Page 93 of The Other Side
“I’m fine,” I said to reassure myself just as much to pacify Amanda.
Before I had the chance, she was tugging my dress roughly over my head. I cupped my hands over my breasts when she got to my bra clasp before I could get a word of protest out.
“So you and my brother, huh?” Amanda finally asked what I had been waiting for. And she was going to be the easiest conversation of the evening, so I needed to buck up quickly.
“I guess.” I about smacked myself in the head when that was all I could muster.
Amanda smiled as she pooled the dress on the floor, making room in the middle for me to step through. “Just so you know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard him happier,” she offered as she pulled the dress up, tucking the bodice under my fingers and making her way to the corset ties at the back. She was right, the dress just skimmed the floor on my petite frame.
“Has he mentioned Ashley?” Amanda’s tone was suddenly wary.
“Was she the one who cheated on him?” I asked. Chance had never mentioned an ex by name, but I remembered him commiserating with me about how being cheated on was a special kind of torture.
“Yeah.” Amanda scowled. “I wasn’t sure if he’d get over what she did to him. I don’t think he was in love with her at the end, but he never expected she would step out on him without having the decency to break things off.”
“How long were they together?” I ran my fingers over the ruched velvet bodice that crisscrossed over my chest, showing off the perfect amount to make me feel feminine without being worried about being seen as too revealing by the likely conservative crowd that was milling about beneath us.
“Four years. But she cheated on him for half the time, so I don’t even know if it counts.” Amanda tugged on the corsetstrings, almost pulling me back with her. “All the while, she was trying to mold him into this perfect robot version of what she wanted in a husband. I never liked her.”
“That must have been hard for both of you.”
Amanda fastened the tie at the base of my spine, stepping around to give me a once-over. “You’ve met him. He doesn’t always listen to reason.”
I snorted a laugh. I’d pushed him away for months, and he kept pursuing me anyway. He was stubborn to a fault, but I found it difficult not to see that as an endearing quality in Chance.
“I like your hair and makeup. You have a very natural and elegant beauty, so I’m glad you didn’t do anything too dramatic tonight.” Amanda tucked a tendril of my light brown hair behind my ear.
I had only put on mascara and a rosy pink lip gloss that smelled like vanilla.
“There’s something missing though.” Amanda turned and walked to her dresser, returning a moment later with a small jewelry box.
“Oh no—I couldn’t.” I waved my hands. I’d fight her on this. I didn’t want to wear anything expensive and risk losing it.
Amanda smiled conspiratorially. “Afraid you don’t have a choice. Chance asked me to pick this up for you weeks ago.” She opened the box to reveal a simple gold solitaire necklace.
Weeks ago…
I gulped. “I can’t. It probably cost more than my student loan debt,” I pleaded with her.
“It didn’t cost anything.” Amanda was already pulling the necklace from the box.
“What?”
“I got it from a security deposit box—it belonged to my grandmother.” She looped the necklace around me, ignoring my jaw on the ground.
“That’s worse!” I exclaimed, eyes wide. “That’sso muchworse, Amanda!”
She just laughed. Amanda was much too similar to her brother. They both seemed entirely too amused by making me uncomfortable.
Stepping back once more, Amanda appraised me. “I hate to admit it, but he does have excellent taste.” She admired the necklace.
I felt like it was burning my skin. I was terrified I’d lose it. How could he trust me with a family heirloom like it was nothing!?
“Hmm…” Amanda hummed.
“No,” I stated.
“You didn’t even hear my idea!” she argued.
