Chapter 25
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this shit,” I scoff while gawking at myself in my body mirror. Danielle stands beside me, turned to the side, running her hands down her shimmery dress.
She clicks her tongue. “Well, maybe next time you won’t keep secrets from your best friend. Plus, this is your chance to redeem yourself after running away from a guy you’re now banging on the hood of cars.”
I bore my eyes into her reflection in the mirror. It doesn’t faze her as she continues examining her outfit. If we hadn’t spent an hour fixing our hair for this stupid party, I’d tackle this cunt.
Instead, I bite my tongue and respond, “Funny, because you’re ramming his best friend any chance you get.”
Danielle brings her bright eyes to mine in the mirror. “Damn straight I am, and I plan on sneaking off from the party tonight to do exactly that,” she admits.
A dramatic sigh leaves my lips. “If you bang in Chase’s truck, please stay clear of the backseat where my ass will be sitting.”
Danielle curls her lips into her mouth for a moment. “It doesn’t matter, bestie; we’ve already banged there several times.”
Of course, they have. I pinch the bridge of my nose gently, trying to avoid messing up my makeup.
Danielle gives me an innocent smile, and I can’t help the grin that takes over my mouth. “On a different note, we look freaking HOT!” she brags.
I shrug at her response but bring my eyes back to the mirror, staring at our reflections in awe. For a split second, I picture Danielle and I as kids playing dress up at her house.
Now, as adults, we are still playing dress up, but instead of dancing to The Backstreet Boys or filling our bellies with endless candy in the middle of the night. We’re dressing up to go to a party to get shit-faced drunk and probably twerk to the Ying-Yang Twins.
I bring my attention back to us in the mirror.
We outdid ourselves tonight, and we would take the medal home if there were a costume contest. Last weekend, after Theo brought me home from the family dinner and our innocent stroll through the new construction, Danielle was waiting on the couch for me like parents would do when their kids had a curfew and returned home past the allotted time.
She told me that Taylor was having a 1920’s Gatsby party to celebrate her twenty-first birthday the following Saturday.
She then proceeded to guilt-trip me into the four of us going together, using my “little secrets” as leverage.
She had it all planned to bombard me as soon as I walked in the door.
Chase had already gotten on board and called Theo after he dropped me off. There was no way of me getting out of it. And she wants to talk about being sneaky.
We had six days to choose our outfits. Thank goodness for ’s two-day shipping with Prime!
We had no idea what the boys had ordered for themselves, but we intentionally provided them with a detailed description of our dresses, hoping they would pick matching colors.
I guess we’ll find out soon if they passed the test.
My dress is made of black, sleeveless mesh covered in shimmering sequins.
When the light hits, the sequins glimmer with different shades of blue and white, reminiscent of the night sky.
The front features a deep V-cut that reveals just enough cleavage while fitting tastefully to my figure.
The hem reaches just above my knees, and shiny black tassels hang at the seams, falling below my knees.
I wear black fishnet tights that hug my legs and simple black heels.
My hair is styled in tight curls that frame my face, and a black headband adorned with a glistening feather wraps around my hair.
Danielle has a similar dress, but hers is a bright gold garnished with shimmering gold tassels from top to bottom.
The dress reaches mid-thigh and features a rounded neckline that reveals more cleavage than mine.
She wears long black gloves extending above her elbows and dainty tasseled earrings cascading down her chin.
Her shiny black hair is styled in a curled updo, resting at the nape of her neck and pinned on one side with diamond-shaped clips.
We both went all out on our makeup and took it seriously, following a tutorial on YouTube.
We applied black sparkly eyeshadow with a golden color on the inner eyelids, dark eyeliner with mascara, and deep red lipstick.
We are the hottest Flapper bitches. And I won’t admit it to Danielle, but I’m a little excited about this party.
Maybe it’s because things have been going well with Theo this past month. Or perhaps it’s because the four of us are going on an adventure together. I don’t know, but I actually feel like I have something to look forward to.
My phone pings from the dresser; it’s Nora.
I tried calling her yesterday, but she didn’t answer or reply.
Relief washes over me immediately when I see her name flash across my phone screen.
Tomorrow is Jake’s birthday, and I want to ensure she’s okay.
I ‘ve been hoping to spend some time with her. It’s his first birthday not here, and I can’t imagine what she and Jake’s parents are feeling.
