Page 105

AJ

It’s Friday evening,and I’ve spent the entire day anxious as fuck over my date tonight. So anxious that I called Stacia and asked her to come over and help me get ready. We’re in the middle of twisting my hair up into this cute style I pinned the other week when Stacia finally asks what I can tell has been on the tip of her tongue since I called.

“Why are you so nervous, AJ? You’ve literally known Brock your entire life.”

I must take too long to answer her, because she jabs one of my pink-painted bobby pins into my scalp. “Ow, bitch!” I swat her hands away and take over, carefully securing the pin so that my hair looks effortlessly messy. “And, I guess it’s because this almost seems too good to be true.”

I meet my bestie’s eyes in the mirror and see she’s frowning at me. “Um. What? No. Don’t put yourself down like that.”

“No. I misspoke. I don’t think he is too good for me or anything. It’s just…for so long he was my best friend in the entire world, and then one day…he just wasn’t. I spent a long time hurt over that, and now, here I am, prepping for him to take me out. As a kid, I always thought we would be a ‘thing’ when we got tohigh school, but we fell out the second puberty hit. I can’t help but wonder…why now?”

“Okay, okay. I can see that. But, worrying over it won’t give you any answers, so turn around and let me do your eyeliner.”

I do as she says, spinning and hoisting myself up onto my bathroom counter. I sit statue still while Stacia rims my eyes in my favorite liner—Perversion by Urban Decay. It islifeand makes the best wings. When Stacia finishes, I keep my eyes closed for a few seconds to make sure the liquid is dry. When I do open my eyes, she stands back to make sure everything is even.

“Fucking perfection,” she murmurs. “What lip color?”

“Blast Off,” I tell her, referencing my favorite pink from Smashbox. It’s a few shades brighter than my hair.

“Yes. So much fucking yes.” With a practiced hand, she sets to work, dabbing a light coat of concealer across my lips, following it with clear lip liner before finally slicking on an even coating of my lipstick.

I hop down from the counter and turn to appraise my appearance. “Girl. Why aren’t you in school for this?”

Stacia shrugs. “Business seemed like a safer choice.”

Reaching out, I take her hands in mine. “Babycakes, not sharing your talent is a crime toward humanity.”

Stacia rolls her eyes. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

“I would. You could easily be a platform artist or brand educator. And with a business degree on top of it, you could easily run your own empire.” I pause, letting my words sink in. “At least think about it, okay?”

She rolls her lips inward and nods. “Okay. But enough about me. Brock will be here in thirty, and we need to get you dressed.”

We stand side-by-side in my closet, rifling through potential outfits. “Ugh. This would be so much easier if I knew where we were going.”

“AJ. Stop. Just wear something you feel sexy in.”

Stacia’s words spur me into action and I begin flinging hangers aside until I find exactly what I’m looking for. I wiggle my way into a pair of structured black leather shorts that stop mid-thigh, pairing them with a super soft gray tank and a black leather diagonal cut blazer. I layer several necklaces of varying lengths and slide my feet into a pair of pointy-toed, metal adorned black leather booties.

“Thoughts?”

“Um. I’ll be shocked if y’all make it to wherever he plans on taking you. And if you don’t wear it, I’ll be taking it home with me.”

I laugh and turn to assess my outfit one more time. The heels make my toned legs look a mile long, and the leather shorts hug my ass, accentuating it nicely. “Fuck yes. I’m gettin’ some tonight!” I sing and Stacia holds her hand up for a high five.

“Yeah, you totally are.” She lifts her wrist and checks the time on her smartwatch. “He’ll be here in about ten minutes.”

I walk back into my bathroom and lather myself with my Love Spell lotion and mist myself with the spray, knowing how much this scent drives him crazy. Just as I step back into the bedroom, there’s a knock on the front door. “Oh! He’s early!”

“I’ll go let him in. You finish up and head down when you’re ready.”

“Thanks, babe!” I holler after her already-retreating form.

I hear the front door open, and I strain my ears to hear their conversation, but it’s no use. Quickly, I toss an extra pair of panties, my lipstick, and my phone charger into my bag. You know…just in case.

BROCK

I pull up to Abby Jane’s damn near fifteen minutes early. Not wanting to look too eager, I kill time playing on my phone, checking the clock every two minutes. Finally, with only seven to spare, I decided I’ve waited long enough—especially when it already feels like I’ve waited a lifetime.