Page 67 of Exactly What I Needed
“I didn’t. And I’m not going over there to piss off Sydney. This is my birthday party after all, so I should be allowed to mingle with whoever I want, or did you already forget that?”
Tera frowned, glaring at me. “Whatever.”
I didn’t answer and began walking over to the group once more. Tera decided to follow and pushed her way in front of me right before I broke into the crowd. She immediately threw a hand around Sydney and laughed at whatever Sydney was giggling about.
Asher lifted a brow, and I shook my head, telling him to not worry about it. Honestly, I felt strangely light. Even with the possibility that Tera might tell Sydney, I oddly didn’t care. At least not at this moment.
Sydney suddenly swung around, facing me. “Girl! I have your birthday present inside. Come on!” she said and then paused. “Bye, Asher.” She grinned at him, wiggling her fingers, and then dragged me to her parents’ mansion. I didn’t even have a chance to say anything to Asher, and I could feel Tera’s smirk behind me while stumbling after Sydney.
With Sydney’s hands covering my eyes, I heard a door close behind us. There were a few more footsteps crossing the hardwood floor, and then she pulled her hands away. “Ta-da!” she said, gesturing to the room. I furrowed my brows, confused.
In front of me was a woman, holding a camera. There were fancy lights available, able to be moved from the bench beneath the arched window to my left, to the grand piano across from me. We were in another one of Sydney’s parents’ sitting rooms, beautiful, expensive couches off to the right with a crackling fireplace beside them. Exquisite paintings hung from the walls, and a plush rug was placed upon the floor.
“What am I looking at?” I asked, and Sydney clapped her hands.
“This is Isabella. She’s a boudoir photographer! I booked you a boudoir session!” Sydney grinned, gesturing at the curvy woman with the most beautiful fountain curls.
I tipped my head, a little confused.
“I know, I know. It’s not your traditional birthday present. But I figured, since everything went down with Danny, your sexy confidence was probably in the tank. I had her do one for me a few weeks ago and thought you should have one too,” Sydney explained, noticing my confusion. “It made me feel absolutely gorgeous, so I guess I wanted to gift you the same thing.”
Honestly, out of all of the birthday presents she’d given me before, this one actually piqued my interest. Normally, whatever it was she gave me, also benefited her. This one definitely felt a little more thoughtful—though it still benefited her.
“Hi, Cosette. It’s nice to meet you!” Isabella said, walking forward and extending her hand to shake. “Call me Izzy.” I grasped her hand but remained silent, giving myself a moment to process what was going on.
“Thank you, Syd,” I finally said, glancing at my best friend. Maybe she was just immature and not being insensitive. She’d grown up a spoiled,only child, so maybe in her mind, everything she did wasn’t malicious or selfish, it’s just how things worked. Okay, maybe I was also feeling a little guilty and trying to justify things helped.
“Well.” She grinned again. “I’ll leave you guys to it!” And she disappeared from the room.
I tossed a thumb at the door. “She’s not staying?”
“Do you want her to stay?” Izzy asked, walking over to the right where she had a table set up, littered with jumbled articles of clothing. Beside it was a dressing screen, propped up in the corner of the room.
“I mean, she bought me a photoshoot?” I slowly wandered her way.
“If you’re comfortable with her seeing you in these outfits, then why not?” Izzy smiled, sifting through some makeup, and pulled a chair forward.
“Comfortable in what outfits? I’m confused.”
She patted the seat. “Confused? About what?”
I walked over and plunked myself down. Suddenly, Izzy was changing my makeup, applying more than I normally did and differently than I do.
“Why would I not be comfortable with her seeing me in different outfits? We go shopping together,” I replied, keeping my eyes closed.
“Honey, this is a boudoir photoshoot.” She stated as if that explained everything, her voice higher and sweet. For whatever reason, I felt immediately comfortable around her.
“I don’t know what that means.” I figured it was just some fancy word for a high-end photoshoot, like the kind rich women got so they could frame a massive portrait of themselves and hang it over a fireplace.
“You’re going to be naked or in very skimpy lingerie,” Izzy bluntly stated, and my eyes flew open.
“I’m sorry, what?” I gasped.
She giggled, a soft smile on her rosy face. “Yes, honey. This type of photoshoot is for you to celebrate your body. To make you feel confident and sexy and to see yourself as the drop-dead gorgeous goddess you are.”
She tapped some lip gloss on my lips while I stared at her in shock.
“You’re being serious.”