As I snatch up my phone from the dresser, Danielle motions she will prepare some shots for us to pregame with before the boys arrive. That’s my best friend.
I quickly answered my sister’s call. “Hey, big sister!” I shouted into the speaker.
“Hey, Olive Oil. Sorry I missed your call yesterday,” she rasps on the other end of the line.
“It’s okay; I just wanted to see you for a little tomorrow only if you feel up to it.” I
anxiously tap my fingers on my dresser.
Nora lets out a sigh. “Honestly, I plan to take it easy and spend some time with Michelle and Daniel, considering what day it’ll be.”
I nod my head as if she can see me. “Oh, I get it. Just know I’m here, okay?”
The phone line goes silent for a moment.
“I know you are. Let’s see how I’m feeling after tomorrow. I could really use a day trip to the beach with my favorite little sister.”
A smile touches my mouth. “Yes! Please! You tell me when, and we’ll go!”
She laughs lightly. “So when did you plan on telling me about this boy you have the hots for?”
I hold my breath for a moment.How the hell does she know about Theo? “I-I was planning on it. I just didn’t know if it was a little fling, that’s all,” I admit.
She snickers lightly through the speaker. “Uh-huh, it didn’t seem like a little fling from the texts he sent the night I was there.” I suck my lips into my mouth. I am such a fool. I should have just told Nora about him from the start.
“I’m sorry, I should have told you. I-I know you have a lot on your mind, and I didn’t think it was important enough to tell you just yet.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, wanting to shove my black heel up my own ass.
“Olive, you’re important to me, and so is your happiness.” She pauses momentarily. “Does he make you happy?”
I can’t control the grin her question gives me. “He really does, Nora,” I admit.
“Good, because I’d beat his ass if not.”
I let out a giggle. “Oh, I know you would!”
Nora’s laugh echoes through the speaker, causing warmth to flood my skin. Her laugh is contagious.
I trail back to the beach conversation. “I can’t wait to blast Fleetwood Mac the whole way to the beach.”
Nora snorts. “And scream every word of every song?” she asks.
“You fucking know it, sister.” The phone line goes quiet for a moment. “Nora, please call me tomorrow if you need me. I’m here, okay?”
I can hear her shuffling around before she responds. “I know you are, and I will, I promise.”
Relief washes over me. I hope she knows I will come straight to her if she needs my company. I’ll do whatever it takes to distract her from the grief that is undoubtedly to consume her tomorrow.
“Okay, good. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, little sister, to the moon and back.”
I smile at my moon bracelet, wondering if she’s still wearing hers. I love you to the moon and far beyond the stars, Nora Ray.
Is it wrong that I’m already slightly buzzed from the two shots Danielle and I took back to back?
Honestly, It’s a blessing right now. The tequila is drowning out some nagging nerves pricking at my skin.
I haven’t spoken to Taylor since seeing her at the housewarming party over a month ago.
Where I’m sure she witnessed me hightail it the fuck out of there. And if she didn’t, someone indeed did.
My goal tonight is to be on my best behavior—drunk… but on my best behavior. It’s almost comical to think that the very reason I left last time was because of Theo and how intimidating he was. Now, here we are, going to where I ran away from him. The irony is uncanny.
My sweet fluff ball runs to the door, wagging her tiny pompom tail while barking excitedly.
The boys are here. Danielle struts over to the door, careful not to sprain an ankle in her three-inch stilettos.
I throw back my third shot, telling myself this is the last one, until having a drink at Taylor’s place.
Danielle flings the door open, and what I see before me stops the burning liquid from rushing down my throat.
Its consistency turns to honey, coating my insides with a warm, thick residue.
Suddenly, I feel scorching hot from the inside out.
I went from comfortably content to feeling stranded in the middle of a safari.
Chase is leaning against the door frame, licking his lips while eye fucking Danielle’s presence.
He wears slate gray suspenders with a matching bow tie.
Underneath is a white long-sleeved button-up tucked into black slacks.
His shaggy chestnut brown hair peeks from underneath a gray Fedora.
He looks astoundingly handsome. Danielle will definitely be ramming that tonight.
Just as Chase enters the door, my eyes stay trained on Theo coming up behind him. For a moment, time stops, just like it did when I first laid eyes on him.