Reaching out, I trace the silver hoop in her ear and smile. “Make me over.”
She squeals. “Okay, do you have a credit card?”
I nod. “Yes, and my dad already offered to buy me a new wardrobe. You know, the guilt of moving has him offering lots of things.”
Brooke dances her eyebrows. “What a sweet DILF,” she grins.
“You have to stop calling him that.” I reach into mypurse, and pull out my phone, shooting dad and Maribel a text message.
Been walking the shops. Going to do some serious clothes shopping now. Will text later.
My dad replies right away.
Have fun. Love you.
Love you too.
I stash my phone away. “Okay, let’s do it.”
Two hours later,I have seven shopping bags loaded full of mini skirts, cutoff denim shorts, tank tops, wedge sandals, long necklaces, hoop earrings, skater dresses and even a few cute bikinis. Brooke even convinced me to change out of what she affectionately labeled by “librarian outfit” into something new.
I opted for the blue and white gingham sundress with the ruched corset bustier. With a bigger chest, I’ve not worn a lot of tight tops or fitted blouses, and I’ve never worn anything like this before. Brooke assures me that I look hot as hell, but I can't help but glance down every few seconds to make sure my areolas aren’t greeting the world. When I catch a glimpse of myself in a store window, though, I feel beautiful. I realize now that showing off parts of my body is more about making myself feel good than anything else.
I liked the cardigans, but they didn’t make me feelbeautiful the way this dress does. I think all the clothes Brooke helped me pick out will feel that way when I wear them. Empowered. Grown up.
Brooke glances at her watch. “It’s dinner time. Wanna get food? There’s a really good crab place around the corner. Some of my friends are meeting there later. I can introduce you.”
I nod. “That sounds great, let me just ask my dad.” I lower all my bags to the sidewalk, and snatch my phone from my purse.
Brooke gives me that look again, wiggling her brows. “Tell him I said hi,” she says, pursing her lips seductively.
“You really have to stop. That’s so gross,” I tell her, while typing out a text message.
Do you guys mind if I eat dinner with Brooke?
“Where do you want to take me?” I ask her, knowing dad and Maribel will ask if I don’t tell them.
“Arcane’s,” she replies, working on her own text message, her fingers flying over her phone screen.
Arcane’s is the name of the restaurant. Brooke says they have amazing crab.
Maribel replies first.
Arcane’s is great. I recommend the crab and shrimp etouffee.
Dad
Have fun.
I look up at Brooke. “I’m in.”
She smirks, stashing her phone away. “Perfect. And it turns out, there’s a party on the beach tonight. Nothing crazy, just a few friends, and some friends of friends. We always have a beach bonfire before school starts.”
“That sounds fun,” I tell her, but nerves twist in my belly. I don’t know if my dad will let me spend the entire day and dinner with Brooke, and then go to a party, too. He really likes to know my friends before he lets me truly do things with them, and a party may be pushing it.
“Why do you look like you have a UTI right now?” Brooke asks, uncapping a tube of lipstick she pulled out of one of her shopping bags. She rolls the purple color onto her lips, and it looks incredible.
“I just don’t know if my dad will let me. I mean, in California, I didn’t really go to a lot of parties. At all. I was planning to do the whole party thing my senior year, but we left before I could.” I chew the inside of my mouth, considering my options. I really want to go with Brooke. I’m having so much fun. I don’t want to lie to dad and Maribel–that’s not a good start to my year in Bipal.
