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He had made it clear I wasn’t coming back home. So, I decided I needed to make the best of this situation. For the time being, I was stuck.
“I need new clothes, and a dress for some gala that Ingrid’s family is throwing.”
Sophia nodded. “Her father is a senator and old school New York money.”
It would have been nice to know that, but I kept those thoughts to myself. “I didn’t bring anything even remotely appropriate to wear to that, so I need a dress. Would you want to come? I’m not much of a fashionista.”
Back in L.A., my mom bought most of my clothing.
Again, Sophia’s cheeks pinkened. “I don’t know if I’m the best person to help you get a gala dress.” Her eyes immediately went to her shoes. Mine did too. Sophia was wearing a pair of Golden Goose sneakers, which I only knew because the girls at my old school went nuts over them.
My mother could not be convinced to spend that much money on a pair of beat-up sneakers, which had made me want them more.
“I’m a scholarship student,” Sophia told me, filling in the silence. “I can’t afford to go to Barney’s, so I’m not really sure what the best fashion is.”
There was a note of shame in Sophia’s voice, which I thought was silly. I knew better than most that money didn’t make people better than others. Hell, my father was a criminal, and I’d done enough drugs to kill a grown man.
Sophia and I hadn’t been friends for long, but she was smart and kind. I wasn’t the only student that she helped, and I’d noticed how teachers fawned over her intellect.
I looped my arm through hers. “I just need you to tell me what looks cute,” I said.
Sophia’s eyes lit up. “That I can do. I read a lot ofVogue.”
This made me cackle with laughter, and it felt good. Really good. Being around Sophia made me feel a sense of normalcy I hadn’t experienced in a long time, and as selfish as it was, I wanted to keep her close for that reason.
* * *
“That,” Sophia said, her mouth opened slightly in what appeared to be shock. I tried not to let that get to me. “You have to get it.”
I twisted in front of the floor length mirror slightly, looking at the dress that the personal shopper had brought to me. Between that woman and Sophia, I had a pile of clothing that would put a dent in my father’s credit card balance.
Once Sophia got started, there was no stopping her, and it was clear she knew fashion.
“I don’t know.” I looked into the mirror and ran my hands down my thighs. The dress was conservative. The neckline was high, covering my bust completely. But it was tight down the front, hugging every single inch of my curves. The dress was gold, but in a muted way that brought out the golden tones of my hair and skin.
It did look fucking amazing, even I couldn’t argue with that.
Sophia’s face popped up next to mine. “If you don’t get it, I will never stop asking you about what happened when you got drunk.”
My lips turned into a frown. “That feels a lot like blackmail.”
Sophia shrugged and moved away from the mirror. “Maybe.” She shrugged her shoulders. “But that dress is too incredible not to buy. I’m willing to do what is necessary.”
This made me roll my eyes, but I couldn’t stop a small smile from taking over my lips. Sophia was unlike any friend I’d ever had. She was genuinely fun to be around. Despite her initial discomfort when we stepped into the store, she’d helped me secure a personal shopper, and she’d pulled dresses, skirts, blouses, and shoes that she thought I’d might like.
I’d never had a friend who hadn’t wanted something from me. But Sophia didn’t seem interested in anything other than being helpful.
And it was nice.
I turned, prepared to tell Sophia just that, but instead, I released a heavy groan.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Eli was storming toward me, his handsome face hard with anger. His long legs strode quickly through the store, and the ladies in the area all turned their heads to catch a peek at him. “I’ve been calling you for the last two hours.”
Shit, I thought. While trying on the clothes, I’d left my phone on the couch. Eli and I had decided to give one another some space. He no longer followed me everywhere, but since his parents didn’t know that, we always met up back at the school within an hour of the final class of the day.
It wasn’t much, but I would take the time. It allowed me to go over to one of the local coffee shops and begin my research.
“Sorry.” I stepped away from the mirror. “We decided to go shopping.”
