This was why Nick was one of my best friends: he jumped off the couch and started dancing while screaming, almost singing, “Aria is dating a billionaire!!!”
I threw a pillow at him and went back to my bowl of popcorn.
---
On Saturday afternoon I changed about ninety-five times. I had tried everything in my wardrobe, but nothing seemed to be appropriate for a date with Zayden Sinclair. The shopping trip never happened because Stacey managed to catch the flu and I had no sense or intention to embark in such an activity without her, which I now regretted immensely. I looked at myself in the mirror after taking off yet another dress. I was wearing my red lacy bra and matching panties. Just because. There was no harm in looking and feeling good, it didn’t mean anything. I sighed as a tiny voice inside me began to send warning signals. Fine. Granny panties it is. Looking freshly eighty-years-old, I started going through my entire wardrobe when the doorbell rang and I shuddered.
I had at least four hours until the date, it couldn’t be….
“I got it!” I heard Nick’s voice from outside and quickly threw on a sweater and jeans to greet whoever was at our door. By the time I stepped out, Nick was standing with a giant package in his hand.
“It’s for you,” he grinned. “From your lover.”
“What on Earth could he possibly have sent me four hours before our date?” I approached the package and almost didn’t want to open it because of how perfect it looked. It was wrapped in teal and white paper with a beautiful mauve bow tied on to the top. I wished I could just keep the wrapper and not open what was inside. The wrapping itself was the perfect present.
“Open it!” Nick was getting impatient.
Very carefully I removed the bow and set it to the side, then I slowly started to bring apart the paper wrapping, hoping to do it perfectly and save the pretty paper, but Nick jumped in and tore the thing apart too soon for me to stop him.
“Nick! I wanted to save that!” I said, genuinely surprised by how annoyed I was. But Nick made puppy-dog eyes, something both him and Stacey did to get me to bend to their wishes. It was like having two kids, sometimes. I just could not be mad at that face.
“Ugh, it’s fine,” I said reluctantly. “What is in there?”
His eyes widened as he pulled out a long red dress with golden embellishments on the hem and neckline. I went forward to touch and it was the softest fabric I had ever laid my eyes upon. I didn’t know what to say or how to react. I should be angry, I did tell him I already had clothes! It was very presumptuous and quite frankly, disrespectful of him to just buy a fancy-looking dress, as though whatever I owned could in no way be good enough for an event where I accompanied him.
I really should be angry.
Which is why the sense of relief I felt made me feel uncomfortable. The truth was I didn’t have appropriate clothes, and even if I had gotten the chance to go shopping, something like this dress was simply not in my budget. Whatever I bought was not going to be good enough for this event, as proven by the immaculate garment I was now holding in my hand. Maybe he should have just taken someone who he knew could afford to dress in a way that suits him. I felt a little bitter again, but then thought of the last few hours of anxiety over my wardrobe and tried to accept this, be grateful. And I could always return it to him after the event! Maybe that would be tacky. It was either return it now and never wear it, or just take his gift and deal with it.
“There is more,” Nick said, watching me gaze into space.
“More what?”
“Jewelry and a note.”
I grunted. I grabbed the note from Nick’s reluctant hands:
Dear Aria,
I could care less if you showed up in torn jeans. Or better yet, nothing at all. But the spy I have recruited at your quarters alerted m
e of trouble you were having deciding on attire. So I had to step in. Don’t feel pressured to wear it though. I don’t know much about women’s fashion, just thought this would nicely contour your perfect figure.
See you at eight!
-Zayden
“Stacey!” we both screamed at the same time. She was supposed to be sleeping but if she had the energy to discuss my clothing with Zayden, she had the energy to explain it to me. She walked out of her room looking rather sick. I knew she was only trying to help me because that’s what best friends do, but I wasn’t going to let her go without a hard time, because that is also what best friends do.
“Oh wow, what a beautiful dress!” she exclaimed, looking at me. “You went shopping without me?”
So innocent. She should join the CIA.
“I know what you did.” I gave her a sharp look.
“Yes, we know, Stace!” Nick was giving her the exact same look.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said to me and then looked at Nick and added, “And why do you look bothered?”