AllFreeNovel
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“Which is fine, but his hearing wasn’t. How am I going to learn if I don’t experience anything?” I cross my arms, suddenly feeling emboldened to speak my mind. My dad has such little faith in me. He believes I’m this naive, sensitive, innocent wallflower that needs shelter from everything.
And maybe I am.
But now I was ready to bloom and Landon is like the sun. He was those forces of nature that I needed to blossom.
“Just promise you’ll stay away from Landon. I know he’s charming and his cases are sexy and intriguing,” yeah, dad, his cases, I think, “but he’s not…he’s not a good guy.”
I frown. He’s always spoken so highly of Landon. Where is this coming from? “He’s your friend.”
“Which is why I know how he can be. He draws you in and then just…spits you out. I’ve seen what he’s done to…people. I don’t want him to have the opportunity to hurt you in any capacity.”
“Dad…” I start. “He just wanted me to see some action. I was bored sitting in your office.” I shake my head. “It’s not a big deal.”
He huffs and pinches the bridge of his nose, clearly over this conversation. “Let’s go, Serena.” He walks towards the adjacent garage, and I reluctantly begin to follow when something in my periphery catches my attention. Landon is standing in the doorway, leaning against the wall with a worried look on his face. He taps his phone, signaling me to check mine. I reach into my purse to retrieve it as I continue to trail after my father
LW: Did he give you a hard time? I told him it was my idea to bring you.
Me: It’s fine. Did he give YOU a hard time?
LW: I can handle your father, Serena. Tell me, what did he say?
I don’t respond because I’m not sure what’s worse; disclosing what my father alluded to about Landon or his lack of faith in his daughter.
My room looks like a tornado hit. Clothes are strewn over every surface and every pair of shoes I own is outside the boxes I store them in. My bathroom is just as chaotic; curling wands and flat irons sit on my sink while thirty different shades of lipsticks line my counter.
“You’re not helping, Zoey. How about this one?” I stand in front of my computer as I skype with my best friend, holding a dress up over my half-naked body. Zoey and I have known each other practically since birth, and she also went to UConn. She’d been royally pissed to learn that I would be living at home and not with her in the dorms or even once she moved off campus because, as she eloquently put it, I could not lose my virginity while living at Viv and P’s. Although, she used more colorful language. But even with me living at home, Zoey and I have still remained close despite the fact that we are complete opposites.
“I didn’t say I was going to help.” She takes a sip of a glass of rosé next to the computer and tucks a blonde strand behind her ear. “I said I would give you a pep talk for your big night. Who gives a shit what you wear, you could wear a trench coat and a smile for God’s sakes. He’s going to rip it off of you when you walk in, right? Did you wax?”
“I… shaved.”
“Not my first choice but whatever. As long as you’re groomed.” She takes another sip of her drink. “Don’t be nervous.”
“I’m nervous.” I sink into my chair and drop my head to the desk. “I’m not ready for this.”
“Yes, you are! He’s hot as fuck, Rena. You should go for it. You almost banged him in your car the other night. You want this.”
“I did not almost bang him.”
She blinks her eyes at me a few times as if she doesn’t understand what I’m saying. “Okay, Rena. Look, everything is going to be fine. Don’t do anything you don’t feel comfortable doing. But…if you want to…go for it. You’re calling the shots here, alright?” She cocks her head to the side and gives me a smile. “You’ve always gone after what you want. This is no different.”
I take a deep breath, letting her words wash over me. I nod before holding the dress I was previously holding in front of the computer. “I don’t know what to wear.”
She sighs and lets her head fall back with a loud groan. “I already said this isn’t my lane.”
“What good are you? You’re supposed to be my best friend.”
“I would wear soccer shorts and a t-shirt. I already told you, I’m not the one to ask.” She points at the screen towards me. “Your hair looks good.”
I look at my hair that I haven’t touched since I got out of the shower. “Are you serious?”
“What! Less is more, Rena. He’s an adult. Like a real adult. You don’t have to do…” she points at the screen, “all that.”
“Fine. Should I forego underwear?” I ask.
“Now we’re talkin’!” she cheers as she holds her glass up to toast me.
Despite Zoey’s ‘do less everything is going to be fine,’ advice, I’m still nervous. Beyond nervous.
