Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 163387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 817(@200wpm)___ 654(@250wpm)___ 545(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 817(@200wpm)___ 654(@250wpm)___ 545(@300wpm)
She was sure that something would go wrong, that she’d either make a fool of herself by falling flat on her face or that she’d be left standing without a bid. If I know my mother, there’s no way the three of us won’t be accepted. I didn’t do my usual pleading with her not to go too far but gave her free reign, knowing full well that just the thought that I was willing to follow in her footsteps would be enough to make her go overboard.
As for me, I wasn’t as interested in getting into their little cult as I was in making Susie miserable. I know, I know, I shouldn’t call it a cult, but from some of the stories I’ve heard, some of them aren’t far from it. I guess I don’t see the appeal in ostracizing most of the student body while allowing a handful to lord it over everyone else just because they belong to an organization based on letters of a language they neither speak nor understand.
My nervousness disappeared as soon as I opened the door to Cody’s knock. His response to the semi-formal cocktail dress that was the exact color of my eyes and hung and draped around my body, showing it off to perfection, wiped everything else from my mind. It took him a good minute to speak, and when he did, it wasn’t with words.
He drew me to him and, with his arm around my waist, brought our lips together. His kiss made mine seem as tame as milquetoast in comparison, the way he sucked me in and under, and I forgot about everything else for those brief moments we were locked together.
“Get a room, good grief, or hose yourselves down.” Jess grinned as she side-stepped around us in the doorway. We both ignored her, me because the look in Cody’s eyes packed so much heat it was hard for me to breathe and him, I guess because he was busy wiping the lipstick from his lips.
“It doesn’t smear, don’t worry.”
“You look… I have no words. Wow.” I expected him to tell me to do a little twirl, and when he didn’t, I took it upon myself to give him the full view. “Whoa, no, uh-uh.” I started to laugh because he was pushing me back inside, but Jess came to the rescue.
“Come on, you two, we’ve got to go.”
She dragged me away with a secret wink and out to the luxury car I’d rented for the evening. I hadn’t even had the chance to tell him how good he looked himself in the shirt I’d chosen for him to wear that matched mine almost perfectly with the black slacks that showed off his athlete’s body.
We looked exactly like what I wanted us to, a power couple on the rise. It was easy for me to get through it now, as long as I reminded myself that it was just a game. The only thing that really mattered was Cody, and after that kiss, I have no doubt where his feelings lie.
That special feeling I get only with him was magnified tenfold, even when he pouted because my dress was missing a back. “I should’ve worn the damn jacket; that way, I could throw it over you.”
“Oh hush, it’s not that bad. I’m sure you’ve seen worst.”
“Yeah, but my woman wasn’t wearing it. You knew I wouldn’t….”
I stopped him with a finger on his lip and a sultry look in my eye. “I don’t want other guys seeing you like this.” Be still my heart; I’m going to expire before we make it to the party. But his words were the perfect opening for me to walk through.
“Just stick close to me all night, and no one else would dare come close.”
“Bet!”
His friends showed up then, and we all piled into the stretch SUV limo. The atmosphere was already very festive, and everyone was in a good mood. It struck me as the vehicle moved smoothly through the streets that I was the only one who really knew what this evening was about. I hadn’t exactly shared with Jess and Alexis beyond telling them about my suspicions that Susie was behind the invite.
I had a moment of doubt because I’m going on my own assumptions based on past experience with her kind. What if I’m way off course? What if she had nothing to do with it, and it was just a coincidence that her friend had been talking to the girl I’d later learned was called Tracy?
No, I know it in my gut, and I can pretty much guess what she thinks and what she’s expecting to happen. If she could see the way Cody was acting at this very moment, she’d give up her wasted efforts to win his favor. If I was as bold as I’m trying hard to pretend I am, I’d be answering that hungry look in his eye.