Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
“Thank God,” Mom calls back. “Movie night for us without Grandma Gertrude up there.”
“HEY!” I yell back, shoving my head out my door. “I heard that!”
Mom laughs, not even a hint of regret in her tone. “You were supposed to.”
Rolling my eyes, I grab my phone and shove it into my bra before strutting downstairs and finding Mom in the kitchen. I cross my arms over my chest and give her a hard stare. “You planned this,” I say.
She turns around and takes one look at me. “Wow, honey. You look—”
“Grown up,” my dad cuts in from across the kitchen, his eyes wide and filled with horror. “I don’t like it.”
Mom shakes her head, her lips pulling into a wide grin. “Don’t listen to him, sweetheart. You look incredible. He’s just jealous that he can’t pull off boots like that.”
“You’re damn right,” Dad says. “Have you seen these calves? I’m practically built like a linebacker.”
Ignoring their ridiculousness, I try to get back on track. “You know damn well that this Grandma Gertrude had no plans on going to that party.”
“I know,” Mom says. “But you’ll be seventeen in five months, and you’ve barely lived. These are the years you’re supposed to enjoy yourself. Go out with your friends and make memories because one day, you’ll wake up and realize you’re old and wish that you could have taken advantage of the small things.”
“What are you saying, Mom? You think you’re old and boring?”
“Who? Me?” Mom grunts. “No, not at all. I’m talking about your dad.”
“Hey!” Dad mutters, but Mom completely ignores him.
I laugh and step closer to Mom. “Seeing as though you orchestrated this whole thing, I only think it’s fair that you drop me off.”
“Deal,” she says. “But there’s going to be rules. I know you’re a smart girl and know better, but remember to never accept drinks from a stranger, and absolutely no alcohol. I want you home by midnight, and if you’re in trouble or you don’t feel safe, always call us.”
“I know,” I say with a groan.
“Good, then let’s go. I’ve been dying to get you out of the house, and I swear, if you don’t come home with some exciting stories for me to live vicariously through you, then you’re not partying right.”
Oh God. Maybe having Mom drop me off isn’t such a good idea after all. If she even gets a hint of a good time, she’ll be the one taking up space on the dance floor, and before I know it, she’ll have Aunt Maya and all her college friends crashing Liam’s party and turning it into an over forty rager.
With that, we make our way out to the car, and as Mom starts the engine, I pull my phone out of my bra and send off one final text.
Zoey: Hazel twisted my arm. I’m coming, and I’m ready for a good night!
Tarni: HELL YEAH!!!!!!!
Fifteen minutes later, I stand in the doorway of Liam’s home, looking in at the array of crammed bodies. This was such a bad idea, but I can’t find it in me to turn around and walk back out. Besides, Mom hit the gas the second the door closed behind me, making it impossible to change my mind.
People stare at me, their eyes dragging up and down my body as if not even realizing I’m the girl they’ve been calling trash all week. I try to ignore them and push past the insecurities their taunts have created in me.
The music is so loud that I can’t hear myself think, and without Noah or Shannan in sight, that’s exactly what I need to relax and actually enjoy my night. Making my way through the door, my gaze shifts over the eager partiers, and I barely get five feet into the fray when I find Tarni, Abby, and Cora dancing like nobody’s watching, drinks in hand.
I make my way toward them, a genuine smile spreading across my face for the first time all week. I’m just about there when Tarni glances over Cora’s shoulder, her big blue eyes coming right to mine.
“Hooooooooly shit,” she beams, her jaw dropping as she takes me in. “Who are you, and what the hell happened to my best friend?”
I laugh as I crash into my friends, their arms slinging over my shoulders as they drag me into their little circle. Indicating down my body, I meet Tarni’s stare. “It’s too much, isn’t it?”
“Hell no, girl,” she says, taking one last sip of her drink before shoving the almost full cup into my hand. “It’s perfect. You look like you’ve come to make a fucking statement, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. Now, let’s get you fucked up.”
I grin back at her, and with that, I lift the cup to my lips while sending a silent apology to my mom, knowing damn well that I’ll be breaking a few of her rules tonight.