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I roll my eyes, but a smile tugs at the corners of my lips. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
But as we pull out of the parking lot and head towards home, my mind wanders to the possibilities. Maybe Josh likes me too. Maybe tonight will be the night we finally connect. Maybe…
Maybe what? Josh and I will date for a few months before I leave and never see him again?
That won’t work for me. I can’t afford that kind of distraction. This summer is about saving money and getting myself in the right mindset for school.
“Josh likes you,” Riley says.
And just like that, I’m flipped again. “You think so?”
Riley nods, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. “Oh yeah. The way he looks at you is undeniable. And he was practically begging you to come to that party.”
I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks, and I can’t help but smile at the thought. Maybe Riley is right. Maybe Josh does like me.
And what’s wrong with seeing where things go? Maybe we could date long-distance. He could visit me at school…
A smile tugs at my lips.
“We’re going to my house,” Riley announces. “We need to pick out outfits for tonight.”
I nod excitedly, already planning what I’ll wear in my head. I want to look cute but not like I’m trying too hard. Something effortless and cool.
As we pull up to Riley’s house, I can already hear her flipping through her closet, tossing clothes onto her bed. She always knows what to wear to any occasion.
I, on the other hand, am a mess. I’m always second-guessing my outfit choices and end up changing clothes a million times before settling on something that usually doesn’t even look that great.
Tonight needs to be different, though. Tonight is special.
At Riley’s house, we grab snacks from the kitchen and rush upstairs. The house is empty, her parents still at work and her older brother away at college in Austin.
“I have the perfect dress for you,” she gushes.
In her room covered with sketches and movie posters, she opens her closet and pulls out a dress.
My stomach knots. The dress is gorgeous… but revealing.
I hesitate for a moment before taking the dress from Riley and inspecting it closely. The fabric is a deep red, and it looks like it’s made from satin. The dress is short, barely covering my thighs, and has a plunging neckline.
“It’s a little… risky,” I say, putting it down on her bed.
“Exactly! It’s perfect!” She grins at me, taking the dress from my hands and holding it up to my body. “You have to wear this, Erin. It’ll show Josh what he’s missing.”
I think about it for a moment longer, biting my lip. Do I really want to wear something so revealing? But then I think about Josh’s eyes on me, the way he’s always looking at me when we’re together. Maybe Riley is right. Maybe I do need to show him what he’s missing.
“Okay,” I say finally, nodding my head. “Let’s do this.”
She squeals. “I’ll do your hair and makeup, too. Everyone will lose their minds when you roll in there looking sexy as hell.”
I change into the dress, and as my gaze falls on my reflection, I gasp. Somehow, the dress makes my thin figure look good. It hugs my curves in all the right places and the material feels cool and silky against my skin.
Riley works her magic on my hair and makeup, teasing my long brown locks into loose waves that cascade down my back. She applies smoky eyeshadow to my lids and a bold red lip to my lips. By the time she’s done, I barely recognize myself in the mirror.
“You look amazing,” she says, leaning back.
“I feel amazing.” I smile at myself.
She puts the cap back on the lipstick with a sense of finality. “This will be a night to remember.”
