Page 100 of Scars Like Wings

I checked my phone for the time, remembering that Quinn had told everyone to be up before six if we wanted breakfast. Being the birthday girl, I had declared that wedefinitelywanted breakfast.

I took my time in the shower since I had set my alarm to allow me to get ready lazily. This shower and the entire bathroom was enormous and fancy as hell with a shower bigenough for five that had shower heads everywhere, name-brand and normal-sized toiletries inside of the shower, and a separate tub for an additional four people along with bubble bath soap. There was even a double vanity, and the entire space was covered in Italian marble. I was able to enjoy the warmth of the water raining down overhead and from the jets on every side. I hadn’t been cold since before we had landed, but I always loved a hot shower whenever I could get one. When I got out of the shower, I wrapped a bath sheet around me and stepped into the bedroom to assemble my outfit for the day.

I had no idea what we were doing today, but I had bought a new vacation wardrobe for almost every possible thing. I laid out a simple bathing suit that could function as a bra and underwear under my outfit. I also set out a sleeveless crop top with a pair of jean shorts and some broken-in Converse-like sneakers. It would be both perfect for this Florida heat, and it would—hopefully—show off my curves in the best way. It was all in theory since I hadn’t tried anything on yet, but I was feeling brave and optimistic today. I plucked out my makeup bag from my suitcase to go back into the bathroom. I turned?—

And there was Quinn.

“H-hi,” She stuttered.

“Hey, yourself.”

Her eyes were somehow both dark as night and bright as the sun. Her jaw was on the floor, while her eyebrows were up near the ceiling. She took me all in. My damp pastel pink locs. My tawny skin blushed from the steamy water. My ample cleavage and boobs that I knew were practically spilling over the towel encircled tightly around me. My thighs peeking out under the towel that, while larger than a regular towel, still barely went past my ass. Not to mention, all the water on me. I couldn’t deny how hot I probably looked. Especially under her gaze.

Gods, Quinn looking at me like that… I don’t think I had ever felt sexier. She looked at me like I was beauty incarnate, as if I was the standard and nothing else could ever compare, as if she was a planet revolving around me and giving her life. I clutched the bath sheet close and tight. I was scared that if I didn’t, I might just let go and give us both a birthday treat.

Before my resolve could give way to my… other ambitions, I cleared my throat. “My eyes are up here, starlight.”

Quinn’s molten golden eyes slowly roamed up. I could feel the heat trail from her eyes as if she had touched me. When her eyes finally met mine, Quinn swallowed. Her voice was husky and deep when she spoke. “S-sorry, I was, uh, trying to go outside to, uh, smoke, but?—”

“Oh?” I raised my eyebrows. “And you had to come through my room? After I showered?”

“The b-balcony door in the liv-living room is suck—I mean, stuck. I definitely meant stuck.”

I chuckled.

“Okay, okay, here I am! Now, maybe you can stop rushing me.” Nat appeared then, tightening her ponytail. When she entered the room, she stopped behind Quinn and gave me an appraising look. “Yes, Byrdie Too Flirty and Dirty Before Thirty! Hot shit, I didn’t mean to interrupt you two. I can wait to smoke if you?—”

“You ruined the moment, twerp. Not that we weredoinganything.” Quinn rolled her eyes, but there was still a vibrance there, something in the way her hands twitched, that told me things were far from ruined.

Nat, never one to miss a beat, smirked. “Yeah, sure you weren’t.”

“Get on the balcony.” Quinn opened the door for her.

“Make sure you wear some sweat-proof makeup with sunscreen!” Nat winked before I could ask for clarification.

Before Quinn followed behind her, she turned back to me. “I really am sorry to barge in on you like that. I hope you are okay?—”

I waved her off. “Oh, do not apologize, pumpkin. Of everyone who could have walked in on me, I’m happy it was you.”

Quinn’s smirk became that smolder that I was growing to like more and more. “Maybe one of these days I can walk in on youwithoutthe towel?”

“Maybe if you are a good girl, you can.” I winked. Quinn smiled before closing the door behind her, leaving me way more hot and bothered than I should be this early in the morning.

Definitely girlfriend material.

I grabbed the clothes I had laid out along with my makeup bag, and I entered the bathroom to finish getting ready. I did my makeup first, keeping Nat’s advice in mind. I wrapped half of my hair into a high ponytail with one of those scrunchies with two tails hanging on either side, leaving the rest down with a few pieces framing my face. Finally, I put on my clothes.

Looking at myself in the full-length mirror, I was definitely right about the outfit clinging to my boobs, belly, waist, hips, and thighs in all the right ways. I loved it. But, I could see the stretch marks on my stomach peeking over my shorts. You could see every bit of my dimpled thighs with the shorts being as short as they were. My arms were free to show off my tattoos as well as the fat on my upper arms. My love handles were also on display. The outfit looked cute in theory on all the Pinterest pictures I had seen, but did it look good on me? I wasn’t sure. Most days, I loved my body and how I looked, but then there were days where I felt like a blob playing dress-up with Barbie doll clothes.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated on the counter with a text.

EEVEE BOI: Honoring your voyage around the sun, kiddo! Happy birthday! ??

EEVEE BOI: Teddy told me to tell you “Wishing you presents, presence, and power, honey!”

EEVEE BOI: Your gifts are in the living room when you get home. ??

I smiled at the texts from Uncle Everett. He was such a morning person, so it didn’t surprise me that he was up at this early hour on a Saturday. I replied:

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