AllFreeNovel
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I stop twirling. “You know I always like to look my best.”
Diana tilts her head. “Brianna, I got you that dress because you don’t have anything like it. You wear jeans and cowboy boots all the time.”
She’s not wrong. Diana has always been more feminine than I am. But if I’m going to catch Jesse Pike’s eye…
“Brianna, look at me.”
I take my gaze away from my own reflection and turn to my sister. “What?”
“You look beautiful. But I get the feeling…”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t try to be someone you’re not, Bree. It never works.”
Not only is Diana the smartest of all the Steel kids, she’s also the most intuitive. She always seems to know what I’m thinking before I do.
“Don’t be silly. I can enjoy a dress every now and then.”
“Of course you can. Why else would I have bought it for you? But my point is that you don’t have to be someone you’re not to impress anyone.”
“Who says I’m trying to impress anyone?” I ask innocently.
“No one’s saying that.” This time Diana’s feigning innocence.
I let out a heavy sigh. Diana’s the closest person in the world to me, and I have to confide in someone. “Listen, Dee, let me tell you a little secret.”
She smiles then. “I’m listening—”
A knock on the door interrupts us.
For crying out loud…
“Yeah? Come on in,” I say with exasperation.
Mom enters, wearing leggings and a sweatshirt. Our mother is still so beautiful, even nearing fifty-one. There’s hardly a wrinkle on her face, and only a few streaks of silver in her hair, which she keeps covered with hair color. Her figure is still stunning, and her eyes are magnificent. No wonder Dad calls her blue eyes.
“Bree, there’s someone here to see you.” Then she looks at me. “Is that the dress from Diana? You look amazing.”
“Thank you,” I say. “I absolutely love it.”
“Certainly not your usual style,” Mom says.
“Which is why I bought it for her,” Diana says. “She may only wear it once or twice a year, but it’s perfect for her body type.”
“Indeed it is,” Mom agrees. Then, “It’s Jesse Pike. He wants to see you for some reason. He wouldn’t say why.”
I widen my eyes, my heart pounding. “He’shere?”
“Yeah. He wants to see you. I assume it has something to do with the tour.”
“Yeah, that must be it.” I turn to Diana. “Unzip me, will you?”
Diana turns me around, makes me face her. “Why don’t you keep it on?”
I look down at my legs. I haven’t shaved in a few days, and dark stubble is starting to erupt.
“Oh, hell no. Unzip me.”
