Page 57 of Enemies with my Bestie’s Brother
“Whitney!” I cry as I unload into her.
I can feel myself pumping every bit of pleasure into the warm space, until there’s none left for me to give. I collapse onto her, and we lie that way for awhile, enjoying each other’s company.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Whitney
I’mgiddywithexcitementas Penny wraps my hair in curlers. Not only about seeing the beautiful dress that Penny has created, but also about getting to tell her about Grayson and me tonight. When we first agreed to tell Penny during the party the other night, I was worried that we would be making a mistake. It seemed like we were making too rash of a decision before really knowing what was going on. But, over the past few days, I’ve been able to settle my mind, and finally answer the question that I didn’t know was there: Did I love Grayson too?
I mulled over this question for hours last night while tossing and turning in bed. He said that he loved me, and even though he didn’t pressure me about not saying it back, he made it clear that he noticed, and he must have his thoughts about it. I know I would. Eventually, I came to the realization that I do love Grayson. If I’m honest with myself, that’s why I’ve been so scared. It’s hard to admit that I’ve fallen in love with someone after everything that happened with Jared.
Now, though, I find myself wondering if I ever truly invested myself in Jared. I was devastated when I found out that he was cheating on me, but even when we were together all those months, there was one person that my mind kept sliding back to.
“Do you want to see the dress?” Penny asks, interrupting my thoughts.
I nod, and her eyes gleam as she skips off to grab it from her sewing room. I look in the mirror while she’s gone. She hasn’t let me look at myself once, but I gasp slightly when I see my reflection.
This may be conceited to say, but I’ve never considered myself to be unattractive. I don’t think I’m the most beautiful woman to walk the planet, of course, but I’ve always been pretty enough to attract attention. Looking in the mirror now, though, shows a whole new side of me.
I’ve never been much of a makeup wearer, not because I haven’t wanted to or anything like that, but because every time I’ve tried to put some on, I looked like a clown. I could never get the right ratio of blush, or the perfect shade of eyeshadow. But, Penny has nailed it completely. My eyes are shaded in neutral tones, accentuating the roundness of their shape. Mascara lifts my lashes up, illustrating just how long they are. A subtle blush is brushed on my cheeks under small dabs of shiny highlighter. My lips are a shade of mauve pink underneath a non-sticky gloss. I look like a whole new version of myself, sexy and mysterious. I can’t wait for Grayson to see me — he won’t even know what to do with himself.
Penny bursts through the door, and I turn around guiltily.
“You looked in the mirror!” she says, frowning.
“I couldn’t help it, but Pen, you did amazing! I look incredible.”
“You always look incredible.”
She hangs the garment bag containing my gown on the hook mounted to the back of my door. She slowly unzips it, releasing the swaths of fabric from the confines of the bag.
I throw my hand over my mouth as the dress comes together in front of me. The bodice of the gown is light blue and a strapless corset style. Layers of fabric fall in an A-line shaped skirt, various shades of baby pink and light purple overlapping underneath the hundreds of organza butterflies painstakingly sewn to the top tulle layer of the skirt.
“Penny, it’s beautiful. I can’t believe you sewed on all of those butterflies,” I say as I walk over to feel the fabric.
The dress feels soft under my touch.
“Well, I wanted it to match your mask as much as possible. It was really important to me for the costume to be consistent. This is your mask.”
She hands me the mask from the hanger. It’s covered with a white satin fabric, the organza butterflies sewn around the edges. The tiny gemstones we’d picked up from the craft store line the holes that my eyes will peek through. Attached to the mask are two pink satin ribbons on either side. It makes sense now why the makeup is so neutral toned — anything brighter would have clashed with the mask.
I look at Penny as a tear rolls down my face. She gasps and wipes it away before blowing on my cheek.
“Don’t cry! You’ll ruin the makeup,” she says, fanning my eyes.
I laugh and pull her into a hug.
“I can’t believe you did all of this! You must have slaved away for hours at all of this. How long did it take you to sew all of these butterflies on?”
She looks into the air, as if thinking, before shrugging.
“It’s no big deal. It didn’t take me long. Just like twelve hours.” She giggles as she squeezes my hand. “You deserve it, anyway. You’ve been working so hard decorating Grayson’s penthouse, and making sure that everything for the party goes smoothly. It was the least I could do.”
I stare at my best friend, a pang of guilt hitting me. I smile and will it away. There’s no reason to be guilty. Tonight, we’ll tell her everything, and it all will be well with the world.
“Let’s get you in this dress and get your hair out of those curlers, then I’ll change into my dress. I think Grayson is sending you a limo as a thank you for decorating his place.”
I smile at her, knowing that the limo isn’t being sent as a thank you.
