“You do know I’m on a budget right. I can’t afford all this, plus most of these things are your style not mine,” I said.
“I didn’t ask you what you could afford, but if it makes you feel better you can buy me a pretzel from Auntie Anne's and call it even,” she giggled.
“Thank you, Charlotte,” I said, really meaning it. I may not have been able to express my feelings the way Char did, but I appreciated her for being a friend to me.
“Anyway girl. I wanted to ask you about what made you change your mind about coming here for school?”
“Let’s just say I got rid of the baggage that was holding me back.” I said, my expression giving away nothing.
“Okay, that means you’re free to do what you want with your life now, right? Including my cousin.” She smirked, giving me a wink.
“That’s not a good idea.”
“You’re killin’ me, Pepper. Why not? You just said you got rid of your baggage. You’re in a new town, with a fresh start, and a new name.” She said, eyeing me. “I saw your admission paperwork on the counter at home. Is there a reason you are going by your middle name?
“It sounds more mature. I want to be taken seriously in the medical field. Would you trust a doctor named Pepper?” I asked her.
Hopefully that would be enough and as close to the truth as I was willing to get right now. I wasn’t scared that Char would ask me to leave if she knew what I had done to get away, but I didn’t want to take that chance. She was the only person I had in my corner, and I didn’t want to lose that.
“You are so crazy. But anyway, I think this will be perfect for tonight.” She said holding up a short, olive-green sundress that barely looked like it would cover my ass let alone my thick ass thighs.
“Do you think that dress is appropriate for anything other than street walking?” I asked her, with an exasperated expression.
“Come on Pepper. Live a little is gonna be the start of you and Gunner’s love story and I for one am here for it.”
“Even Char sees it. He is ours already and we are his.”
I pressed my lips together and rolled my eyes at her declaration. “I don’t want to…” I paused gathering the right words. “I don’t want to lose myself to a dangerous obsession. And that’s just what Gunner could become an obsession.”
“What does Nyx say?” she asked.
“You know what she says.”
“Well maybe this time you should listen, Pep.”
“See I told you. That’s why I love Char.”
Attempting to change the subject I grabbed the outfit and walked to the changing room to try on the dress. After a long day of shopping and pampering we finally arrived at the guy’s house ready to step outside of my comfort zones. Char had helped me comb and detangle my hair into a cute shoulder length wash and go. I had on the olive-green sundress we had picked up from the mall with gold strappy sandals and gold accessories. I had painted my toes and nails to match the dress. Char wore a similar outfit, her colors for the night were blue and gold. We looked good, if I must say so myself. She pulled up to the house and parked.
“Wait, I don’t think I can go in there. What if he decides Gunner thinks I’m too strange or that he’s not really interested in me?” I spoke.
“Come here Pepper. Look in this mirror.” She said holding up a small mirror from her bag.
“Why?”
“Girl, just do it.” I pulled the mirror down and looked at my reflection of the broken woman before me.
“Do you see that drop dead gorgeous woman staring back at you? She is not weird she is fun, kind, loving and most of all fucking hot. My cousin would be crazy not to choose you. Any man would be for that matter. I know Taye made you believe that you weren’t worthy of love but that’s a fucking lie. You deserve everything this world has to give and that includes nasty, freaky sex with my cousin if you want to. Now get your ass out of this car and go get your man bitch, Char hyped me up.” Giggling as she pushed me towards that stairs.
Char used the key Alestar gave her the last time we were here to enter the back door. As soon as we walked in, we heard music playing but didn’t see too many people. It was a cool little vibe, not too much like Gunner had said. They had food and drinks, and mellow music. I was impressed because I thought bitches would be sliding down poles and dancing on tables up in here. I had prepared myself in advance for this social gathering, but I wasn’t ready to be around a whole slew of people at a house party. We moved further into the house looking for the guys when we found Aren sitting in the living room on the couch with a thick pretty girl curled up in his lap and a fine ass dude next to them whispering in his ear. I guess when you were that fine as Aren, you didn’t have to choose.
“Where is everybody else?” Char said, getting Aren’s attention.
“Outside on the back deck, I think,” he said. “But then again, they could be in the hot tub.” He said before whispering something in the girl's ear, then looking back at us.
“Pepper, this is my girlfriend Miko and my boyfriend Liam.” He said introducing his company.
“This nigga living in a real life why choose novel.”
