Page 52 of Supernova

It was a Sunday, and we had already gone out yesterday, but today was Carter’s birthday so we were going out again tonight anyway and I was very excited to rock my sexy little red number this time. We were heading out to dinner first, which wasn’t an often occurrence. So even though I was always too scared to wear it, I thought it was the perfect occasion. Even if I didn’t want to wear it, I was pretty sure Kitana would literally put me in it—by force if she had to. She’d been growing tired of me being indecisive and constantly putting it back in my cupboard after feeling like it was too much, often telling me off for not being more confident in myself and having enough self-love. It was one of the things I adored about her.

Griffin and Carter had headed out to a racetrack earlier today to get a few laps in. Apparently Carter came from money and had a garage somewhere with a few sports cars that he liked to play with every now and then. He’d bought a new McLaren or something as a birthday gift to himself and wanted to take it for a spin.

The girls and I spent the last few hours getting ready. Sprawled with them on my tiny bed, I contemplated my reflection in the little mirror of the makeup palette I was using. My eyes were adorned with a soft but sultry smokey eye but it was my lip colour that I was deep in thought about when Kit threw a lipstick at my lap.

“That one,” she commanded.

I examined it; a deep scarlet rouge to compliment my dress. Bold. But tonight, I was feeling bold.

We were heading to some fancy restaurant in Manhattan that Kit knew of before going to Carter’s second home at the club where they were holding a whole event for him. So our outfit choices were a little more on the dressier side tonight. Kitana looked flawless and chic in a little black satin number that hugged her body to her upper thigh. The sweetheart neckline of the dress was framed by diamante straps that ran from her shoulders down the front of the dress and dipped under her boobs. There was a small triangle cut-out at her sternum, between the diamante outline and black satin material that covered her chest. She had silver strappy shoes to match and a tiny diamante clutch. I got a strong ‘Parisian night’ vibe from her choice of attire.

The light to her dark, Billie was Kit’s opposite tonight. Her lithe body was clothed in a stunning white two-piece set. The top was a halter cowl neck that ended in a V-shape at the front, pointing directly to her belly button. The material pulled at the back into a beautiful bow. Her hip hugging skirt ruched at the front and then flared into a soft ruffle when it hit her thighs. The satin material clung to her body in all the right places and flowed delicately in the others. Her makeup was shimmery and light, giving her an ethereal glow. Her strappy white heels tied up just before her knees and her braids were undone tonight, leaving her long brown-black hair in voluminous curls. Billie looked heavenly, like the angelic counterpart to me.

I felt like the naughtiest one for once—channelling an alter ego I didn’t know I had in my red latex dress. I had to be all in to rock this one. The top half was a deep cut balconette style with thicker straps that hugged my chest while pulling everything up, causing the girls to bulge out just the right amount. It cinched tight at my waist and ended quite high on my thigh. The bottom half of the dress contoured my best asset in the shiny, smooth material, and my matching red lips and pumps completed the look. My sleek and straight ebony locks fell down to my waist.

Apart from the hair, the only other thing to break up all the red was my small black chained handbag tucked under my shoulder.

“I feel like Billie and I should be sitting on your shoulder whispering good and evil thoughts in your ear, Kit,” I voiced my observation once we were all ready.

Kit laughed. “I’ll see if I have a spare pitchfork for you. Billie probably already owns a halo.”

The giggling continued as we met the boys outside the compound. Both were adorned in darker colours today, looking dangerously sexy. Carter, the birthday boy, but also always the flashier one out of the two, adorned a black shirt, a few buttons left open, and dark grey slacks that were perfectly tailored so they ended at his ankle, just above his black Chelsea boots. While his outfit was put together, his blonde hair was messily styled in front of his face, making his icey blue eyes and full lips pop. Apart from his silver sleeper earring and a watch, he had no other jewellery today.

Griffin, with his black tee tucked into black slacks and Doc Martens, looked devastatingly yet casually handsome, like he didn’t even need to try. He had a small silver chain dangling from his belt loop and his usual dog tag around his neck. His t-shirt visibly strained over his muscular chest and then loosened up before it was tucked into an all-black Louis-Vuitton belt. He looked straight out of a designer ad; effortlessly stylish and uncaring. The outfit reminded me of the tormented bad boy persona I got from him at our first interaction. That felt like so long ago now. Felt like a whole different me who met that intimidatingly gorgeous guy in a New York City courtyard.

If I thought he gave me lingering looks every other time he’d seen me dressed up, tonight was a whole other level. He looked at me hungrily, like a predator waiting to devour his prey. And I lapped it up. Ironic since he wasn’t meant to be the male with animal instincts in my life.

Carter whistled as we approached, approvingly taking us all in. “I am one lucky guy.”

I was last to wish him, greeting him with a kiss on the cheek as he pulled me in for a hug. “Happy Birthday, Car.”

“It is now,” he teased, grinning at me. I knew not to take anything Carter said too seriously. Everything came from a place of platonic love and playfulness with his friends—most of them anyway. It was all fun and games. They didn’t give me butterflies like with Griffin, and I knew Carter didn’t see me like that. But it was still nice to hear.

“Watch it, birthday boy.” I looked over just in time to see Griffin’s eyes flash. But he kept his expression cool and collected as he watched me with his best friend. Although there was absolutely nothing between me and Carter, not to mention that he and Kit were still sorting through their own ‘not-relationship’ thing, it was fun to see Griffin squirm just that little bit.

As we made our way to the restaurant, his eyes were on me every time I gazed in his direction. As per usual, his heated stares made me giddy.

We arrived at a stylish Argentinian restaurant lit up by red neon lights. The inside ambiance of the place was dark and sultry with round dark leather booths. Tiny lamps decorated the tables, creating the perfect mood lighting. The only other sources of light were small Edison light bulbs, sparingly hanging from the ceiling, and red tube lights dispersed among the dark brick walls.

Griff made sure to slide into the booth next to me before anyone else could, leaving space for Carter on my opposite side, right in the middle, followed by Kit and then Billie.

I visibly blushed when Griffin leaned in close to my ear and whispered in his husky voice. “You look breathtaking. You always do. But tonight, you’re fucking irresistible.”

My cheeks probably turned the same shade as my lipstick. Clearly the colour of the night.

Even though the seats didn’t make a full circle, it was round enough that we were all almost facing each other, making it ideal for a night of merriment between friends. We drank, we ate copious amounts of steak with chimichurri and finished with traditional dulce de leche desserts. I felt full and content, in every way.

???

We walked a few blocks after dinner to get some fresh air and enjoy the view of the Manhattan streets. I was slowly but surely seeing more parts of the city and was continuously in awe of everything I’d been shown so far. Us three girls broke off from the boys at some point, walking arm in arm, chatting about the night. It felt oddly similar to one of the many iconic Sex and the City scenes I watched growing up and I had to wonder how this had become my life now; strolling the streets of New York with my gal pals. Kitana giggled as she tugged on our interlinked elbows, pulling both me and Billie closer to her. Her voice dropped an octave as she suddenly became serious. “Griff has not taken his eyes off you all night.” She beamed before she continued, “I told you this was the dress.” Her face tilted up in smug satisfaction and I chuckled at my friend before I dared a quick glance back to the boys who casually strolled a few paces behind us. They were laughing about something, but sure enough, Griffin's gaze drifted to me and silver eyes met mine.

I chewed my bottom lip.

“Look at her, she’s totally blushing.” Billie—always the perceptive one—laughed as she made her observation. “You two are unbelievable! What are you waiting for?”

“Tell me about it.” Kit rolled her eyes.

“I don’t know,” I muttered. “He hasn’t made another move since that kiss.”

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