Chapter 11
Eleven
W ith just a half hour to spare before guests arrived, I sat with Avery, Holly, and Hayden in one of the spare rooms my mom had converted into a dressing room.
Tall mirrors with bright white lights lined the walls. There were clothing racks everywhere. All we needed to do was put on our dresses.
Hayden stood off to the side scrolling through his phone, looking as striking as ever.
From the charcoal colored pants that hugged his thighs like a second skin, to the rich onyx shirt with the top two buttons left undone that gave way to a glimpse of his firm chest, he wore an impish grin that shouldn't have gotten me tangled inside.
He was cool and breezy chatting with Avery about the Florida Gators, the school he'd hoped to earn a gymnastics scholarship from.
"Damn, girl, don't you look hot," Avery said when Holly stepped out of the bathroom.
To me, she looked a little unsure. Wide eyes scanned the room for her brother. The dress she wore was made for her body. A silver sequin spaghetti strap top with waves of bubblegum satin sat high on her lean legs. Pin-straight hair and natural makeup completed the look.
She bit her lip. "Do I look okay, Hayden?" she asked her brother, anxiety spiking her voice. "It's not too much?"
Hayden nodded with gentle eyes. "You look great, sis. Beautiful."
"Not too much skin?"
Avery expressed amusement and said, "You can't be serious. You walk around in a onesie all day, so what's the difference?"
An airy laugh escaped Holly. "I guess you have a point, but I'm just not used to this kind of dressing up. I feel like my boobs are on display, and if the wind blows my dress, my butt will show."
"Your boobs look fantastic," Avery offered. "Not too much, not too little. I'd ask Hayden to back me up, but that's just a little weird."
He put up his hands. "That's where I draw the line."
Two knocks sounded on the door, and Mom waltzed in looking as flawless as ever, while I was still in my robe. At least I had my hair and makeup complete.
"Holly, darling"—her eyes scanned the length of her body—"that dress fits you perfectly. Spin around for me."
Holly's cheeks flamed, and she shot me a fleeting look before spinning around with her arms out. I knew what my mom was doing, she'd done it to me numerous times, and I hated it.
Mom clicked her tongue. "Magnificent. That cocktail dress was designed for you, it doesn't fit Ana that way. Keep it. It looks much better on you than it ever did her."
My lips parted as the room grew silent. I sat stone-still, staggered by her comment. I wasn't upset my mom gave the dress to Holly—she could have it—it was the fact she had the gall to insult me in front of my friends without concern for my feelings.
I glanced at Holly and suppressed the pain Mommie Dearest dealt me. Holly’s eyes were wide, and her jaw bobbed like she lost her voice. Her gaze shifted back and forth from me to my mom. Not everyone could handle Joy Rossi.
Nodding, with an artificial smile in place, I cleared my throat. "She's right. It looks amazing on you, I was going to tell you to keep it anyway."
She shook her head frantically. "Oh, no. I couldn't do that. Really."
"Nonsense," Mom butted in. "It's yours. End of discussion."
She shifted in her four-inch heels until her dissecting eyes landed on me. She glared, and my shoulders wilted like a deflating balloon. I guess her kindness toward me when I arrived was short lived.
"When do you plan to dress, Ana? After guests have arrived? Or do you plan to greet our visitors in a…a housecoat?" She snapped her gaze toward Avery. "And what about you?"
I straightened my back and answered for the both of us. No Victoria's Secret silk robe could ever be defined as a housecoat.
"Holly just stepped out of the bathroom, Mom, I was going in next, and then Avery."
She blinked. "Make sure to pat your face with finishing powder so you don't look oily. I don't want to see my reflection on your forehead. I expect to see you downstairs soon." She walked out, closing the door behind her.
Avery snapped a murderous gaze at me. Two seconds ago she was America's next top southern belle.
"Can I put eye drops in her vodka so she can shit everywhere tonight?
" Her face contorted with fury. She knew how my mom was, yet every time something happened, she was more appalled than the last. "I honestly don't know how you deal with her? "
I shook my head, shrugging it off. "What am I going to do, Ave? You know how she is."
"I know, I just…I don’t know. She really gets under my skin."
Holly walked over to me looking like a sad puppy. "Aid—"
"Don't worry about it. Seriously. That's my mom for you. I'm used to it. I'm just sorry you had to experience it."
Her lips flattened into a thin line. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry."
Avery stomped over to the rack of clothes and pulled out the hanger that held her glittery dress. She ripped off the clear bag and thrusted it at me. Her blue eyes were lethal. Like someone dared to serve her unsweet tea.
"Here. Wear this."
