Page 25 of A Roommate for Christmas
“Fair enough.”Paige went back to her closet and changed into the second option—a maroon-red midi dress with a high neck and pearl accents.
“I don’t love you in this color, and this feels like what you’d wear to a country club event with people your parents are trying to impress,” Nadia admitted.
“Yeah, I think you’re right.”Paige retreated to her closet for option three.
She put on a long velvet emerald-green dress with a low-cut neckline and high slit that showcased her toned leg.
These Pilates classes have really paid off,Paige thought to herself as she looked in the mirror before heading back out to Nadia.
“Umm, okay green goddess,” Nadia chimed.“The green is a perfect match for your hair color, and it makes the green in your eyes pop!”
Paige felt hot in this dress, which was definitely the confidence boost she was going to need tomorrow when she walked into the party.
“So, it’s settled then,” Paige said.“Green light on the green.”
A big gust of wind outside the window distracted the girls from their fashion show.
“Geez, I didn’t think it was supposed to be snowing this much,” Nadia groaned.“I think I should walk back home now.It looks like the snow is falling faster, and I’d rather get home before it’s too bad.I hope it slows down soon so your party doesn’t get cancelled.It would be a shame if the world didn’t get to see you in this dress.”
Paige snuck another peek at herself in the mirror and couldn’t help but agree.
“Oh, I’m sure it will be fine.”
“And you’re sure you don’t want me to tag along as your plus-one?I can tell Linus to cancel our dinner reservations.”
Paige had debated bringing Nadia along with her for moral support, but ultimately decided it was something she needed to face on her own.
“Thanks, Nadia, but I’ll be fine.Besides, my boss will expect us to be chatting with the clients, so I’ll be occupied most of the time,” Paige assured her as they walked toward the door.“Text me when you get back to your apartment so I know you made it!And you better call me immediately when you get engaged.”
“Obviously.”Nadia smiled and rolled her eyes.“I’ll be dialing your number before I even say yes.Enjoy San Diego and give your mom and dad big hugs from me.”
They shared a long and tight embrace before Nadia ventured out into the lugubrious scene.Paige could barely see Nadia through the flurry of snow as she made her way all bundled up down the sidewalk.
It really is coming down, isn’t it, she thought.The party getting cancelled wouldn’t be the worst thing ...
She turned back toward the kitchen and screamed, “Oh my god!”
She hadn’t heard Carter come out of his room.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, not hiding the fact that he was scanning her from head to toe.Paige had forgotten she was still in the dress and could feel her face blushing.
Green is a nice color on you, she remembered him saying the morning after he saw her on her date.Clearly, he still felt the same way.
Carter ran his hand through his hair, looking slightly embarrassed that he had just undressed his landlord with his eyes.
“I, uh, found a new place to live,” he said, breaking the awkward silence.“The contract starts January 4th, so unfortunately for both of us I’ll be here until then.”
His tone was both sarcastic and condescending at the same time.It took everything in Paige not to stab him in the eye with her used chopsticks before tossing them into the trash.But she decided to play it cool.
“Fine with me.I leave in two days anyway to go home for Christmas.Try not to suck up all the joy in here while I’m gone.”She gave him a wink and a coy smile as she realized the dress really was giving her confidence.
His jaw muscles twitched, and Paige knew she had gotten under his skin.See how he likes it.
“Nice,” Carter countered, seeming to struggle with his usual calm demeanor.He also seemed to be having a hard time keeping his eyes from straying back down to her V-neck dress.
“Don’t you have any other words in your vocabulary?”Paige said in a mocking voice, mimicking Carter’s insult from a couple of weeks earlier.
And then there it was again, the smile that could be the envy of any Hollywood actor, curling up one side of Carter’s face.
