Ex Games

“What?”

I had to spend a good minute calming her down and reassuring her that Mason hadn’t lost his mind and proposed and when I did, she was still rambling “omigod” on repeat and asking to see it. So rifling through my dresser, I yanked on an easy bandeau bra, snapped a picture and sent it.

“Whoa, girl. Whoa! Whoa.” I could practically see Sofia’s progression of faces as she looked at the photo I sent. “Is that really…? Oh my God. That’s the sexiest diamond I’ve ever seen. And it looks so pretty between your boobs but girl, you cannot wear that band-aid bra tonight. That would be such a buzzkill. This kind of necklace is made for showing off cleavage, which should really not come as a shock to you.”

I laughed. I couldn’t even be mad at Mason for picking something that required a low-cut top. I was too blinded by the sparkle.

“God, I think that thing is bigger than the rock Aaron bought you,” Sofia marveled. “Is it?”

I stood in front of my full-length mirror, in almost a trance as I muttered, “Not sure. Don’t care.”

“Yeah, you probably can’t remember any other dude that exists on this earth right now,” Sofia snorted. “No one except your man.”

I wiggled my lips at myself. “Maybe.”

“‘Maybe my ass. By the way, do you have any wine at your house?”

“Bottles you bought me. Are you asking because you’re coming over?”

“If you think I trust you to pick out a dress that does that rock justice, you’re already drunk.”

“I’m not, but fair enough. You gotta do my makeup too then.”

“Deal. I’ll call Mase to tell him I’m your escort tonight!” Sofia said excitedly. On the other end, I could already hear the sound of her bounding into her room to pack up her kit of luscious blushes and lipsticks. “Alright, goodbye for now, beautiful! But I’m so excited to see you!” she trilled into the phone. “You too, Taylor,” she added before hanging up.

“Bye,” I laughed, tossing my phone on the bed to gingerly brush the tips of my fingers along my beautiful diamond. Sofia was right. I couldn’t think of anyone but Mason when I looked at it, mostly because I couldn’t wait to see his reaction to me wearing it. And somewhere in the back of my head, I wondered if he really needed to spend this kind of money on a gesture to simply lift my bad mood.

Or if there was actually a place in his heart where I was more than a prop.

“So pretty,” I breathed to myself as I turned a few degrees to admire the sparkle of the diamond at a different angle. It was just so incredibly breathtaking – the most beautiful thing I owned and probably the last thing my head needed.

*

According to Lori, every woman had not just a little black dress, but her little black dress moment. That apparently came when through either coincidence or a tireless search, you found “the one.” It would just feel right in your hands, and even better as you pulled it up on your body and felt it wrap tight around your curves. Whether it needed to be zipped up or stretched on, it would qualify as the winner if you looked in your reflection in the mirror and said, “Motherfucker, I look good.” My reaction tonight was slightly less profane, actually more of a simple “yes,” but the way I breathed it out made Sofia shudder.

“Stop! The sex faces again.”

So I held it in. But I did love the way I looked in the simple, long-sleeved dress with its short skirt and plunging V-neck. Considering the new thigh-high boots I paired with it, I knew I was flirting with danger.

“He’s going to jump your bones the second he sees you tonight,” Sofia warned as she did her makeup at my dresser. “You might have to take off that necklace and lend it to me to wear for a few hours. So you don’t lose it while you’re having your roll in the hay.”

“We’re not going to a farm.”

“Your roll in the sack. Or since we’re talking Noah’s house, your roll in the… four thousand dollar Swedish mattress.”

“Yeah, I’m not having sex with Mason at Noah’s house,” I said, my cheeks hot. Or anywhere.

“Seriously? If my boyfriend bought me that necklace, I’d have sex with him on the street if he wanted.”

“Dear God, Sofia.”

She giggled as she powdered her heart-shaped face. “Seriously. Let’s pretend Noah’s my boyfriend. If Noah fought some asshole in my honor and followed that up by dropping…” Through the mirror, she squinted at my necklace. “At least five G’s on a diamond for me, I’d gladly let him bend me over any surface in this city and fuck me till he had to carry me home.”

“Jesus, it sounds like you just want to fuck Noah,” I smirked.

“Don’t change the subject on me. We’re talking about you and Mason and the fact that he is either in love with you or falling fast.”

I let out a shrill laugh. “Whoa, let’s not talk the L word. That’s a little intense.”