Page 16 of My Sweetest Temptation

I had to disagree with her again.

This one was even worse. The white mini dress’s straps were so thin they might as well be dental floss. I looked at Tabi as if she’d just suggested we go bungee jumping without the cord. “How do you think this is something I would want to wear?”

“What’s wrong with this one?” Tabi put her hands on her hips, cocking one hip out.

“You seriously don’t know?” I asked incredulously. “Tabi, I might as well go butt naked.” I handed the dress back to her, about to cry and laugh at the same time.

“It’s no different than what you wear at work,” she countered.

“Um, yes there is.”

“Uh...how?”

“What I wear at work is a uniform! I have zero control over my attire there. Going out in public? That’s completely different because I can choose what I wear,” I argued.

She rolled her eyes so dramatically I half expected them to get stuck in the back of her head. “Winter, you’re beautiful, and you have a rocking body underneath all those layers you’re hiding under,” she said, gesturing at me like I was some masterpiece waiting to be unveiled.

I bit my lip, still not convinced.

With a confident stride, Tabi plucked out another outfit and held it out like a trophy. My eyes widened in shock as I took in the tiny garment that looked like it could double as a naughty waitress uniform. The black crop top barely covered anything, and the skirt was so short I was pretty sure it would show my ass cheeks.

She must have noticed my expression because she went back to the closet.

If a woman wanted to show off her curves, more power to her. But I didn’t have any, and now Tabi wanted me to walk around like I was auditioning for a part in Moulin Rouge.

“Alright, I think I finally found the one,” Tabi said, regaining my attention. She spun around, holding out a dark blood-red lace dress that hit a few inches above the knee, with long ruffled sleeves and a scoop neck. It was sexy but still left a little to the imagination.

“I love it.” My smile burst forth as I took the dress from her. When I looked up, she was grinning at me.

“Finally!” she exclaimed, throwing her hands triumphantly into the air.

Once outfits were chosen, we took our time getting ready. I styled my hair into a retro ponytail that flowed down the middle of my back, and I used natural color eyeshadow to highlight my amber eyes. A light rose blush added a pop to my cheeks, and pink gloss on my lips added the final touch.

“Oh, my God, Winter! You look absolutely drop-dead gorgeous!” Tabi’s eyes practically sparkled after I was all put together.

“Really?” I asked, glancing nervously in the mirror. My self-consciousness was paying a visit. I’d never worn anything so sexy before—again, at least not on purpose. I was more of a cozy-pajama-at-home kind of gal.

“Yes, really. Now stop thinking you’re not!” Tabi said, her tone playful yet insistent. I turned to look at her in her black mini-dress with long sleeves and a side slit, her long platinum hair falling freely over her shoulders in big soft waves.

“Tonight, we’re free birds, Winter.”

Just as we were about to leave the room, Tabi’s phone rang. She reached into her purse, pulled out her phone, and glared at the screen with irritation and disbelief.

“Ugh! I wish he would just stop calling.” She silenced the call and tossed the phone back into her purse.

“Who’s got you so riled up?”

“That was Michael,” she replied, her tone heavy with disdain.

“Tristan’s dad?”

“Yep, that’s the one.”

“Have you talked to him since he’s been locked up?”

She shook her head vehemently. “Hell no. I want nothing to do with him.”

Tabi once shared with me how Michael was both verbally and physically abusive toward her. It was heartbreaking to hear from her what they had gone through, and what she had to do to keep her and Tristan safe. I was just happy and relieved that he could never hurt her and Tristan again since he’s in jail.

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