Marissa Le looked like hell that next morning, her face buried into my toilet bowl while she rid herself of every last ounce of tequila in her system. I thanked God I didn't have a weak stomach as I held her hair back.
"I can't believe I kissed Tre." She whined, resting her cheek on her hand on the toilet seat.
"Why? He's a nice guy..." I frowned.
"Exactly. I'm not looking for a nice guy."
"Why not?"
"It's just easier when they are an asshole. No expectations..." She groaned and before we could discuss her life choices any longer the doorbell rang downstairs.
"If that's Tre, tell him I'm not here." Marissa groaned from inside the toilet bowl and I rolled my eyes as the bell chimed again.
"Coming!" I called, bounding down the stairs and toward the glass and iron front door. Unlike Marissa, I felt surprisingly great this morning.
The abundance of tequila shots did little to inebriate me the way kissing Eli had. That kiss. My toes curled against the marble entryway floor as I walked. I would never get tired of kissing Eli. Never. Not for the rest of my life.
I pulled open the door, still in my post-Eli haze, and stared mutedly at the man on the other side. He was mid-forties and wearing a black suit and black tie, and his smile was somewhat forced.
"Can I help you?" I could only hope he wasn't some deranged fan of my father's.
"Are you Avery Adams?"
"Yes." My fingers gripped the door handle, prepared to slam it shut as he reached behind him for something.
"Mister Elijah West requests your company this evening." He said handing me a large silver box.
"What?" I giggled, taking the box that was awkward in my arms. He ignored my girlish laughter and looked like he was incredibly annoyed to be a part of this exchange.
"He'll be ready to retrieve you by seven o'clock sharp..." The man turned and walked down my driveway to a black SUV without another word, and I closed the door behind him. I hoped Mister Sullen would not play a role in whatever Eli had up his sleeve.
"Who was it? Was it Tre?" Marissa yelled from somewhere upstairs, and I snapped out of my haze, staring at the large box in my hands.
"No, but I'm sure he'll be the next one to show up..." I teased, taking the stairs two at a time as my heart pounded wildly with excitement. Nothing could shatter this fantastic mood, not even the sight of Marissa stumbling from my bathroom, wiping fresh vomit from her mouth.
"What's that?"
"I don't know." I admitted. "Some guy just dropped it off and asked that I be downstairs ready by seven for Eli to pick me up." I glanced at my Apple Watch that read 12:15.
"Romantic." Marissa mumbled as I pulled on the delicate silver string tied to the box. Once it snapped free, the box itself was rather easy to open. I slid off the cover and removed the tissue paper, gasping at the beauty inside.
"Is that...a gown?" Marissa groaned as I pulled the silk and crystal scarlet fabric from the cardboard. It was....beautiful.
I rushed to my closet and held it up to my chest turning side to side in the floor length mirror. The top of the dress was made entirely of red crystals, cut low on my breasts, with cap sleeves to support the weight. Slowly the crystals tapered out around the waist where the organza flowed down to my feet, like the softest butter.
YOU ARE READING
The Sweetest Summer
Roman d'amour**COMPLETE** Elijah West was everything, and I was just...Avery Adams. The tomboy, the girl next door, the friend zone occupant. The girl who somehow grew up while he was gone filming his television show. But this summer he's back, and the sparks a...
