve read way too many romance books.”
“So what?” She shrugs. “Sometimes that shit happens in real life.”
“Has it ever happened to you?”
“No.” She flips her hands in the air. “But I also don’t have a sexy Russian who wants to bone me.”
I don’t even get the chance to reply before my phone buzzes again. My pulse spikes hard when I see that it’s him.
Kirill
Dancing with who?
“Oh, shit.” Mandy laughs, elbowing me. “What did I tell you? Jealous. As. Hell.”
“What do I say?” My voice goes thin as I stare down at the screen like it might bite me.
“You say nothing.”
She plucks the phone from my hand and slips it into my handbag. Her lips widen into a cocky, diabolical smirk, and I’m actually afraid of her.
“Come on, let’s go. The taxi is about to get here.” She pulls me to her side and ushers me out the door.
Downstairs, her mom is in the kitchen, stepping out with a smile and a mug of tea in her hands. She’s got this refined beauty to her: long black hair, hazel eyes. The kind of presence that makes you feel safe without trying too hard.
“Don’t you girls look beautiful?” she says. “Be careful tonight, okay? And don’t drink anything you didn’t watch get made.”
“Yes, Mom.” Mandy leans in, kissing her cheek, and my stomach twists.
Growing up, I used to wish I had a mom like hers. Someone kind. Someone who looked at me like I mattered. But the one I had barely even fed me.
Stuffing the memories aside, I start for the door, but Mandy’s mom stops me.
“Don’t I get a hug?” Her grin and outstretched arm make emotions clog up my throat.
“Sorry,” I whisper, stepping forward, and the second she wraps me up, everything inside me stumbles.
“I’m glad you’re going too. It’s good to go out sometimes.”
“Yeah.” I nod, glancing down at myself once she pulls back.
“Well, you ladies have fun. Just not too much fun. And you’re welcome to stay over, Sloane. Whenever you want, okay?” She grabs my hand and squeezes.
“Thank you, Mrs. Fields.”
She makes a teasing face. “Stop with the Mrs. stuff. I’m Trish, got it?”
A real laugh slips out. “Okay…Trish.”
“Alright, the taxi’s here. We need to go,” Mandy says, already halfway out the door. “Bye, Mom.”
“Bye, girls.” She waves as she watches us head toward the gray sedan idling at the curb.
As I slide into the backseat, my thoughts drift back to Kirill’s text, to the way Mandy was so sure he’d come. Now I can’t stop wondering…what if he does?
The idea makes my body grow warm.
Just like that, this night starts sounding better and better by the second.