Chapter Ten
Present Day
I used the spare hotel keycard to unlock the door and walked inside. Theo wasn’t there, which was fine. I hadn’t actually expected him to spend the entire day waiting for me to get back.
Curiosity killed the cat as they say though and the bag in my hand suddenly felt like an anvil.
I walked into the bathroom and undressed. I dipped in for a quick shower - to wash the summer heat off. Then once I was done I changed into lingerie. Just to try it out, to see if the sales woman’s words held weight. It wasn’t until I had it on that I allowed myself to look in the mirror.
I frowned as my fingers ran over my body. I’d spent so many years hating my body that looking at it in the lacy fabric and not hating my reflection felt weird.
A knock on the bathroom door interrupted my thoughts.
“Can I join you?” Theo said.
Fuck. Not like this, it looked like I was trying too hard.
“I’m uh, I’m almost dressed.” I lied.
I reached for my clothes and pulled them over the lingerie before opening the bathroom door and walking out. Theo grinned and pulled me into his arms the moment the door opened. He kissed me, but I must have been tense because he stopped.
“Is this still okay?”
I contemplated saying no. Maybe things would go back to normal if I said no. But I didn’t want to say no, I wanted him to kiss me.
“Yes, of course.” I replied.
He answered my want with a long, slow and almost painfully arousing kiss.
“Can I take you to dinner?”
My stomach rumbled as an answer. I hadn’t eaten since the salad I’d ordered at lunch with Sloane.
“Please.”
Halloween 2016 - Sophomore Year
The party had a theme: “Sexy [Insert Profession].” Because of course it did. Was it even a college party if you weren’t trying to make things sexy?
I’d gone as a sexy librarian because it required the least amount of effort and the most amount of clothing. Pencil skirt, white button-up, glasses I didn’t need, hair in a bun. Perfect.
There’d been a guy in my Psych class—Alex—who’d been flirting with me for weeks. Sitting next to me, asking to study together, walking me to my dorm. I’d thought maybe he actually liked me.
He’d been at the party dressed as a sexy firefighter, which was really just yellow jeans, red suspenders and no shirt. He’d waved me over when I’d walked in.
“Gin! You made it!”
We talked. Danced. He’d brought me drinks. Around midnight, he’d leaned in close and asked if I wanted to go somewhere quieter.
I’d been about to say yes when a girl dressed as a sexy nurse had appeared and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
She’d been exactly what every guy wanted. Tiny waist, perfect everything, costume that barely qualified as clothing.
Alex had glanced at me, then back at her. “Hey, Bri.”
“Come dance with me,” she’d pouted.
I’d watched the decision happen in real-time. I watched him calculate. Watched him choose and it wasn’t me he chose.
“Yeah, sure.” He’d looked back at me. “Hey, Gin, we’ll catch up later, yeah?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Sure.”
They’d disappeared into the crowd. I stood there holding my drink, feeling like an idiot.
Later meant never. He’d stopped sitting next to me in Psych. Stopped asking about studying. I’d been the backup plan, until the real option had shown up.
I’d left the party an hour later and walked home alone, still wearing my fake glasses.