Small Town Sweethearts

STS - Chapter 16: Okay, I Love You

Chapter 16

Amelia’s POV

              What’s better than drunk teenagers at a party?

              Drunk teenagers at a Christmas party, that’s what. There’s red sparkly shoes and mistletoe hanging from the ceiling, and glimmering lights everywhere.

              Lacey was strutting in front of her mom’s full-length mirror in her mom’s massive closet with over a hundred pairs of shoes. Her bright red heels matched the red of her lips and were the only color she was wearing to contrast with her favorite little black dress.

              “Honestly, Lace, why are you wearing those shoes? You’re only going to complain about them later,” I mumbled. She rolled her eyes at me.

              “Because we’re going to a party! And Kai and Brayden are meeting us, so you should go put on my green dress now. It’s Christmas, Amelia! Be cheerful,” she grinned at me, hands on her slim hips and one leg cocked.

              “But I’m wearing my combat boots with it!” I smiled cheekily at her, the compromise not lost on her. She waved me away with a flip her curled hair and turned back to the mirror.

“I don’t understand why you put that on,” I told Lacey as she reapplied her lipstick in the car mirror. “You know as soon as you see Kai you’ll smear it all to heck.” She smacked my arm and winked.

              “My boyfriend is hot, and I am just taking advantage of that fact, so shut up. It’s not like I’ve slept with him . . .” she trailed off, looking at me with wide eyes. It was no secret Lacey was saving her first time for her wedding night, as was I. It had never bothered her before, but now I could see the worry in her eyes. “What if he gets tired of me, Mel? He’s more experienced, and he could get bored or something. Or he could just get sick of just messing up my lipstick.”

              I reached over the armrest and grabbed her hand. “Stop worrying. If he’s truly worth it, he’ll wait for you.”

              “You’re wiser than you give yourself credit for. Thanks for that.” Lacey gave my hand a squeeze and then popped open her car door, letting in a whoosh of cold air. I shivered and zipped up my leather jacket to ward off the chill before doing the same.

              Lacey and I picked out way through the damp grass to the front door of the house, trying not to ruin our shoes. She stopped by a large red truck and unlocked the door before throwing in a bag. “Kai’s truck?” I assumed.

              “Yep,” she answered. “I figure we’ll get out of here later and I wanted to not wear this stupid dress all night.”

I had to hold on to Lacey’s elbow as she teetered on the uneven ground in her heels—“I told you not to wear those.” People crowded the porch and front steps, talking and laughing and sipping from cups reeking of liquids stronger than soda. Lacey went to get us drinks while I searched for the guys. I found them sitting around a ping pong table, watching some juniors play out a bet.