Page 11 of The Tip-Off
“I like short,” I say reluctantly. “And I like the designs in Zeke’s.”
It’s almost painful to offer him a compliment right now, but I really do like it. Zeke’s hair is buzzed close to his head, but along the sides has a faint design. Each time I’ve seen him, the design has been different and always hardly noticeable, but it’s there, the smallest hint that the man cares about his looks.
He stills at his name, protein drink in hand, and if it were possible to detect a blush on his black skin, I’m certain I could. I feel oddly proud that I’ve made him uncomfortable.
“Iiiiinteresting,” Blair says, drawing out the word as she taps the screen. “Hobbies?”
“Art, reality TV, dancing… but those things don’t matter. I’m not looking for anything serious, just someone to have fun with.”
“I got this,” Katrina says, taking my phone from Blair with a wicked smile.
She’s quiet as she taps away furiously, her bottom lip pulled behind her teeth. “Okay. There.”
She hands me the phone and Blair and I huddle together to read.
“Oh my God, Katrina.”
“I know, right? I channeled my inner Vanessa.”
“Pole dancing?” I ask.
Blair giggles beside me. “You described her as fun, adventurous, and spontaneous.”
I groan.
“In the bedroom,” Joel adds, and three heads pop up to look at him. “What? It’s like fortune cookies, you always add ‘in the bedroom’ to the end of the adjectives chicks use to describe themselves.”
“Done,” Blair says, and I glance over to see my new profile published. Guess there’s no backing out. “Now, let’s focus on me.”
Wes comes up behind Blair and wraps his arms around her. “No way, babydoll. No online dating for you.”
She rolls her eyes at. “Simmer down. I just need to raid Gabby’s closet before we leave. She has the best wardrobe.”
That’s me. Fun, adventurous, and spontaneous… in the closet.
* * *
“Your mom went all out.” Blair picks through my closet, tossing items on the bed into two piles in front of where I lie, curled up, hugging a pillow and wishing I had time for a nap before work. Another dress is added to the stack at my feet. “This one is a maybe. I don’t know if I have the curves to pull it off like you can,” she says of the white cutout dress.
“She was so excited that I wanted to go shopping for school clothes that she booked an overnight trip in LA to do it.”
“Fancy,” Blair says. “How is Momma Brech, anyway?” Another dress and skirt make their way into the maybe pile. “Has she stopped tracking your location when you don’t answer her calls?”
She isn’t quite that bad, but Blair isn’t far off. Nearly losing their only child made my parents a tad overprotective. Okay, not a tad. A lot overprotective. I get it, but it’s suffocating. I think my moving out will be good for all of us. “She’s good. Dad finally convinced her to take a new job that gets her out of the house, so she’s a little less focused on monitoring my every move.”
“With a closet like this, I can’t say that I blame her. College Gabby dresses like a hoochie momma,” she teases with a wink.
“Says the girl raiding my hoochie momma closet.” I stand and grab a bag off the floor and then hold it out by the handles in her direction. “Here. Try these.”
Her eyes light up, but she bites her lip. “I can’t wear something you haven’t even taken the tags off.”
“What’s the difference? I haven’t worn most of the items in my closet yet.” I shake the bag and she finally takes a step forward. With a look inside the bag, she squeals, putting a sound to the excitement on her face. My best friend is easily excitable, but the slinky blue dress she’s holding is pretty damn squeal-worthy.
She holds it up in front of her and stares at her reflection in the mirror.
“That one is gonna look great on you. Just don’t let Wes rip it off you. I want to wear it once I get a nice summer tan.”
Still clutching the dress in one hand, Blair sits on the bed and hugs me tightly with her free arm. “I’m so glad you’re here at Valley. I really wish you were coming to Mexico, though. I feel bad leaving you all alone.”
