Page 55 of Off Limits

She pops her head back out. “I mean, you can if you want. Or you can wear what I tell you. It worked out well for you last time, didn’t it?”

“Number one, I remember having more input last time. Number two, I wouldn’t say that was all due to my clothing choices,” I point out, following her to the doorway of her bedroom.

To my surprise, she’s not at her closet. Instead, she’s sorting through a jewelry box. Then she pulls out a candle, sets it and the necklace she’s selected on a little table draped with a piece of patterned fabric. She casts a glance over her shoulder. “Get changed. I’ll be ready for you in a minute.”

Her tone of voice brooks no argument, so I hold up my hands and step back from the door, leaving her to whatever it is that she’s doing.

A few minutes later, I’m back in the common area changed into the red sparkly top Autumn told me to wear, my hair down and freshly brushed, no ponytail bump thanks to the new coily hair things Autumn introduced me to, a fresh coat of gloss on my lips with the addition of mascara and blush.

Autumn comes out of her room in a short denim skirt and low cut burnt orange top, the red garnet I wore to the last frat party I went to dangling between her breasts. She offers me another necklace, this one with a pale blue crystal pendant. I take it and put it on without protest because it’s pretty, sliding the clasp behind my neck before reaching for the sweater in her hands and putting that on as well.

She looks me over, then disappears into the bathroom, coming back out with her makeup caddy. “Here, sit,” she says, directing me to the couch.

Apparently my simple makeup isn’t good enough. She pulls out a small container of pearly powder and sets about dusting it over the high points of my face. Stepping back, she examines her work and smiles. “Perfect. And yes,” she says, giving me a pointed look as she screws the lid back on the container and putting it away, “I do take credit for helping you land Simon last time.”

“But I didn’t land him at the party,” I point out. “You walked me home, remember?”

She gives me a knowing smile as she puts her makeup caddy away. “Oh, I definitely remember that night. It was a lot of fun.”

I give her a confused look. “If it was so much fun, how come I haven’t seen that guy again?”

She shrugs. “Sometimes fun is only meant for a night. But even though you left with Brad and me, that night was the catalyst that got you to where you are now. After tonight? Who knows what might happen next.”

“Okaaay. And how exactly are you responsible for any of that?”

She gives me a sly smile and shrugs one shoulder. “I’m not exactly responsible. You make your own choices, after all, and so does Simon. But we’re putting things out into the universe, and sometimes the universe says yes. That night, it said yes to both of us. I have faith that it will tonight, too.”

I touch my fingers to the pendant resting above my cleavage, frowning at her. “What about Cal, though? Last time I was at a party he showed up at, he got all pissy.”

Autumn sighs. “Yeah. Him being there won’t be ideal. But he needs to get over himself. And you need to get used to standing up to him.”

“I stand up to him,” I protest.

She gives me a doubtful look. “Maybe sometimes. But not where it counts. You still let him show up and intimidate your dates. You still let him decide which parties you’re allowed to attend. And you’re lettinghisfeelings dictateyourrelationship. Maybe being at the party tonight will give you some practice doing what you want without regard to his feelings. It’s not like he gives a crap about yours.”

I don’t really have any response to that. But apparently one isn’t necessary.

Autumn stands and disappears into the bathroom for a minute, I assume touching up her makeup. “Phone?” she asks. “Keys?”

I pat my pockets and nod. She tucks her phone into her pocket and clips her key onto a short lanyard that she secures around her belt loop and then tucks into her pocket. “There. No getting lost that way. Unless I lose my skirt too.” She laughs.

Shrugging, I look down at her bare expanse of leg. “I mean, no need to even take it off unless you just really want to.”

She points at me. “Exactly.”

That has me spluttering out a shocked laugh, and she just gives me a bemused smile, like the fact that I didn’t realize that was the reason for her choice is cute.

I look down at my own bottoms as she’s locking the door. “Wait. Should I change too? I mean …”

She giggles as my cheeks heat up in what I know must be a furious blush. “Oh, my sweet, summer child. No. You should stay just like that. He gets it all the time. Making him work for it will be good for him.”

And with that she struts down the hall, leaving me to skip a little to catch up. “I’ll drive,” she says when I pull even with her again. “Let me know if you need to bail, but I’m sure that won’t be necessary since Simon will be there.” She waggles her eyebrows. “I’m confident you can seal the deal this time.”

I snort. “Thanks.”

* * *

This party is just as overwhelming as the last one, but at least this time I kind of know what to expect. Only kind of because it’s a different house with a different layout, but a lot of it is the same—people scattered along the spectrum of intoxication spilling out into the yard, the bass line of the music audible from several houses away, and a crowd of what can only be football players clustered at one corner of the backyard.

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