Sugar Rush (Friend-Zoned 3)

It looks perfect on me.

I have never wanted to wear a dress as much as I want to wear this one. Stepping out of the bathroom, I walk back into my room and Felicity squeals, “Oh my gawd! It’s gorgeous. I mean, you’re gorgeous in it. I love it. You’re totally wearing it.”

She stands behind me, zipping me up. I mutter, “I-um…I don’t know. You don’t think I look a little too fancy?”

“You look just the right amount of fancy. I swear it’s like it was made for you. As soon as I saw it, I knew. It cost me a bit, but I knew I had to get it for you. It was in the window of a store called Lena.” She shrugs lightly. “It was, like, a sign or something.”

Suddenly feeling naked, I hold myself. “I’m still not sure.”

Felicity lets out an exasperated sigh. “I’m getting a second opinion.” Then she walks away. I hear the front door open, and then she returns with Nat in tow.

Nat gapes openly, walking around me, sputtering, “B-but how?” She turns to Felicity. “How on earth did you get her to wear t

his?”

Felicity wears a smug smile. “Guilt.”

Nat’s eyes widen as she snaps her fingers and hisses, “Guilt! Of course!” She mutters, “I used to threaten her with grievous bodily harm.” She shakes her head. “Never worked.”

I ask Nat cautiously, “How do I look?”

She suddenly looks bored and sniffs, “You look a’ight.”

I know my sister well enough to know that if she’s teasing, I look smoking hot. Smiling, I turn to Flick and state, “Okay. I’m wearing it.”

Nat smirks, then snickers, “Dear God, Max is going to have a fit.”

My smile falls as my stomach knots. “You don’t think he’ll like it?”

She makes a noise of annoyance. “No, dipshit, he’ll love it.” She walks out of my apartment, but adds on a shout, “Unfortunately for him, so will all the other guys there.” Before she enters her own apartment, she cackles maniacally.

Oh.

Felicity grins, nodding at me knowingly. “Oh yeah. Time Flirtzilla got his.”

I roll my eyes at them, but I do it smiling. A jealous Max? I’d kill to see that.

My phone buzzes on the dresser.

Max: Two hours ‘til I hear your sweet laugh.

My heart beats faster as serene warmth flows through me.

Oh brother.

I’m fucking doomed.

***

Helena

As soon as we arrive at the club, my stomach dips in excitement for seeing Max. I’m pretty sure I’m not meant to feel like this. B-rock greets us and lets us in. We hold hands, swimming through the crowd of people. It’s pretty darn full already, and it’s only nine forty-five. Normally, the place would be dead until past ten. As soon as we arrive at the bottom of the stairs to the VIP area, the new, shy Alice stands there, eyes firmly fixed to the ground. Felicity speaks first. “Hi there. Helena Kovac and friend.”

Shy Alice stutters, “Of c-c-course. P-p-please, go right up.” She reaches over and undoes the velvet rope, but as she does this, I get a good glimpse of her face. And I still as shock washes over me. “Willa?”

Shy Alice cringes. “No. Sorry.”

Felicity watches me with curiosity in her eyes. She steps closer to the new Alice and bends down to look in her eyes. Flick’s eyes widen in surprise as she all but yells at our co-worker, “Holy shit, girl! You got some ‘splainin’ to do!”