Brand New Moon (Crescent Deveyne Chronicles Book 1)

FIFTY

FIFTY

“So, what do you think? Better than the last one?”

I performed a pirouette, showing the black dress from all angles. It had a halter neck and a tight skirt that ended mid-thigh. Diamantes embellished the low neckline, accentuating my modest cleavage. It was so tight I almost felt naked.

Celia lay stretched out on her bed, watching as I used her room like a catwalk. My friend was significantly smaller and shapelier than me so we’d instead dived into her Mom’s closet. Clare Masterson was a little taller but mostly the same shape. At least, she had been until recently. We’d picked out three suitable dresses she no longer wore but kept in the hope that one day she’d be a size four again.

I twirled again, waiting for Celia’s opinion. She pulled a face. 

“I don’t know. You look smokin’ in all of them. I’d jump on you if I had the slightest inkling you weren’t straight.”

I stopped mid-twirl and gasped. “Celia Masterson! What would your girlfriend say?”

Celia sat up and shrugged. “That you’re way out of my league and I should stop dreaming.”

I giggled, completely unruffled by Celia’s bluntness. I wasn’t one of those women who assumed all lesbians fancied them just because I was female. Besides, I wasn’t remotely Celia’s type.

“Seriously,” I pouted. “Which dress is best?”

Celia sat cross-legged and looked me up and down. “You want me to judge as your girlfriend or your girlfriend?” She rolled the ‘r’ the second time, turning the word into a giant purr.

“Either,” I replied impatiently. “Just give me an opinion.”

I stood with hands on hips, posing. The two dresses I’d already modelled hung on the door behind me.

“OK, well the black would be easiest to accessorise. The white is most likely to rip should Liam feel like pulling it off you. And the red is the one most likely to make Liam want to rip it off you.”

The white was a lacy affair and my least favourite of the three. The material was very thin and it looked virginal and pure. But, on the plus side, it was the most flattering for my figure. The red, on the other hand, was the most revealing of the three. It had a bustier style top, cinched waist with a black sash style belt and a long flowing skirt with a split from hip to toe. It was tight and looked painted on. 

Perhaps Celia was right but her advice hadn’t been the most decisive.

“So the red?” I ventured.

“I wish Darrow were here,” she sighed. “We need a male opinion.”

“I don’t,” I said with conviction. “I can do without friends who stalk me, accuse me of stealing and try to run me down.”

I turned my back on Celia and stripped out of the dress, taking care not to tear the material.

“You know, I don’t think they did that on purpose,” I heard Celia say. “Maybe Darrow has some beef with you but I’m still his friend. He wouldn’t try to hurt me.”

“He didn’t exactly rush over to apologise as I recall,” I pointed out whilst pulling my jeans and shirt back on.

“He will. Once I’m done giving him shit about it.” I turned back to see Celia grinning. “Besides, he wasn’t even driving. Maybe it’s Sequista who wants me out of the way.”

I frowned. “Sequista? What kind of name is that?”

“You don’t like?” Celia asked, moving over to make room for me on the bed. “It sounds exotic. Spanish-y. I’ve already decided it will be the name of my first born.”