Chapter Eight
Sophia
I hadn’t told Alyssa and Jia that I was going out with Leo tonight.
It’s not that I was ashamed to be going out with him—if anything, I kind of felt like hot shit for having his attention in the first place—but I knew they’d make a big deal about it.
They’d probably squeal and jump up and down before picking out my clothes.
I didn’t want to do any of that. I wanted to show up and be me.
Yes, I was meeting him for a singular purpose, but we also had a connection, one that felt genuine enough that I didn’t want to show up with perfectly styled hair and makeup trying to be someone I wasn’t.
He’d agreed to this without any of that, and I didn’t need to start primping now, because I was not a primper.
Looking at the pile of clothes on my bed, I also realized I was not capable of picking out my own clothes for this. I grabbed the phone and called my sister. I was meeting Leo in an hour, and with the time difference, she should be just getting out of school.
“Hey,” Elena chirped.
“Hey. I need your help,” I said, sounding more panicked than I’d realized I was.
“Hit me, girl.”
“What should I wear for a one-night stand?”
There was silence on the other end of the line, and if I knew my sister, she was checking to make sure it was my name on her screen. “Who is this?” she asked slowly, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Soph, are you in a hostage situation? Is this your code phrase? Was I supposed to know this one?”
I sighed. “Elena, it’s me. I’m perfectly safe. But I’m having a one-night stand tonight and it turns out dressing for that occasion is more pressure than I can handle.”
My phone lit up with a request for a video chat.
Are you fucking kidding me, El?
I accepted her request and Elena’s light brown face filled my screen.
A blue sky was the only backdrop against her black hair, highlighted with purple streaks.
We were half sisters, which meant she’d gotten some of her father’s native Hawaiian coloring but she was constantly highlighting her dark hair with different colors.
Lately, blue and purple were her favorites.
Her eyes shifted around the screen before settling on me. “Wow, you really do seem to be safe and in your room. So, what the hell is happening right now?”
“Will you stop it? I’m safe!”
“Well, you can’t blame me for wondering.” She sat down, the Hawaiian sun bright behind her.
“Where are you?”
“The bench outside Joe’s by Kennedy. I’m working a shift this afternoon. I can finish this conversation first.”
“Will you be late?”
“If I am, it’ll be worth it.” She smirked at me as she leaned back, running a hand over her ponytail. Her dark brown eyes shimmered in the sun and made me long to be home with her. “Tell me more about this one-night stand and how you know you’re going to have it when you’re still in your dorm.”
“I arranged it yesterday.” I sat down on my bed. “It’s not a big deal, but he’s gorgeous and very experienced and I’d like to show up looking like I’m at least someone who’s had sex before.”
Elena’s eyes widened until they were bugging out of her head. “Stop. Did you just say arranged?”
My cheeks flushed. “Yes.”
“You scheduled a one-night stand?” She was practically screaming for all of Oahu to hear. “Sophia! That it is the most Sophia-thing you’ve ever done. If I were going to characterize you with one single action, it would be this one, right here.”
I glared at her. “This is not helping me. I called you for help. I recognize this situation is unusual but I kind of snapped, okay?”
“You don’t say.” She laughed. “You planned a one-night stand. Wow. I don’t even know what do with this information.”
“I have an idea. Help me get dressed since that’s the reason I called you.”
“And turn off all the amazing commentary I have on this situation?”
“Yes.”
She tipped her head back and groaned. “Okay, but you know how hard this is for me, right?”
I glared at her impatiently.
“Show me what we’re working with,” she said with a shake of her head.
I held up the four outfits I’d selected. There were two dresses that were sexy but probably said I was trying too hard to be sexy, a jean-and-sweater combo, which was probably the most weather appropriate, and a pair of black leggings with a long, white tunic.
“Ditch the white unless you’re trying to look virginal,” she said the second she saw that option. “I vote for jeans and a sweater. Is it low-cut?”
“Yeah,” I said, looking it over. “Not ridiculously so, but there will be visible cleavage.”
“Good, wear a push-up bra.”
“He’s going to notice my boobs are small when he takes my clothes off, El.
There’s no point in trying to pretend I have something I don’t.
” Despite her petite frame, Elena was far more blessed in the boob department than I was.
But at least I’d never had to worry that a guy was staring at my chest while we were talking.
“Didn’t you call me for advice?” she asked. “My advice is a push-up bra.”
I sighed. “Yes, and how sad is that? I called my fifteen-year-old sister to dress me for a planned one-night stand. Have I lost my mind?”
“Don’t insult me. My fashion advice is gold.” Elena dropped the sarcasm as soon as she saw me spiraling. “Sophia. You deserve to do a few fun and crazy things while you’re young. Don’t overthink this. If you want to hook up with this guy, do it. Enjoy yourself.”
“Thanks,” I said, even though I was already spinning out.
What if he only agreed to this because he feels bad for me?
I’d thought Leo was maybe a little into me but he could literally have anyone and instead, he was spending his night doing this with me and it was likely to be embarrassing as soon as he realized how inexperienced I was with all things sex.
“Seriously. Stop it,” Elena said sternly as she rose from her bench. “Kennedy’s giving me a curious look from the window so I’m going to work but stop thinking. In fact, don’t think at all until tomorrow morning.”
“Tell Kennedy I said hi. I love you.”
Elena pursed her lips in a kiss and ended the call. I’d spent so long overthinking my outfit that I had very little time left to get ready. So, I did what my sister suggested, push-up bra and all. I swiped on a little mascara and tousled my hair, letting it hang loose over my shoulders.
Without another thought, I grabbed my phone, tucked a credit card and my room key inside the case, and stepped outside to wait for Leo.
I glanced at the time on my phone, relieved that I was still a little early, and looked up to see his smiling face approaching me.
It was the second time we had a scheduled appointment of some sort and he was early for this one too.
Well, Leo Harrison certainly knew how to impress me.
And if his punctuality hadn’t done it, the way his blue-gray eyes popped against the dark blue shirt he wore would have certainly made up for any possible lateness.