Page 51 of Completely Captivated
Aaron
“Christa, how can this not melt that foot of ice around your heart?”Allie put the letter back in the envelope and stared at it for several seconds.“Do you have any idea what I’d give to have someone love me like this?”
“I don’t believe him.Allie, how am I supposed to trust him again?He crushed me.”
“He’s trying to make up for it.Think of all the ways he can make it up to you for the rest of your life.Make-up sex.Make-up jewelry.Make-up vacations.A lifetime of groveling from a hot, sexy man who loves your ass.How can you possibly ask for more?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her—I knew she was joking.Partially, anyway.“Maybe you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right.I’m also right about not trusting this Jared guy with you.I’ll go pick him up and take him to his car.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Of course.Now get ready for a night out of drunken debauchery.We’re going out and staying out until dawn, or until one of us pukes then passes out.You haven’t been properly introduced to the club scene.Whatever you’re wearing when I return is what your ass is going out clubbing in, so you’d better make it something good.”
Even though going out after a long day was officially the last thing I wanted to do, I had no doubt Allie would do exactly what she said.She’d drag me out of my apartment in my ratty old pajamas without a second thought.She left to play taxi for Jared while I jumped in the shower.
The hot water felt so good on my aching muscles I was tempted to stay in my locked bathroom and ignore Allie.But she was right.I did need a night out with her to let loose, to enjoy myself, to do things I’d never done before.However, I couldn’t stop laughing to myself when I thought about the look on Jared’s face when Allie arrived for him instead of me.
I should’ve had her text me a picture of his reaction.
For the first time in several weeks, my hair wasn’t pulled up in a ponytail.My face was fully painted with all the makeup.My clothes made me feel sexy—or sexier.Let’s not get too crazy.But our night out would be a night to remember.I could feel it.
I was slipping my feet into my shoes when I heard the front door open, followed by Allie’s laughter carrying down the hallway.The sound of it—the unmistakable mischievous cackle—pulled a bubble of laughter from my own chest.
“What did you do to Jared?”
“Nothing permanent.Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, I’m ready.”I stepped into the hall and met her.
“Whoa.You clean up nice.I may even be into you myself.”
God, I loved her.I never would’ve made it through the previous several weeks without her beside me.My cheerleader.My confidante.The irritating thorn in my side.
“You can’t afford me.I know how much you make.”
“Yeah, my boss is a slave driver who pays me in scones and coffee.”
“You could do worse.Where are you taking me?”
“The same place Jared left his car last night.I’m telling you, Christa, that boy is full of shit.He dropped you off and hit the hottest club in the city for a reason.He got laid last night.”
“Did he tell you that?”
“Of course not.Mark my words, though.Now, let’s see if we can do the same for you.”
“No.”My tone was instantly firm and resolute.“If you even try to hook me up with some guy, a dance, anything, I will leave you there alone.This is a girls’ night, and I’m going with my girl, and I’m leaving there with my girl.”
“Yeah, yeah, I hear you.”
She ushered me to the door and to her car.Within minutes, we were outside the club, and I was instantly ready to leave.
“Look at that line.We’ll never get in.”
“Of course we will.”
She took my hand in hers and pulled me toward the bouncer manning the door.He looked up at us, the serious expression on his face enough to stop me in my tracks, but not Allie.
