"Yeah, Dad, I promise to be careful." I laughed, trying not to move too much to mess up my hair or make-up. "Anyway, Dinah and Liam will be there, so I'll be able to find a ride if I get too wasted."
My laptop speakers vibrated with the loud sigh my dad let out. "Camila ." "Oh, relax. You know you can trust me."
I guess I could still say that, but somehow I felt like it was less true than
before.
My fingers fidgeted. I needed to get off this call, so I could get into my dress.
Lauren and Madoc had compromised about Homecoming. I'd be going with both of them. As much as I just wanted to spend every second with Lauren, I'd decided to give Madoc an opportunity to make amends. If he was Lauren best friend, then it was no skin off my nose to give him another chance.
Just one more chance.
"It's not you I'm worried about," my dad grumbled.
I narrowed my eyes. "But you like Lauren, Dad."
"She's a teenager, honey. I trust her, just not with my daughter." Heat rose to my cheeks, and I hoped my dad didn't see a blush. His suspicions were too close to home.
If he only knew. Guilt sullied the otherwise exciting night I was about to
have.
Lauren and I had made love twice on my birthday a week ago and again the
next morning. Keeping her off me since then so I could get some school work done had become a full time job. A delightful and fun full-time job. I enjoyed the effect I had on her and how easily I could get her worked up only to say no. She called me a bully for it last night, and I'd laughed, because I did kind of get off on the power.
But if my dad knew that Lauren spent all of her nights here now, he'd jump a plane home immediately. I would do the same thing if it were my daughter, but I
just didn't want Lauren anywhere without me, and she seemed to feel the same way. We couldn't control ourselves. Or maybe we just didn't care to try.
"Well, how do I look so far?" I asked, meaning my look from the neck up.
He gave me a sad smile, and I knew he was sorry he couldn't be here with me. "Beautiful. So much like your mom."
My eyes welled up. "Thanks," I barely whispered. My mom and I didn't look a lot alike. She had blonde hair and was more petite, but it made me feel proud that my dad thought I was just as beautiful. I wanted her here tonight fluffing my hair or helping me zip my dress.
My brunette hair was parted in the middle, and wide curls cascaded down my back. The make-up I'd bought when I purchased the dress turned out to be less overwhelming than I originally thought. Whereas I usually applied minimal color to my face and eyes, I'd decided to go all out tonight and the result had been shocking. My eyes popped, and my lips looked like candy.
"Alright, go get dressed, and text me when you get in tonight." He rubbed the stubble on his jaw.
"I love you. Talk to you later," I replied.
"Love you too. Have a great time." And we clicked off.
Casting off the white button-down, I slipped my dress off the hanger.
Stepping into the nude and silver sequined material, I felt shivers down my arms and legs as giddiness overtook me. The slim-fitting, short, strapless dress featured a sweetheart neckline. My legs, arms, and cleavage were the main attractions, since the dress covered none of them. I took a deep breath while I worked the zipper up and adjusted my body inside the dress as it hugged all the right places. The sheer overlay featured a pattern of sequins that made me look like I glowed. My toes dug into the floor when I saw myself in the mirror.
Wow. I'd never looked like this before.
After a few make-up touch-ups and adding some bracelets and earrings, I headed downstairs to grab my heels out of the Bronco. Waiting until this afternoon to purchase the finishing touch on my outfit had been playing with fire, but shoes had been the last thing on my mind this week.
Taking the box from the passenger side of the truck, I spun around to see Lauren frozen in his driveway, staring at me. I swallowed with the sudden shock of seeing him dressed up. She wore a black dress, of course, with a high slit and heels. The jacket didn't hang on him limply but. Her hair was curled and styled to perfection and out of her eyes, making them seem brighter. I just wanted to take her inside and forget about the dance.
Her deep stare travelled down my body, and her breathing got heavier by the
second.
