Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
“Really?” We’re intimidating? I never would have thought that.
“I mean, would you date a man who lived with a beautiful girl? And then there’s the fact that Mack would basically do anything you asked him to do. Think about it from an outsider's point of view.” When she points it out, it’s painstakingly obvious. “I even asked if he’d be interested in taking Nina out this Saturday to a charity event she’s hosting, and he shot me down saying Saturday night is scary movie night and tacos with you. That he’ll give a check instead.”
“It is scary movie night and tacos.” Felicia’s brows raise at how defensive I’m being. “I didn’t know Nina was into Mack,” I quickly add to try and hide my jealousy. Of course, she is. Who wouldn’t be into Mack? He’s the perfect man.
Nina is the daughter of one of Felicia’s friends who does a ton of philanthropy. Nina isn’t only beautiful but she’s following in her mom's footsteps of trying to make the world a better place. She’s super outgoing, too. She and Mack might actually balance each other out. My stomach starts to turn at the thought of them being together.
“Can’t you move taco and scary movie night over a day?” she suggests. “Because her stepbrother Eric needs a date as well. He is very handsome. I think you two would get along great.” I don’t think I’ve met Eric yet. Tracy, Nina’s mom, remarried a few months ago. It was a bit of a whirlwind. The wedding was last second on a beach in the Caribbean.
“Like Saturday as in tomorrow?”
“Yes, as in tomorrow.” She laughs. “You can borrow one of my dresses. My stylist actually just bought me a bunch of things yesterday!” she says excitedly, grabbing my wrist to pull me along with her out of this kitchen.
This is escalating quickly. Felicia is always pushing off clothes onto me. She has a bit of a shopping addiction, but she can afford it. Not that I complain. We’re the same size not only in clothing but shoes too. Ever since she dolled me up for prom, it’s been her favorite thing to do when she can corner me into it.
When we enter her bedroom, there are two racks of clothing set up in there. All brand new with tags still on them. There are boxes of shoes sitting under the rack. She lets go of my wrist to grab a clipboard and starts to flip through it.
“Oh, this one,” she says to herself before dropping the clipboard down and going over to the rack. I watch as she grabs one of the shoe boxes and then a dress. At first glance, I think it’s white, but when I step closer, I see it’s a soft petal pink. She knows I love pink.
“It’s pretty.” I run my fingers down the material.
“So you’ll wear it.” She thrusts it at me.
“Wait, I didn't say that.”
“Sunshine!” Mack shouts my name from somewhere in the house.
“When did he start calling you Sunshine?” Felicia asks. I shrug, pretending not to remember. “I’ve got her.”
Mack comes rushing into the room. “Something wrong?” I ask.
“I couldn’t find you.” His eyes take me in. “That’s pretty. It suits you, and it’s your favorite color.”
“She's going to wear it tomorrow night at the Hoffman charity event.”
“You are?” Mack looks to me for an answer, but Felicia answers before I can get a word out.
“Yes, she’s going with Eric, and you can go with Nina since taco and scary movie night is postponed till Sunday.” The look on Mack’s face changes in an instant.
“No,” Mack snaps. “She’s not going.” What the hell?
“Why can’t I go?” Is he saying he can go with Nina but I can’t go with Eric? Because if that’s what he means, he has a reality check coming his way real soon.
“You haven't been feeling well.” Mack starts to backtrack some when he sees my irritation.
“I’m better.” In fact, I’m kind of thinking about those apple crisps and if we have ice cream at home for them or if we need to stop and get some on the way.
“Then it’s settled. I’ll let Eric and Nina know. You two can meet them there.”
“Mom—”
“It’s for a good cause.”
“What cause?” he challenges.
“I don’t know. It’s something for children. I can’t keep up. They do something every month.”
Felicia and Mack have some kind of stare-off. I hold the dress to my chest wondering what the hell I just got myself into. My jealousy got the best of me.
9
MACK
“Nina, this event is so fun!” cries Sandra Bennington as she runs toward us, her hands outstretched. My date beams and catches the other girl in her arms.
“Thank you for saying that. I thought people would find the games dumb. Some people”—she casts an evil look in the direction of her stepbrother, who is trying very hard not to stare at Nina’s chest, which is about to fall out of her dress—“were very skeptical of it all.”