Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(71)

I thought two people to help me choose would make things faster. If I was with Lump and William, or another of my friends, it would have. Unfortunately, Ami was a little more modest then my other girlfriends, Candace included. She and William agreed on very little, and when they did, the dresses were hideous—way too conservative. William liked things that showed off my figure, while Ami was down and out modest.

I finally found a dress they both agreed on, but bought one of the dresses William really liked because of the way he looked at me when I wore it. I made him a deal, though—I’d buy and wear a dress of his choice one night if he would wear an outfit I chose.

I was cheating since I was wearing the dress at the time of the deal, but he was too busy staring at my chest to notice. He agreed, because he’s a guy, and I picked out two really hot, snug fitting shirts for him. That broke the spell, but he’d already agreed with Ami as a disapproving witness, so he picked a black one and that was that.

By the time we got back the girls were ready, looking decent if not a touch revealing, with Mimosas. Adam was there in a dress shirt of powder blue and slacks. He cleaned up well, but not as nice as William, which not only looked good, but exuded manly confidence and polish. Adam was hot, sure, but he looked so uncomfortable he might as well have been wearing a halter top.

“What airport was Ami at? The one in Little Rock?” Flem asked.

“Had to get an outfit,” I answered, stowing my bags in a corner of the living room.

“You went shopping and you didn’t think to bring us?” Lump asked, horrified.

“I needed speed on my side. If all of you went it would take all day. Plus, I went to the expensive place.”

“So? We have credit,” Jane declared.

“What happened with Brad?” I asked, changing the subject.

Jane shrugged. “A few kisses, some wandering hands, and curtain call. He wants to call me, but I’ll be in California so obviously that’s a no.”

“Brad’s a good guy,” Adam said from the corner.

It didn’t escape my notice that he was sitting as far from Lump as humanly possible. Plus, the two were in chairs that faced each other, but neither would look straight ahead at the other. As far as reconciling differences went, they weren’t off to a great start.

“Yeah, he’s cool. And cute. But in Texas. I live in California.”

“He going to be here today?” I asked.

“No. He didn’t get an invite.”

“His family isn’t all that close to Gladis,” William explained, stretching out on the couch.

“Willie, yer a bigger fecker, but not that big. Make some space,” Claire scoffed, giving him a shove so we could sit comfortably.

“I was here first,” William said with a smile, not moving.

“So? I knew Jess first. I win.”

“Right, I have to go change.” I bounded up the stairs with my dress. I needed time to mentally and physically get ready for the coming hurricane.

When the time came to face the music I headed downstairs, ready as I could possibly be. The dress fit well, I didn’t have buyer’s remorse even though I paid way too much for it, and my make-up went on without a hitch. I had a tiny bit of trouble with my hair, but after a few threats and a gallon of product, it all worked out.

I descended the steps, trying to think if I needed my handbag for anything, when suddenly everything went quiet. I froze halfway between floors.

All eyes on me.

Lump’s mouth was hanging open, Jane looked cross, Claire was judging how fast she had to drink the rest of her champagne to leave on time, Flem looked bored, Adam was looking at my legs, and William had a small smile on his face.

“What?”

Ami walked in from the kitchen and followed everyone’s gaze.

“You look perfect, Jess. Good choice,” she judged.

“Sorry Willie, it was the angle,” Adam said, looking down with a guilty smile.

William looked over at him in confusion, looked back up at me, then smiled. “Eyes off my prize, Dunn.”

“Your prize?” Lump joked, looking at my shoes. Well, her shoes.

“There she goes,” Adam mumbled.

I finished the decent as I said, “She was just kidding, Adam. Don’t start.”

“Those are my shoes, aren’t they!” Lump accused.

“They looked better than all of mine.”

“Could you have asked?”

“Can I wear your shoes?”

“No. Take them off.”

“Make me.”

“I would, but I don’t want to get Willie riled up.”

“Seriously, Jessica Brodie, could you not have taken us to that store?” Jane put a hand to her hip, scowl firmly in place.

“We can try and fit it in tomorrow.”

Jane huffed and got up. “Let’s go. All the fashion I’ve missed out on is putting me in a bad mood.”

“Putting you in a bad mood?” Flem asked.

“Finished. Ready.” Claire stood up, putting her empty glass on the table.

“You girls don’t need to finish every drop,” Adam pronounced, talking to Flem and Lump, who were finishing their champagne in a hurry.

We all turned to stare at him. Unlike the night at Froggy’s, Adam wasn’t in the mood, or maybe he was just too sober, to stand up to the stares of five girls—Ami was waiting by the door patiently, so she didn’t count. He stepped back and put up his hands in surrender. “Sorry. What did I do?”