Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110624 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110624 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“You’re gonna look so sexy in that, birthday girl.”
I turned around, and she was standing in the doorway.
“Thank you so much, but I can’t believe you spent that kind of money on me.”
Tarah walked into the room and hugged me. “It was nothing. I made some good tips yesterday. You can make it up to me by letting me make you over again tonight.”
“Why would you go through the trouble? It’s just Eleni’s.”
“It’s not just Eleni’s. It’s your birthday and open bar for us. You never know, you might meet some hot Greek down there, named Taso or Christos.”
“And we’ll fly away and live happily ever after in Mykonos.”
“See, now you’re talking!”
“Wearing my bikini, sippin’ a martini in Santorini.” I wiggled my hips as I said it and cracked myself up.
“That’s my girl! But seriously, trust me, you’re going to want to look good tonight. I’ve got this idea for your hair.”
“Speaking of hair, how’s that human hair wig search going?”
“Oh! I meant to tell you, I found the perfect one. It matches that picture you sent me of her with the hottie guy.”
Skylar had texted me the picture of her and her friend Mitch, so that I could use it to find a wig that matched her original hair.
“You do realize he’s fifteen…” I said.
She shrugged her shoulders. “Yeah, whatever. Anyway, it’s beautiful, long, auburn, just like in the photo. It should be delivered to the salon sometime in the next week.”
I couldn’t wait to tell Skylar when I went to visit her this Wednesday.
***
Tarah had really outdone herself. I wore my hair down and she created two thin braids, which she tied back over the top. It was very Roman. For makeup, she insisted I wear red lipstick to match my dress.
As I slipped into the strapless frock, I received a text from Skylar.
Have you tapped that yet?
I shook my head. That girl was sex crazy. I’d text her back later.
Ryan peeked his head into my room. “Almost ready?”
“Yeah…just give me a second.”
He stood in the doorway. “Tarah had to run to the drug store. She is gonna meet us downstairs. By the way, a friend of mine from work is going to join us for dinner. His name is Michael Hunt. I think you’ll like him.”
“What do you mean…you think I’ll like him?”
“I mean, he’s good looking, single and I told him about you.”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
This is why Tarah wanted to dress me up. This was a set up!
“Please tell me you didn’t plan this birthday dinner as a setup.”
“No, it’s not like that. It’s more like I planned this setup as a birthday dinner.”
“Ryan!”
“Come on, Troll. You haven’t been on one decent date since that preppy guy, and I really think you’ll get along with Michael.”
It was evident that Ryan had no clue about my feelings for Jake and Tarah had kept her word about not spilling to him. I couldn’t blame him for trying. Anyway, it was too late now. I’d have to make the best of it.
I shrugged. “Okay, but please don’t expect anything to come out of this. It’s just a friendly dinner.”
“Of course. Relax.”
When we made our way into Eleni’s, Telly greeted us at the door. “There’s the birthday girl!” he shouted.
“Hi, Telly. Thanks for the open bar tonight,” I said.
“Anything for my best customers.”
Ryan and I had just sat down when he waved over to a tall lean guy with short reddish hair who walked in the front door and made his way over to our table.
Ryan stood up, and they clasped hands. “Hey, Michael. Glad you could make it.” He turned to me. “Nina, this is Michael Hunt. Michael, this is Nina Kennedy.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Nina.” He smiled and reached his hand out.
“Same here.”
There was nothing wrong with him. He was cute enough, nice enough, but I knew immediately this wouldn’t go anywhere.
“So, Ryan’s told me a lot about you. He said you guys are like brother and sister.”
“We are.”
Maybe if I bored him to death, he would just leave.
Ryan waved at the door again, and I turned around to see Tarah clicking her heels toward our table.
“Sorry I’m late. I had to get money.” She bent down to kiss me on the cheek then looked at Michael and Ryan. “And who’s this?”
Was she really playing dumb?
“This is my co-worker Michael. Michael, this is my girlfriend, Tarah.”
“Nice to meet you, Michael.”
“Likewise,” Michael said getting up and extending his hand.
Tarah squinted her eyes at Ryan. I wondered why. Had she not known about this?
The four of us sat there like the perfect double date when Desiree approached our table looking smug. “Hi guys. What’ll it be?”
We placed our drink orders, and as she took the drink menus away, she looked at Ryan. “No Jake tonight?”
I wanted to throw up.
Ryan shook his head. “He’s in Boston.”