Page 70 of You Were Never Not Mine

She would probably love it if she knew I was going on a date with August Lancaster. Not that I’m about to tell herthough. She barely contacts me now that I’m gone. I bet she’s relieved she doesn’t have to see me on a daily basis anymore.

My parents are the worst.

It’s Thursday and I just finished my last class so I’m in my dorm room, staring at the boring options in my closet. Elise is sprawled across her bed, hugging her pillow and watching me with pity in her eyes.

“You should wear that red dress again,” she suggests.

“Absolutely not. He hated it.”

“Hated it so much that he basically tore it off your body.” Oh she sounds pleased, and she is. I finally had to confess all to her about August, and she is practically green with envy over my situation. “I have some options.”

Her options won’t work. I already know it. “I guess I could go to the mall.”

Elise sits up. “I could go with you.”

There’s a knock at our door and I go to open it, curious. One of our RAs is standing there with a massive box clutched in her hands. It’s so big, I can’t even see her face until she peers around it. “Oh hey. Exactly the person I was looking for. You have a delivery.”

She holds the box out to me and I take it from her. “Wow. Thanks. I wonder what this is.”

“I have no idea but it says Bergdorf Goodman on it so it must be something expensive.” The RA waves at me and takes off down the hall.

I let the door slam behind me and go to my bed, setting the massive white box on top of it. It does say Bergdorf Goodman on it. I used to go shopping there with my mom when I was in high school and my parents had just run into their fortune. Not that I got anything for myself. More like I tagged along and watched her spend a bunch of money.

“Who’s it from?” Elise asks.

“I don’t know.” But I have my suspicions.

“Open it up and find out.”

Carefully I open the box, pulling the lid off the top to see an envelope with my name on it lying on a bed of white tissue. I open the envelope to find a thick white card inside it.

Wear this tonight.

A

“It’s from August.” I glance over at Elise who is watching me carefully. “He said I can wear whatever’s in here on our date.”

“Oh my God, well let’s see what it is!” Elise practically squeals.

I push away the layers of tissue to discover a pale blue box inside, Prada written on top of it. I take off the lid to discover even more tissue. I pull the garment out, holding my breath as I examine it.

The sheath dress is sleeveless, with a deep V neckline in the front, and it’s constructed entirely of beige sequins. It’s sheer, almost see-through and I take the dress to the full-length mirror, holding it up in front of me.

“It’s beautiful,” Elise breathes as she comes to stand behind me.

“You can probably see through it.” What in the world do I wear underneath this?

“Sexy but classy.” She’s smiling. “He has good taste.”

“He has a lot of money,” I correct.

“Just because someone has money doesn’t mean they have taste.”

True. Dang it.

“There’s more in the box,” Elise reminds me.

August thought of everything. There’s not only the dress, but he also included a pair of the sheerest black tights I’ve everseen, a pair of black Prada peep toe heels with delicate straps that wrap around the ankle, and a black Prada bag covered completely in crystals, but no undergarments. Which has me stressed the most.

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