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“Nikki hit a home run,” Jess says, waving her finger up and down me.
“It turns out that the last dress was the charm.” I’m usually never one to praise myself, but after admiring the transformation, I must concede I look quite beautiful. “I still can’t believe I let you talk me into buying these strappy gold sandals.”
“You’re always complaining you’re too short. Well, in these four-inch stunners”—she drops her eyes to my feet, forcing me to do the same—“you could stop traffic.”
“Well, I can’t say I dislike the new height. All right, you win on that one, but I still can’t believe I allowed you to coerced me into buying outrageous underwear no one will see but me.”
“The night is still young,” she says suggestively. “I bet tomorrow you’ll thank me. Don’t forget we’re going hiking early... just in case you decide to spend the night at his place.” As if.
“Jess, I didn’t come here to find a guy to sleep with,” I protest. “I’m here to have fun.”
“The two aren’t mutually exclusive.” Maybe for another girl, but not me. “You look like a sophisticated seductress in this knockout design. You’re the total package, Miranda, and you can have anyone you want. Have a one-night stand. Live a little.”
“Normally I’d cringe being in a room packed with so many drop-dead gorgeous, tall, model-like women, but I don’t know, for some reason in this dress I’m pumped with the type of confidence I never thought I had. That said, I doubt I’m audacious enough just to randomly pick a guy and... you know.” My voice trails off.
“Tonight is about you understanding your sex appeal, which you have by the truckload. Appreciate the true effect you have on men, darling. You may have been too shy to recognize it, but guys have been eating you up all night long. You radiate. I bet you the only reason they’re not approaching you is because we’re walking around in pairs, which can make it intimidating. Why don’t I go find my boyfriend before he spends the rest of the evening talking business and you go mingle? Alone. Without me,” she stresses. “I’m not far. Text me if you need me. Shoo-shoo.” She waves me off with her hands.
“Wait,” I plead, grabbing her arm. “You’re not actually going to leave me here by myself?”
“You’re surrounded by three or four hundred people. I hardly think you’re alone. We’re twenty-two years old and between the two of us you’re the single one. Go out there and do something you’ve never done before. Get out of your shell. Strike a conversation with a stranger. It doesn’t have to be serious. Keep it light and for God’s sake, flirt.”
I swallow hard. “Jess, you know perfectly well I suck at flirting.”
Jessica takes a step closer and folds at the knees to meet my eyes. Even though I’m wearing skyscraper heels, she’s still far taller than I’ll ever be. “With that killer body you need to flaunt what your mama gave you without any self-consciousness. Men will drop to your feet when they take one glimpse of you in this showstopper. I can guarantee that flirting will come naturally once you notice how they react to you.”
“You really think I can pull this off?”
“I know you can.” Her confidence in my ability to succeed at this is greater than mine. “I’m telling you, you’re way too sexy for that dress. Now go get ’em, you man-eater.”
We both laugh.
My best friend hugs me and drops a soft kiss on my cheek before turning on her heel and heading to the bar. Her words boost my ego.
I so can do this.