My brows snapped together. "But that's what you're wearing tonight."
"Not anymore I'm not. I'll wear the Hervé Léger one I was debating on. This will piss your mom off."
My shoulders drooped a little. I wasn't the revenge type, especially when it came to my mother.
"Ave."
Her arm dropped to the side. "You can't let her constantly get away with how she treats you. It's not right."
Hayden walked toward me and placed his hand out. I took it and stood.
"Not that I'd ever encourage you to be defiant toward your parents, but I'm going to have to agree with Avery on this one. Even from Cape Coral I saw how she treated you over the phone. But in person…" He shook his head and scoffed in disgust. "I say wear it."
"Me too," Holly said, though her voice shook.
Impulsively, I swiped the hanger out of Avery’s hand and walked into the bathroom. My heart pounded against my ribs. I never defied Mom. Ever. I couldn't believe I was going to wear this scrap of material Avery called a dress in front of my parents and their friends.
Dropping the robe, I stepped into the dress and carefully slipped it on.
The straps were thin and nude while the rest was a surprisingly heavy material that fit snuggly against me.
Avery's clothes were always a little too small.
She liked them tight-fitting, which meant this dress hugged every curve.
Not that I had noticeable ones, but tonight, in this Badgley Mischka gold sequined dress, I did.
I looked in the mirror and was rendered speechless.
Good thing I was leaving tomorrow. While my boobs were average, they appeared supple and soft in the deep V cut.
I had cleavage! The mini dress had ruching at my hips and pinched up, showing off my lean legs with a slight indentation at the crux of my thighs.
I was glamour and sex fused together, and I loved it.
No need for eye drops in Mom’s drink tonight, this dress was going to give her a coronary.
"Let's go, Aid. We want to see." Avery shouted, her excitement seeping through the door.
I laughed. "Hold your horses!"
Fluffing my sultry waves, I flipped my mahogany hair to the side and exhaled. "What shoes am I wearing?" I asked, touching up my smoky eyes and pale pink lipstick.
"Open." Avery knocked on the door a minute later.
I cracked the door open enough to grab the shoes, then shut it. I smiled and shook my head. She handed me the shoes I bought at Chanel when I avoided her questions about Kova. The ones I thought I'd break my neck in.
I stepped into them and took one last glance in the mirror. Then I sent up a prayer that I’d live to see tomorrow.
"Ready?" I yelled through the door.
"We were ready yesterday." Avery said full of sarcasm.
Turning the light off, I opened the bathroom door and stepped out to three sets of eyes gawking at me.
"Holy fuck." Came from Hayden. I rolled my bottom lip between my teeth as I watched him. He couldn't tear his wild eyes from me. "Jesus." His guttural voice the only sound in the room. "Aid…"
I tried to pull the hem down. "Is it too small?"
"No."
"It's perfect," Avery said, a Cheshire grin slid across her face. She was proud.
"Wow," was all Holly could add. I chuckled. I guess I looked good.
"Excuse me, but there's something I absolutely must do."
All heads turned toward Hayden as he strode toward me.
His blue eyes focused solely on me as he closed the distance and pressed his body to mine.
My heart pounded viciously against my ribs and I held my breath.
Threading his fingers through the hair at my nape, he angled my head back and looked deep into my eyes.
"You're so fucking gorgeous," he whispered. A little gasp escaped my lips right before he planted his mouth on mine and kissed me.
He kissed me good too, not caring that his sister and Avery were watching behind him.
Hayden took charge and slipped his tongue into my mouth, a sensual stroke down the side as he curled his tongue along mine.
My heart fluttered, my breath caught. A hot chill broke out over me.
He stepped closer and cupped my jaw as he deepened the kiss, wrapping one arm around my lower back and holding me to him.
His subtle cologne added to the moment as I fell into his kiss.
Forgetting that anyone else was in the room, I placed my hands on his chest and slid them around his neck. His muscles flexed under my touch and I felt the power of his strength.
A provocative whistle came from the other side of the room, and Hayden broke the kiss.
He looked down, one side of his mouth tugged up into a flirtatious grin.
His pupils were dilated, and cheeks flushed with a tint of pink.
He ran the pad of his thumb along the bottom of my lip, wiping away the lipstick he just smeared.
"Don't be mad."
"I'm not," I said breathlessly. And I wasn't. I was more surprised than anything.
"I had to. You deserved to be kissed, especially when you look this stunning," he said, whispering for only me to hear.
My cheeks bloomed with heat, and I looked away.
"Well," Avery said dramatically. "Someone get me a cigarette. That was hot as fuck. Guess we all know who Adrianna is kissing at midnight."