Ew.
“Lianne, is this true?” He gives her a sultry look. “You want to take Eden out for the night?”
He sounds like he is flirting. What theheckis happening?
Her eyes widen. “Yeah... it is her birthday, after all.”
“You know what?” With the same playful grin he gave Lianne, he turns to me. “I think Lianne is right. It is your birthday, after all.”
“Wh-What?”
“Yeah, you’re eighteen. You should be able to celebrate it.”
“Yeah, what Samuel said!” Lianne stands alongside Samuel.
“Mom, Dad, I’m taking Eden out for the night,” he shouts over his shoulder.
“Wait,youare taking me out?” I look at Lianne, who is smiling from ear to ear.
“And Lianne, of course. I’ll tell Joshua to tag along, too,” he adds, winking at her.
Her cheeks bloom red, a look of embarrassment, as her eyes catch mine.
“Samuel, are you sure?” Mr. Donovan says.
“She is eighteen, becoming ready for marriage.” His eyes flicker with amusement. “She deserves a little”—he turns to his father—“fun.”
“Her age might be one that shows she is ready. But, Samuel, you know—” Mr. Donovan steps closer to Samuel and whispers something into Samuel’s ear.
Samuel’s body tenses, nostrils flaring. His hands ball into fists as he shrugs his father away from him. He places them on the dining table, then leans in closer.
“I know, Father.” His voice lost the playful tone he had with me moments ago. “That doesn’t mean I can’t show my little Eden a good time for her birthday.”
The moment between Mr. Donovan and Samuel makes me confused and so do Samuel’s words of taking me out. Since when has he ever been okay with me going anywhere, and when does he start to look at Lianne like this?
“You gonna wear that?” he asks, looking over my sweatpants and oversized crew neck shirt.
“Do I need to change? Where are you taking us?”
“Somewhere that you can’t wear your old baggy sweatpants to. Go change.” He looks me over one more time. “Something nice. You, too, Lianne. Why don’t you help Eden out with that?”
“Don’t mind if I do.” She hooks her arm with mine, and we turn to go to my room.
When I turn, Samuel is picking up my abandoned plate and takes another bite from my cake.
“Don’t question it, Eden. He is letting you go out. Let. It. Happen,” she whispers as we dash up the stairs.
* * *
“This is too much,” I whisper as I look at myself in my full-length mirror.
The black crinkled fabric forms around each curve, emphasizing my butt and hips, showing my small waist off. I grab at my breast, which lacks volume compared to the bottom half of me. It goes to my ankles, and the long sleeves make it more modest.
Samuel would not allow this, and neither would my parents.
Lianne is looking me over like a proud artist who just finished their new masterpiece.
“I really outdid myself here!” She bounces on her toes, then turns to finish applying her lip gloss.
