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She snickers when my face drops, which earns her a shoulder punch and gains me a look of hurt flashing across her high cheekbones and long lashes.
“We have a surprise.”We …I roll my eyes knowing that she means my best friend is engaged in this shenanigan, because there is no one else that would join her craziness, and I’m filling with dread the longer the seconds tick by. “It’s something different and I can’t wait to tell you about it.”
“Oh, no.” I already regret the decisions they’ve made before they’ve even made them as my sister clasps my hand and leads me out of the underwhelming thrift store and out into the blistering heat to my sensible car.
Much to my dismay, we make it back to my apartment in record time, thanks to my sister’s reckless driving and threats to break the world land speed records if I continue to protest. My palms are already sweating when I come around the door frame and find my best friend perched upon my couch with snacks at her side and a movie on the tv.
“Ari!” She hops up with arms wide, crumbs falling all over the floor in her wake, as she flails herself in my arms like I didn’t just see her this morning.
These girls practically live here, too, despite having their own places to crash. And I honestly love the lack of silence, while I also love giving them a hard time about it.
It’s nice to have them around for moments like these where my mind gets too loud. Someone to come home to since Chip passed.
This night, like many others, was supposed to be a girl’s night in, with only the one adjustment that I’d asked for. Stopping at the thrift store so I could peruse it. But now I’m in hell and I don’t think it’s going to get any better.
“Ari, listen.” Clearly, I’m more in my head than in the room so Cedar begins to twist our embrace to gain my attention.
It works.
Shaking my head, I bore into one set of green eyes that match mine to some ocean blues and I can already feel the determination in them both. The admiration.
The stupid love.
They want better for me, and I like that. Even if they go about it all fuckered up.
Which I never agreed to be ok with.
“We booked you a surprise trip,” Aurora says, her hands locked together at her chest, almost in a sort of plea for me not to freak the hell out.
Too late.
“You’re going to be out of your comfort zone,” Cedar warns, but the easy set to her face suggests that there’s nothing to worry about. I pull in a slow, deep breath as the emotions in me build, and push the air back out of my lungs. Something akin to some weird combo of exasperation and excitement fills me. Panic andcuriosity settling in as Cedar loosens her arms around me to give me room to breathe, but not enough room to run.
“But you’re totally going to love it.” Aurora finishes with a grin and a twinkle in her eye that terrifies me.
“I know you two have pulled off some shit if this is how you’re reacting.” I’m nervous of what they’ve actually done, I can’t lie about that.
But I’m also curious as hell.
Who doesn’t need a vacation of some kind?
Shit, am I really ok with this?
They share a knowing look, then bring their gazes back to me.
“You’re going to a Blind Shoot!” Aurora hops, squeals, claps, and all that weird happy dance jazz she’s prone to do when it comes to any kind of photography shit. I must wear my confusion on my face, because I am lost as hell.
She lands back on two flat feet, her dark blonde hair settling around her shoulders like a cape, and grins at me.
“You’ve talked about that before?” I furrow a brow as I dig into the recesses of my mind and try to connect the dots on what the hell that might be. I look to Cedar, finding no support there. I guess I’m on my own judging by the slight shake of her head. “Is that where the model shows up in whatever outfit and that’s just what the shoot becomes? No meeting the photographer, no set agenda, just show up and take pics?”
“Um … kinda.” My sister spins on her heels, light as a feather, and floats over to the couch only to flop into the cushion like an anvil from the sky. Cedar drags me along, both of my wrists trapped in her hands, and deposits me on the couch with them.
“So what is it, then?” Another knowing look passes between the two, except I’m certain I catch some warning behind my best friend’s narrowed gaze as Aurora begins to speak again.
This can’t be good.
“It’s pretty much that. There will be someone else there, though, to take some photos, too.” She’s excited, her grin lighting up the little living room we love to watch movies in, her hands wringing together against her thighs. It’s hard not to match her enthusiasm, but I can’t.
