Page 33 of Acid

I sigh, feeling relieved. “Thank you, I... It was just a kiss,” I clarify. “Not that I don’t care about your brother,” I rush to add. “I love him to bits.” I stare at her with wide eyes. “As a friend.” I place my hand over my face and for the second time today, wish for the ground to swallow me up.

Nova laughs before she grabs my wrist and pulls my hand away from my face. “It’s okay, calm down. Whatever you are to Acid, friend or more, I don’t care. You don’t need to explain anything to me,” she says softly.

“I’m sorry. I’ve made a fool of myself, and I’ve not even had a drink yet.” I sigh. As if I summoned it, a woman walks up with a tray filled with glasses of champagne. I take one and knock it back so quickly, a belch escapes me. “Sorry.” I wince causing Nova to laugh.

“Rhea, come try your dress on,” Star calls, waving me over to the dressing room. I nod and make my way over as the others sit and drink their champagne, all except Bells who has orange juice. Star grabs my hand, her smile wide. “Are you ready for this?” she asks excited.

“Honestly?” I ask. She nods. “I’m terrified,” I answer truthfully.

She rolls her eyes and opens the curtain for me to enter. I step in and there hanging up is a blood red, spaghetti strap mini dress. “Where is the rest of it?” I ask.

Star laughs. “That is it. Go try it on,” she says, shoving me further into the dressing room.

“Star, I have cellulite and a mom pouch. I have boobs. Boobs that require a bra. One wrong shimmy and one of my breasts will be sashaying behind me,” I protest. Star isn’t listening because she’s too busy bent over, laughing at my response. I sigh. “You’re going to make me try it on any way, aren’t you?”

Star nods. “Absolutely. They have given you underwear and heels to match.” Star points and I look down and see the heels, but as I look around, I don’t see the underwear.

“Where is the underwear?” I ask.

Star picks up the dress and there hanging behind it is a thong. “I don’t need to floss. I need underwear. You know, like a firm pair of pants that will just contain all of this,” I say, gesturing to my stomach area.

“Just put on the fucking dress,” Star orders, a smile playing on her lips before she pulls the curtain closed.

I sigh. If I’m wearing this, I’m going to need two bottles of tequila. I take the dress off the hanger and put it on, surprised that there is almost a control slip sewn inside it. I have to wrestle it on a little. I then remove my jeans and pants and after grabbing the thong, I slide it up my thighs.

“Jesus,” I mutter to myself. There is no mirror in the changing room, so I smooth the dress down as best as I can before it stops mid-thigh. I place my feet in the delicately heeled strappy shoes, making sure they’re secure before standing up straight. “Okay, ready?” I ask.

“Yes!” they all chant.

I take in a breath and dig deep for the confidence just to show them. I yank the curtain to the side and step out, avoiding looking at their reactions. My heart is thundering in my chest.

When there is no comment, I look at them. “It’s bad, isn’t it?” I mutter.

They all shake their heads and Star points to the big mirror. I turn and look at my reflection. I gasp. Looking back at me isn’t a woman I recognise. I look good. The dress skims over my curves beautifully, like it was made just for me. My mom pouch that I was paranoid is still there, but smoother. My breasts, my butt, everything about this dress is just perfect. Tears sting my eyes.

“What kind of sorcery is this?” I sniff.

“No sorcery, that is all you. You just couldn’t see it before,” Star states.

I laugh, blinking back my tears. “I tell you one thing, I won’t be doing any slut drops in this thong. One drop and my vagina with swallow it whole.” We all laugh. I catch Nova holding up her phone, so I pull a silly face, laughing as she takes a picture.

One by one, each of them step out of the dressing rooms looking absolutely stunning. Star is dressed in a sheer black, lace knee length dress with a section sewn in to cover the areas needed, Maggie is in a mini body con deep blue strapless dress,showcasing her curves and legs, Josie is in an emerald green satin knee length wrap dress, the deep v showcasing the curve of her breasts, Belle is in a black midi dress with side splits that go high up near her hips, which also hugs her curves and bump, Dixie is in a high neck backless wine coloured halter dress that stops just about her knees, and Nova is in a deep blue bandeau dress that stops mid-thigh. The colour makes her eyes pop.

Star hands the store owner her phone to take a picture of all of us before we head out to the limo and on to the night ahead.

Walking through the mall to the limo, people look. Feeling their gazes on us, I look down, feeling awkward.

“Head up, you look stunning,” Belle whispers in my ear.

I look to her and smile. “Not used to this kind of attention,” I mutter

She smiles. “Own it.” She winks.

I’m not sure how owning it looks, or how I’m supposed to behave while owning it, but I try and keep my head up and facing forward, pretending to have the confidence that I really don’t possess.

The limo ride over has to be some of the best fun I’ve had in a long while. It’s stocked up on champagne, and we laugh, sing, and laugh some more. When the limo pulls up outside a new club that’s opened, we all get out. I’m mindful not to fall on my ass or expose more than my ass in this dress as I climb out of the limo.

A guy with slicked back hair dressed in a designer suit greets us. “Ladies, welcome to Sapphire. I have your table in its own private area of the club, with your own mixologist. There is also a selection of hors d’oeuvres and your private waiting staff to attend to your every need,” he greets as he leads the way.

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