Page 82 of The Sweetest Cruelty: Hudson
“Come on, clothes on and let’s motor,” she called, making me feel thoroughly harassed. My eyes narrowed as she strolled over to my ensuite bathroom.
“Why are you going in there?”
Harper turned at the door and grinned, “What? You want an actual number?”
So gross. Her smile turned meatier as she saw my semi-repulsed face. “Will you relax? I need to pee. Get dressed already. The mall has been open for hours, and there’s a sale on. All the good stuff will be gone if you don’t get a move on.”
Of course, the mall. My favourite place. NOT!
And that is how I spent the next two hours, being dragged around what felt like every shop by Harper. We tried clothes on, chatted about girly stuff, and although reluctant at first, I had a blast. It was nice to be a normal sixteen-year-old girl again.
We’d also had lunch together. Considering she was so slight, Harper had a big appetite. She introduced me to what had to be the best milkshake I hadevertasted. It was called an Awful Awful. It cost ten dollars, but it was worth it.
When we got back to my place, we both emptied our shopping bags. I had purchased a couple of dresses, some jeans, and a gold bikini.
We both went through our stuff, and for the first time in months, I felt like a real teenager. We hung out by the pool for a while before starting to get ready.
I had decided that for Straker’s hyped-up party, I would make the effort. I had spent my time in the USA so far like a square peg pushing herself into a round hole. I knew I didn’t need people to like me to graduate. But if they didn’t, the next two years would feel like forever.
It was time for this girl to fit the hell in.
At bang on six, Harper got a message on her phone to say that Nick and his brother were parked around the corner, and we made our way downstairs. Dad caught us at the bottom, eyeing my appearance with a crooked smile. I wasn’t sure what that meant.
“Won’t you be cold?” He queried with an uncomfortable look at my short black dress.
“Sir, it’s boiling out. Look at the sunshine,” Harper replied. I found it funny that she called my father, Sir, at his house.
He held his hands up in surrender. “OK, OK, fine. Just have fun, but please be safe and look out for each other.”
“You bet, Mr Miller.”
We left the house and walked down the drive and around the corner. Xander’s white Audi was idling at the side of the curb. The windows were down, and Nick was sitting shotgun. He whistled as we approached, and Harper beamed at me.
“You look stunning, ladies,” he said, jumping out of the car and opening the back door for us. It was all very chivalrous. It was the first time any man had opened a door for me, although I knew it was really for Harper’s benefit.
As the soft leather hit the backs of my legs, I smiled at Xander. He had his hands resting on the wheel and caught my eye through the rearview mirror.
“I must admit, I’m regretting my decision not to go,” he grunted.
I felt a twinge of disappointment. I had assumed that when Harper had said we had a lift that Xander would also be at the party. It appeared not. He was only there to give his little brother a ride. The fact that he was protective of Nick still gave him some Brownie points.
As he pulled out onto the road, the banter started to flow. It felt unforced and natural, with Harper and Nick being the most talkative. Xander kept looking at me through the mirror, and each time our eyes met, a twinge of excitement thrummed through me.
I knew we were on the street where the house party was being held, as cars were parked against the curb on both sides of the road. Party goers were walking in clusters on the pavement, heading toward the action.
Looking at the droves of people, I guessed most of them were seniors. They were more grown-up looking than Harper and me, that’s for sure.
“This is about as close as we’re going to get,” Xander said, placing his hand on the back of Nick’s seat as he reversed parked his car. I noted his hand was badly bruised.
As I pushed away any prying questions, I glanced outside. You could tell which house was Nash Straker’s due to the number of people standing outside it. It was a large brick-built mansion with an American flag hanging from the mailbox. His driveway was also full of cars, some more expensive than others. I wondered if his parents were there; probably not.
We all climbed out, and I turned to thank Xander for the lift. “Are you sure you won’t join us?” I questioned.
Xander turned in his seat, his gaze skimming appreciatively over my bare legs. “High school parties aren’t my style. They make me feel old as fuck. Plus, I’ve got to run an errand for my old man. If I get finished early, I’ll drop by. I would like to see you again, Molly. Rain check?”
His last sentence made me feel warm inside. “Sure. Well, thanks for the lift anyway, and maybe I’ll see you later,” I replied. He looked as if he was going to say something else, but Harper banged on the window to hurry me out of the car. She and Nick were standing outside, having already exited. As I undid my seatbelt, Xander spoke to his brother through the open front window.
“Don’t get too wasted shithead.”
