More Than Friends (Friends, #2)(52)

Liv rolls her eyes. “You are such a baby.”

Once she’s done with my hair and makeup, she grabs the dress she picked out for me to wear and I tug it on, nearly jumping out of my skin when she yells at me to watch out for my hair. It’s this cute black-and-white striped T-shirt dress I bought on a whim last spring when I found it on a clearance rack. I’ve never worn it, though. Dresses, skirts—they’re not my thing. I feel weird in them and a lot of the time they show too much leg because they’re always too short on me.

“He is going to die when he sees you,” Livvy breathes as she stares at me.

I tug at the fabric of the dress. “It’s too clingy.”

“It’s perfect. You’re so thin you can carry it off.” She shakes her head, but she’s beaming. “You look so amazing!”

“Oh my gosh, stop. You’re gushing.” I whirl around, my eyes widening when I catch myself in the mirror.

Livvy’s right. I do look pretty damn amazing, if I do say so myself. My hair has these sexy “beach waves,” as Livvy calls them, loose and touchable despite all the hairspray she used. My makeup is subtle, not too overdone, though my eyes are intensely dark. I like them. I’ll never be able to duplicate this look on my own, but I don’t care.

For one night, I’ll feel like a princess.

“What do you think?” Livvy practically squeals when I remain too quiet for too long. “Do you like it?”

“I like it.” I turn to smile at her. “I really do. Thank you.”

“So. Excited!” She tugs me into a hug then pushes me away, frowning. “Don’t want to mess up your hair.”

“When is Ryan getting here?” I ask nervously. Now I wish Jordan were picking me up. I’m both scared and excited to see his reaction to my new look. Will he like it? Or will he think I’m trying to be something I’m not? What about the dress? I take a step away from the mirror, trying to catch my legs in the reflection. They look like long, pale sticks, almost too skinny.

Ugh, I need to stop being so critical of myself.

“He’ll be here in about fifteen minutes,” Livvy reassures me.

I can’t stop staring at my reflection in the mirror. And the longer I look, the more nervous I get. Jordan might not like the new me. Or he might like it, I don’t know.

I hate feeling so unsure.

“What shoes are you going to wear?” Livvy asks.

“I brought some flat sandals.”

“You don’t think you should wear heels?”

“I’d probably twist my ankle if I wore them.”

“But men love high heels! It makes them think about sex.” When I send her an incredulous look, she explains further. “I saw it in a movie once.”

“Just because you saw it in a movie doesn’t mean it happens for real,” I tell her. “I hope men aren’t that shallow.” And while I wouldn’t mind looking sexy for Jordan, I don’t want his mind to automatically go to sex when he sees me. Though maybe it already does, I don’t know.

My cheeks go warm at the thought.

Livvy actually snorts. “Have you met the guys we spend time with? They’re all shallow.”

Her words fill me with sadness. Does she really believe that? I don’t. Jordan definitely has substance.

“So you and Jordan are for real, huh?” Livvy asks.

I shrug, my cheeks going even hotter. “Yeah, we are. Though I don’t want to push him too hard.” He’s the type of guy who’ll run if he feels cornered, so I do my best to give him space.

“He always wants to hang out with you. I take that as a good sign. Though I understand not wanting to push too hard.” Livvy smiles. “But I think you two are on the right track.”

“Thanks,” I murmur, feeling weird. I like talking about Jordan, but then again, I don’t. She wants more details. I can see it in her eyes. Everything Jordan and I do together is so private. I don’t want to share it with the rest of the world. It feels like I’m breaking some major rule if I tell Livvy what’s happening between Jordan and I these last few weeks.

I want to savor the moment, keep it to myself. It’s my secret with Jordan. I’m excited to see him tonight. Will he give me one of those knowing smiles?

“What’s he like?”

“What? Who?”

“Tuttle. What’s he like, when it’s just the two of you alone? He’s always so closed off and acts like we’re all bugging him most of the time. I’m guessing he’s already opened up to you?”

“Sort of.” I shrug, feeling inadequate. Has he really opened up to me? I don’t think so. A little bit but not much. “We’re taking it one day at a time.”

“So no juicy details yet?” The crestfallen expression on her face tells me she was hoping for something more.

“Sorry to disappoint you,” I say with a shake of my head.

Within a few minutes Ryan shows up at Livvy’s house, ever the gentleman as he speaks with Fitch, Livvy’s mom’s boyfriend. They make idle chitchat while Livvy and I lurk in the hall, watching them.

“I don’t know why he’s so nice to Fitch,” Livvy says irritably. “That guy is creepy.”

“Is he still giving off bad vibes?” She’s complained to me about him before.