“Yes?” I said hesitantly, annoyed that she was criticizing my choice but not wishing to start a fight by giving her attitude. I even bit my tongue, knowing better than to ask what she thought was wrong with it.
My mom just sighed and rolled her blue eyes while she approached me. She, of course, was dressed to the nines in her designer blue sheath dress and nude three inch pumps. The hottest blonde housewife on the block.
“If you want to be a star,” she said, her red lips curling with a hint of contempt. “Then you must dress the part.”
I held my breath, resisting the urge to take a step back as she stepped up close, invading my personal bubble. She looked down her nose at me, and no matter how many times she did that to me I knew I would never get used to it. She humphed then decided to adjust the straps of my tank top until it slipped low enough to show off more of my cleavage than I was comfortable with.
“Where are those silver Choos I bought for you?” she asked, taking a step back and glaring pointedly down at my sandals.
I shrugged my shoulders as if I didn’t know, but truth was I knew exactly where they were. They were buried in the back of my closet where they belonged. There was no way I was spending all night at the party trying to walk around in a pair of ankle breaking pumps. I just couldn’t suffer for fashion like her, especially when I just wanted to have fun.
Her eyes narrowed, and I knew I was about to get an earful but I was saved by the doorbell.
Thank fuck, Brett was there to pick me up.
“That’s my date!” I smiled at her and couldn’t spin around fast enough.
“Did you take your pill?” my mom asked from behind me just as my hand grabbed the handle of the door.
No, I didn’t take the stupid pill. I didn’t need birth control pills because I was a virgin who wasn’t screwing anyone, and they made me breakout. But my mother insisted that I have them. God forbid I followed in her footsteps
and popped out a baby while I was still young. I honestly believed she didn’t know how hurtful she was when she talked about me like that. I don’t think it ever crossed her mind that her mistake and I were one and the same thing.
“Yes, mom,” I lied to her and pulled open the door.
As Brett came into view, standing on the front step, her entire posture changed. Her ruby lips stretched into a smile and her voice was almost bubbly as she told us to, “Have fun.”
I slammed the door shut behind me, I couldn’t get away from her fast enough.
* * *
Wow. Brett looked… wow. His hair was still a little too long and looked even a little more wild than usual. Did he drive over here with the window down? But his clothes, damn, I knew there was a body hiding under his clothes. He was fucking hot!
We both kind of stood there, checking each other out. Then my phone dinged and buzzed, bringing me back to reality. I could feel my cheeks burning as I quickly peeked at it. It was just another text from Grace.
Brett cleared his throat and then asked, “Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah,” I smiled at him and let him lead me over to his car, a Volvo that must have been his mom’s. He was a perfect gentleman, opening the door for me and everything. He didn’t even put the car into drive until I had my seat belt on. The entire drive over to Eric’s house my heart skipped erratically behind my ribs. Brett was his usual strong, silent self and fuck if I knew what to talk about with him.
My palms felt kind of sweaty so I tried to inconspicuously rub them down my jean skirt. I caught Brett peeking at my thighs and my heart rate immediately sped up. Then I remembered that my mom had yanked my top down and my breasts were practically spilling out. I wanted to yank it up but couldn’t figure out how to do it without looking weird. And I definitely didn’t want Brett to think I was weird. Though lord knows I’d already given him enough reason already to think such.
I wanted him to like me, the real me. I don’t know why, but I really did.
There was just something about him drawing me in. He wasn’t playing games with me. He wasn’t giving me shitty pickup lines or trying to impress me with how much he could lift. He was just being himself, and I very much wanted the luxury of being myself with him. I couldn’t remember ever being so nervous on a date before. And it didn’t even start out as a real date, but somehow it was now more real than any of the other dates I had ever been on.
My phone was going crazy when we finally pulled up to Eric’s street and Brett tried to find a parking spot. The place had to be packed, cars lined the street, and some were parked in the grass. We finally found a spot two streets away.
I fired off a quick text to Grace letting her know I was there. I could hear her squeal before we even reached Eric’s block. You’d think we didn’t just see each other in school the way she ran out of the house when we walked up the front lawn and threw her arms around me.
“Finally, bitch!” she squealed and I couldn’t help but giggle over her enthusiasm. Then she whispered in my ear, eyeing Brett over my shoulder. “Oh my god.”
Pulling away, she gave me wide brown eyes with a grin pulling at her lips. She was impressed, and maybe even a little bit jealous. Then a guy I didn’t recognize sauntered up and threw his arm around her shoulder.
I lifted my brows at her, holding back my own grin.
“Hey, babe,” the guy said and then looked over to me and Brett with polite curiosity. The guy had slicked back blonde hair and everything he wore, and most especially the way he stood, just screamed football player to me.
Oh my god, I almost forgot Brett was standing beside me and I didn’t even introduce him.