Page 44 of The Revenge You Seek

I have no idea why I kept it. I'd bought it with every intention of wearing it on a night out at Columbia, but everything turned to shit and it never saw the light of day again.

I almost gave it to goodwill when I packed up but something about it made me keep it. Maybe it was the hope that one day I could pull it on and somehow find the confidence I used to have and realize that life can return back to normal. That I can go out and enjoy myself once again without drowning in the past.

"You still hating on me for that," Ella says, following my eyeline to see me staring at the dress that's now hanging on the back of her door.

"N-no," I stutter.

"It's gonna look killer. Those Dunn boys won't know what's hit them."

"It's not like that with us," I argue.

"Girl, have you seen the way both of them look at you. It's literally like you personally hung the moon or some shit."

"Nah, we're all just friends. If you want my permission to make a play then you're more than welcome. Either of them would be lucky to have you."

A smile splits her face at my words. "I'm not sure they'd even notice I existed. I could walk in naked and I'm pretty sure they'd both still have their eyes firmly focused on you.”

I squirm uncomfortably.

"That's not—"

Ella holds her hand up.

"It's not how it is, I got that memo. But I think you might need to look a little harder because I think you might be missing something."

I stare at her.

"What?"

"Nothing. Pass me my drink?"

Ella quickly fills my glass from the pitcher we made earlier.

I've been keeping it slow all afternoon, unlike her and Violet who polished off the first pitcher between them in no time.

"Where's Violet? I thought she was just going for a shower. That was like, over an hour ago."

"Come on," Ella encourages, pushing from the chair she's sitting on and pulling her door open.

"The guys are now sitting in the kitchen with bottles of beer but they pay us little attention as we sneak across the hall with our hair in curlers and goo on our faces. I'm sure it's something they've seen a million times living with these two.

"Shhh." Ella holds her finger up in front of her lips and quietly pushes Violet's door open.

I stifle a laugh when she comes into view curled up in a ball fast asleep on her bed.

Ella's hand lands on my forearm stopping me from backing out to let her rest.

"Get ready," she mouths, before holding her hand up and counting down from three.

On one, she screams before running at Violet, who sits up like the world is exploding around her. The alcohol that's trickling through my veins ensures I burst into fits of laughter as the two of them begin wrestling on Violet's bed as footsteps race our way.

"Oh hell yeah. Micah, go get the chocolate sauce," West announces, his eyes locked on the girls.

Ella's robe falls open flashing us all her black lace bra while they continue to fight.

"Fuck the party," Brax adds. "We can just have an orgy right here."

He dives onto the bed with them, wrapping his arms around both of their waists and pulling them into his body.