While it’s true, I have been spending a lot of my time with Preston – or as much as we can between his practices, games, schoolwork and my extra-curricular activities – I’ve been trying to keep it on the down low.
I’ve never been a girl who likes to flaunt myself in front of others. I’ll take the back seat to my friends and their accomplishments, as I quietly go about my business. Maybe it’s because all my life I was left in the shadows by my mother while she worked sixteen hours a day and traveled the world on business, only bringing me along to show me off at parties or events.
I can’t stand the spotlight. Even now under the scrutinizing stare of my friend, I want to slink back into the corner and avoid any direct mention of my personal life.
It’s bad enough she knows I’m a virgin along with all my other sorority sisters.
“He asked me out. I said yes. Not much else to it.”
Downplaying and evading the question only seems to rev up Maddie’s engines further. She bends to sit down, scooting me over on the bench seat with the bump of her butt.
“I need the juicy details, Brin. Gimme gimme gimme.” She wiggles her fingers in a needy gesture.
Dropping my head to the table in frustration, I sigh loudly. Painfully.
“Fine,” I begrudgingly give in. “He helped me out the other day with the haunted house and then asked me out on a date. He’s been busy with out of town games, but we’re supposed to go out tomorrow night. And then depending on how that goes, I guess I’ll invite him to come with me to the haunted house on my volunteer night.”
I return my focus onto my paper but get lost in my thoughts as my fingers trace over my lips where he kissed them.
That kiss. Hands down the best kiss I’ve ever gotten.
It was a knee-buckling, swoony, unicorn of a kiss that I’ve dreamt about all my life and never experienced until Preston.
Not that I’ve had a whole lot of other experience. I’ve kissed exactly three guys. My first in high school at a football game after-party. The second was last year at a frat party, when I also gave him head. He was wasted and tasted like Cheetos and stale beer and passed out as soon as he came.
Lucky #3 is Preston. And his kiss was perfect.
“Ahem.” Maddie stands there tapping her stocking foot, her arms crossed the way opposing counsel would cross-examine a witness. “That’s it? That’s all I get?”
Sighing heavily, I pick up my stack of books and paper and turn to head upstairs, lifting my shoulders and sticking my tongue out at her as I leave the room.
I leave her with one final comment that I throw back.
“You can help me get ready tomorrow night if you want.”
All I hear is her giddily clapping her hands and squealing for joy.
* * *
I wasa wreck all day long and lacked any skills I’d once had in concentration. My head was in the clouds thinking about tonight.
“Stop fidgeting or I’ll burn you with this curling wand.” Maddie tugs at a ringlet of hair to get my attention.
“Ow! Careful there. I’d like to have some hair left tonight.”
Lola sits in front of me applying my makeup with a skillful hand. I stare into her soft brown eyes and realize how thankful I am to have such good friends.
Sure, we’ve had spats and arguments in the house since I’ve lived here, but the beauty of being part of a sorority is that we all have each other’s backs. It’s a sisterhood and bond I’ve never had before growing up an only child with a mother who was never around.
“You guys are the best. I can’t thank you enough.” I say, the emotion choking me up and drawing tears to my eyes.
Lola gives me a look of horror, pointing an accusatory index finger at me. “Don’t you dare cry and ruin your makeup.”
Handing me a tissue, I dab at the corner of my eye, a watery smile forming at my red-stained lips. “I couldn’t do this without you both. It means everything to me.”
Maddie scoffs behind me. “You are such a sentimental wanker.” But she bends down and hugs me, nonetheless.
“Okay, you’re all ready. The transformation is complete.” Lola removes the towel that was thrown around my shoulders like a cape and stands so I can get a good look in the mirror.
