“I mean, I guess I’ve never really dated a guy, and things are moving fast. It’s scary, you know?”
She grabbed my hand. “I felt the exact same way when Tyler and I first became official. It’s better. Just give it time. And Autumn? You can always tell me anything.”
“Thanks Gabby.” She pulled me into an awkward hug across her console before hopping out of the car, giddy.
We walked into the dimly light salon, and I was shuffled to a station in the back by Gabby. The lady sitting across from me expertly went to work on my hands while I tried to relax. The truth was, I’d never done this in my life, and the rough way she was filing my nails gave me anxiety.
Gabby was picking out our colors when she sat down next to me, smiling. “Also, I have a little insider knowledge.” She wiggled her shoulders. “You never have to worry about how Liam feels about you. I hear the guys talk.”
I blushed deeply. “Thank you, Gabby. I mean it.”
“Relationships are scary, I get it.” She winked at me before turning to finish her manicure.
After hours in the salon, I was waxed, my hair was trimmed, and my hands and feet were silky smooth. My nail colors were a deep gray that Gabby swore by. I couldn’t lie to myself; I was into the color and the contrast against my creamy white skin.
Gabby handed her credit card before I could grab mine, paying for both of us. “I can’t let you do that,” I said. I knew Gabby was well off, but I wasn’t exactly hurting for cash now. It never felt right to let anyone pay for my stuff. It made me feel like a charity case.
“Just think of it as a birthday present.” She winked, and that earned her an eye-roll. “There’s something else.”
I sucked my bottom lip in, chewing as if I could solve the mystery with my teeth. She opened the back-passenger door to her car, pulling out a gorgeous black dress. “Okay, now we can party.”
“Wow,” I said, touching the silky fabric. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say we’re going straight to my place, putting on our outfits, and surprising our guys.”
I laughed once. “Okay.”
Her phone rang, coming through the Bluetooth. It was Tyler. “Hey, babe,” he said.
“You’re on speaker!”
“Oh, right, um, how’s the girls’ day going?” he asked. If I didn’t know before, I knew now.
“Great. We’re going to my place to change and coming your way. Are you guys ready to see us?” I almost rolled my eyes at how forced their conversation sounded, but I secretly loved how much they were trying.
“I can’t wait, babe. Love you,” he said, and I sucked all the air in the car into my lungs.
“Love you, too,” she gushed before hanging up.
“Love?”
She squealed. “Yes! He told me last week!”
“Doesn’t that scare the shit out of you a little?”
“Autumn don’t be so cynical. When you know, you know.” She gave me a once-over and I wanted to ask what she meant, but I was also scared to find out.
The drive to her apartment was silent. I imagined she was planning her future with Tyler in her head, and I was trying to make two and two equal five. Liam. Liam Shafer. Handsome, popular, damaged in a way that made him nice, the golden boy. He was like a jock on a teenage soap opera who always ended up with one of the popular girls. We all rooted for him because he was good, but too good for someone like me. And he could love me. I could love him. And I was not even over-thinking it until…
“You’re making that face again. Spill,” Gabby said.
She tossed her small bag onto her couch, padding down the hall to her bedroom. I carried my dress in tow, ready to try it on.
“Josie isn’t coming tonight, right?”
“Eww,” she said, and I laughed out loud. “Why would you say that?”
Oh no. “Well, she’s just always lingering at the house.”
She grabbed my hands, looking me straight in the eyes. “That girl is not invited to hang out with us tonight.”
“She saw us together and freaked for some reason,” I finally admitted to her in the safety of her bedroom.
He eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. “What? Why?”
Shrugging, I looked to her. “Has anything happened between them? Has Tyler said anything?”
“No way! He’s always said no. I would tell you.”
“It’s just weird…the way she acts.”
She grabbed my hand, comforting me. “I wouldn’t put a lot of thought into it. Some girls are just possessive of guys they like, and she’s one of them. Nothing has ever happened, and nothing ever will.”
I nodded. “You’re right. I just get in my head sometimes.”
I tugged my hoodie off and kicked my jeans into the corner of her room. Unzipping the black dress, I shook it out in front of me, grinning before putting it on. It fit like a glove. Hugging in all the right places, the neckline plunged low, and suddenly I was glad I didn’t need a bra.
“Oh my God, Autumn! He’s going to die when he sees you!”
I turned, taking in my appearance for the first time. My breath caught; she was right. Whoa. My auburn hair fell in loose curls almost to my waist. The black dress pulled all my best features and flaunted them in your face. To top it off, the red-bottom heels Gabby tossed in my direction were the icing on the cake.
“Holy shit.”
She giggled at my reaction, and that was the first time I noticed her in a flowy, but short red cocktail dress. Her tan skin popped against the contrast.
“We look amazing, if I do say so myself,” Gabby said in an unrecognizable Southern accent. “Come on!”
She tugged me down the hall and out of her apartment, giggling the entire way. I had never allowed myself to get so involved in
