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Raina’s eyes widened in surprise. “What?”
“Try. On. My. Clothes,” Nicole repeated slowly. “I might not like you very much, Cohen, but no one should be forced to wear the travesty you call a wardrobe. I appreciate your color choices—especially your skirts—but your closet could use a serious upgrade.”
Raina let her hair fall over her face, covering her red cheeks. She only wore black skirts because that was what her mother bought. They’d been the popular style at her old school, and when she’d transferred to Trinity, Raina hadn’t seen the point of buying an entirely new wardrobe.
“Nicole!” Jesse protested. “Be nice!”
“No, Nicole’s right.” Raina didn’t want to start an argument, not after all the other arguments she’d had tonight. Besides, the other girl kind of had a point. “My mom picks most of my clothes and I don’t get a say. I don’t like the skirts much.”
Nicole smirked. “See? Now come on, Cohen, let’s find you something good to wear. Jesse, you stay here and entertain yourself.”
“On one condition.” Raina shrugged off her cardigan to reveal a long sleeve lavender shirt underneath. Draping the cardigan over her arm, Raina faced Nicole. “You have to call me Raina.”
“Fine,” Nicole agreed. “Any price is worth getting you out of those monstrosities.”
* * *
Jesse waited patiently on the couch as Nicole and Raina disappeared into Nicole’s closet. Honestly, he had no idea how this would go. Nicole’s clothes were 99% black, and also made to fit someone much taller than Raina. Not to mention the fact that Nicole was firmly sticking to her “we’re not friends” claim, but it was easy to tell that she was warming up to Raina. A few months ago, Nicole never would have offered her closet to Raina, much less agree to go to dinner at her house.
Two months ago, Jesse would have been thrilled Raina and Nicole were getting along. But then, in the same weekend, Nicole had dropped two bombshells on him. The first was that Raina had a crush on him, which Jesse had kinda already known. The second was that Raina’s crush wasn’t real—only a ploy Gracie and Raina had cooked up to spy on Dean, who Gracie had been fighting with at the time. And when forced to believe either the girl he’d known for years or the one he’d recently met, Jesse had chosen to take Nicole’s side.
It had been easy to stay away from Raina at first, with the hurt still fresh in his mind. But now, as they were starting to get along again, Jesse didn’t know what to do. Did he confront Raina? Ask Nicole what she knew?
Before Jesse could decide either way, the closet door swung open.
“Are you ready to see the brand new Raina Cohen?” Nicole asked, the corners of her mouth tilted up a little more than usual.
Jesse nodded. At least Nicole and Raina were getting along for now. They could figure out the rest of the details later, but right now, in this moment, everything was okay.
“Raina, you can come out now!” Nicole called.
Raina stepped out of the closet, and Jesse’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “Wow,” he said, stunned.
Nicole had dressed Raina in a jean skirt that was shorter than anything Raina had ever worn and lighter than anything that had ever come out of Nicole’s closet. Raina was still wearing her purple top from earlier, although Nicole had knotted the bottom so it barely covered the waistband of the skirt. Raina’s cardigan had disappeared, and Jesse had a feeling Nicole intended to burn it as soon as the unsuspecting girl wasn’t looking. Raina’s hair had been left down, and her flats were replaced by a pair of black and white Converse Jesse recognized as Zara’s. When Raina took a step closer, smiling shyly, Jesse noted the red scribbles on the soles. Yep, definitely Zara’s.
“How do I look?” Raina bit her lip. She tugged at the bottom of her skirt, pulling it down a bit and exposing a sliver of her stomach at the same time.
I don’t know what to say because you take my breath away. Pretty. You look so pretty.
Of course, Jesse couldn’t say that out loud, not without freaking Raina out.
“You look really nice,” he finally said, his eyes still glued to her.
“Are you sure? I’m not sure I like it.”
“You look great,” Jesse reassured her. “It’s...just not you.”
Raina bit her lip again, turning to Nicole. “Maybe we can go shopping sometime? You can help me pick out some clothes that are more me, that are…”
“Even the slightest bit attractive?” Nicole suggested.
Raina laughed weakly and undid the knot on her shirt. “Yes, that. But for now, can I have my cardigan back?”
Nicole huffed. “If you insist on looking like a grandmother, fine. But we’re going shopping soon. It’s such a fucking crime for you to go out in public looking like that.”
Jesse hid his smile. Nicole would scowl at him if she caught him looking happy that the two girls were getting along.
“C’mon, let’s watch some TV before bed,” he said, motioning for the two girls to join him on the couch.
