Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91363 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91363 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Again, he wrapped my arm around his so I didn’t fall on my face. “Just take off those stupid boots when we get inside.”
“She needs the practice,” Olivia said.
I nodded nervously. Yes, I needed the practice. Yes, I needed to remove them if I didn’t want to kill myself.
Before we reached the driveway filled with cars, the rhythmic bass of “Wild, Wild West” thumped, reverberating through my body. Inside, people were packed shoulder to shoulder. Cigarette smoke filled the air, along with deafening music and people yelling over it. Olivia clasped Ben’s hand, pulling him toward the kitchen. He glanced back at me. I smiled and mouthed, “I’m fine.” As I bent over to remove my boots, someone bumped into me, sending me to the floor on all fours.
“Whoa. Careful, that’s my friend,” Matt said, sliding his hands into my armpits to bring me back to my feet where I wobbled in the boots.
Oh my gosh!
The denim miniskirt slid above my butt. Thankfully, black tights covered it, but I was nonetheless mortified. As I shimmied it back into place, Matt pulled a chunk of hair-sprayed bangs out of my face.
“You okay?” he yelled over the music.
“I uh, was trying to take off my boots.”
He shook his head. “No need. It’s better if you keep them on so no one steps on your toes.”
Was it better to risk spraining an ankle while falling on my face or have someone step on my toes? It felt like a toss-up.
“Glad you made it. Come on, I’ll introduce you to Julianne.”
So much for hoping she couldn’t make it.
“You look different,” he said as we weaved through the crowd.
I gripped his arm for support like when I learned to roller skate and needed to hold on to Ben because he was great at it and never let me fall.
“Olivia loaned me this outfit and did my hair and makeup.”
“It looks good on you. And I’m not just saying that because I’m drunk. But I’m pretty fucking drunk.” Matt laughed, shooting me a grin before opening the sliding door to a weathered deck filled with people huddled around two kegs of beer.
I released him, and he hugged the back of a long-haired brunette, burying his nose in her neck and wrapping his arms around her.
My heart tripped like it, too, wore wobbly heels and could fall and get injured at any moment.
She turned, planting a big kiss on Matt’s lips.
“This is Gabriella,” Matt said with a slight slur to his voice as he stole her beer and took a long swig. “Gabby, this is Julianne.”
She looked like Brooke Shields with her big hair, striking blue eyes, and chiseled jawline. I died a little.
“Oh, the preacher’s daughter.” She offered her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
Yep, preacher’s daughter. That was the reputation I was going for in college.
I shook her hand and accepted my lot in life with a slight nod that matched my tiny smile. “You too.”
“Can I get you something to drink?” she asked. “I know you’re not twenty-one, but I won’t tell anyone if you have a beer. There’s also pop in the kitchen. Whatever you feel comfortable having. No pressure. Oh, and snacks. We ordered twenty pizzas or more. Please eat something.”
Ben was correct; I was nice. But dang it! Julianne was nice, too. It wasn’t her fault I loved Matt. Nor was it her fault that I took on thousands of additional dollars in debt to go to college out of state. Still, I had no intention of feeling bad for loving her boyfriend.
“Pop and pizza sound awesome. Thanks.”
“Can I get you anything, babe?” she asked Matt, pressing her hand to his cheek.
He leaned into her touch. “I’m good. Thanks.” Then he grabbed her butt and kissed her at the same time.
I blushed with envy.
She pulled away and rubbed her lips together. “Let’s go.” Julianne led me into the house.
With the help of a couple of walls, and briefly leaning into a few strangers along the way, I made it without incident.
“I don’t know how you walk in those boots. I’ve never been comfortable in heels,” Julianne said, handing me a plate, then opening the lids to pizza boxes. She stacked the empty ones in a pile, then tossed abandoned red cups into the trash bin.
Her aversion to heels and her tidiness immediately earned my respect. I would have done the same thing in her shoes. But I wasn’t in her cute white canvas sneakers, as she pointed out.
“They’re my roommate’s boots, along with the rest of my outfit. She thought I needed to fit in tonight.” I set one piece of pizza on my plate and lifted a second to my mouth.
Julianne opened a can of Sprite for me. “I bet you don’t drink a lot of caffeine.” She handed it to me after I set my pizza on the plate.