Chapter 1
Chapter One
brOOKLYN
“Do you want pizza?” Blair, my roommate, shouts from somewhere inside our apartment.
“No,” I shout back as I stare into my closet. I have nothing to wear and I wonder why my date had to pick somewhere so fancy. At least I’ll get a good meal out of it.
“No?” My door flies open. “Are you sick?” Blair walks into my bedroom and looks me over. Cherry and Harlow stand behind her, peeking in. They’re always at our place or we’re always at theirs since they live across the hallway.
“I have a date.”
“I thought you quit,” Cherry reminds me.
I’ve quit several times, but that doesn’t seem to stop me. Two bad dates, three no shows, and one guy who ditched me when I was right in the middle of a sentence.
“I can’t be single forever,” I groan as I walk over to my bed and fall backwards on it.
“You’re twenty. That’s far from forever,” Blair says dryly as everyone comes to sit on the bed with me.
“I don’t want to go to my family reunion without a date.” This is why I signed up for the dating app all of my friends are using.
“You’ve got to let go of the shit your sister put in your head.”
“Stepsister,” I correct.
I’m the black sheep of the family, which was inevitable since I’m the product of an affair my father had.
I was two when I came to live with the Tanners after my mother passed.
I have no memories of her; the only mother I’ve ever known is Victoria.
She doesn’t let me call her “Mom,” but she does expect me to always say “ma’am.
” She didn't want me calling her “Mom” but she also didn't want it to be obvious to people I’m a bastard because of her husband’s slip-up.
“Why do you even go?” Cherry rolls her eyes.
None of my friends like my family and I’m not sure I do most of the time either. It’s why I moved out as soon as I could and not one person tried to stop me. I think they were glad to see me go, but the second an event happens I’m expected to show up and be the supportive daughter.
“My dad,” I groan as I sit up. “He’s the only reason I keep going back and I thought if I had a date I could shove it right in Charlotte’s face.”
“You gotta let that shit go. She’s hateful to you because you blossomed and she didn’t.”
“I’m still a virgin,” I point out.
Men aren't banging down my door, and now I’m more than a late bloomer.
My hair is uncontrollable and I had braces until I was almost eighteen.
It didn’t help that my stepmom thought if she bought me smaller clothes I’d lose weight, but all her talk about me being “plump” only had me eating more.
It really wasn't until I moved out from under them that I started to find some confidence.
Still, their words about me never finding anyone are always in the back of my mind.
“You could lose that V-card in a second if you really wanted to,” Cherry says, winking at me.
I don’t want to just lose it; I want it to mean something.
“I’m going on the date. I already agreed and it’s not like it can get worse.” I hop up from the bed to inspect my closet again, but it’s still all the same clothes.
“You could get someone like Thanos,” Harlow chimes in. They all groan at the same time, making me laugh.
“I still can’t believe you all went on a date with the same guy.
That’s so weird.” I’d never want to date someone my friends did, even if it’s hard to call what they had an actual date.
This guy is apparently the dick of all dicks.
They all said he was rude, arrogant, cheap and had the personality of a brick wall.
The general consensus was that he was the worst date ever, but at least everyone laughs about it now.
“That’s why we all tell each other our dates’ names before we go,” Blair says.
“Guess it’s bound to happen if we’re all using the same dating app.”
I settle on a dress that my stepmom gave me, so it’s nice enough for the fancy restaurant.
I only fit into it because now that I’m out from under them I don’t stress-eat anymore.
Yoga probably doesn’t hurt either. “I can assure you my date's name isn't Thanos. Who would name their kid that anyway? It’s a villain's name!” I turn around to show them the dress. I know Cherry and Blair will hate it, but I’m looking for Harlow’s opinion the most.
All of them burst into laughter and I look at the dress on the hanger.
“The dress isn't that bad.” It’s actually kind of pretty, even if it’s not my style. It’s bright yellow and fits me tight, with the hem just above my knees. I have a pair of flats that should match it well enough because heels are out of the question.
“We nicknamed him Thanos,” Blair says through laughter.
“Oh.” I wiggle into the dress because I have to leave soon. Not only is this place fancy, but it’s going to cost me a cab ride across town. “What was Thanos’s real name?” I ask when they finally get their laughter under control.
“Dash something,” Cherry says, rolling her eyes again.
No. That can’t be right. The name Dash is not common unless you’re a reindeer, but this is a big city and I could be totally wrong.
“Belmont. Dash Belmont,” Harlow supplies the rest of his name and my stomach feels funny.
I didn’t think my dating track record could get worse, but it turns out it can. I’ve somehow made a date with the guy they’ve all said was a nightmare. It's too late to cancel, isn't it? I can’t stand him up because I know exactly how horrible that feels.
“Oh no,” Cherry whispers, looking at my face. “It’s him, isn't it?”
“Maybe?” I admit, and just after a brief pause they burst into laughter all over again. “None of you are helpful.” I sit down at my vanity to get my hair under control but then stop because what does it matter? This date is going to suck no matter what, so I go back to my closet and change.
“You’re not going?” Harlow pops up from my bed as I put on a clean pair of yoga pants.
“You should go and make his night hell,” Cherry suggests with a devious look.
“She doesn't have a mean bone in her body,” Blair reminds everyone, and I know she’s right. If I did I would have told my stepmom and sister to shove it up their asses long ago. “But this could be practice for you.”
“And a free dinner,” I point out. I’ve been thinking about this steak all night.
“You have to make it to dinner first. I walked out before we could order. That’s how big of an asshole he was.” Harlow shakes her head. That’s shocking because men fall all over her.
“I made it to dinner.” Blair holds up her finger. “Then he suggested we split the bill.”
“How did you make it to dinner with him?” Cherry gawks at her.
“He played on his phone the whole time. It’s harder to be a dick when you’re doing something else.”
“Did you split the bill with him?” I’m suddenly nervous because I’m already paying for a cab. I was hoping for a free dinner, which might be wrong, but I’m on a budget here.
“I walked out so it didn't matter.”
Okay, I can do that. If he’s really rude I’ll eat and then do the whole bathroom escape. I grab a knitted sweater and pull it over my head before I put on my favorite flats.
“Save me some pizza.” I grab my purse. “I bet I can get him to walk out on me.” They all hoot catcalls at me as I head out the door. When I hop in the taxi, I start googling insults. I figure it’s better to be prepared.