stress. Ethan and I were broken up— that meant I could flirt with other guys, maybe even do things with other guys, and not feel bad about it.
He’d chosen the Phantom over me. Maybe it was time I picked someone else over him.
“All right. What do you want me to wear?” I asked.
Odette fussed in my closet. When she pulled out the tiniest little blue dress, my heart stopped. It had an open back that ended at the butt, and a hemline that would barely cover my underwear. It was more like a piece of cloth than an actual dress. “Uh, no way.”
“I got this for you last Christmas, and you haven’t worn it yet!” she shouted. “Now’s the perfect night.”
“Because I was supposed to wear it for Ethan, girl!” And I’d totally chickened out on doing it, too.
“Fuck him. Wear it for yourself!” Odette said.
As I stared at the dress, rebellion rose in my chest. Yeah, you know what? Fuck it. This night was for me.
The girls hooted and hollered in approval as I slid on the dress, and fastened on a pair of black heels. Tygrys clapped his antennae together for me, like he was impressed.
“Girl, don’t bend over, because that thing hugs all the curves of your ass,” Delmare said as she stared at the dress.
“If I bend over I’m gonna show off my hoo-ha!” I shouted, while the girls howled. A big smile spread across my face. Just wait until Ethan heard about this. He’d go freaking nuts.
“Let’s go.” Odette linked her arm in mine. “Your public awaits.”
The four of us walked arm-in-arm to the party. So many people’s heads jerked around when they saw the dress I was wearing. Guys’ mouths dropped open, while girls shot me devil eyes. I typically didn’t like the attention, but tonight, I was vengeful. I could hear whispers as I passed by. It was radical that I was wearing a thing like this at such a conservative school like Arcanea University. I bet there was a hidden reporter at the school taking pictures, just waiting to print them in tomorrow’s paper.
Let them. I was showing the world that Emmaline Sosna had moved on.
The thudding of the bass let me know we were getting close. The party was being held at a frat house on campus, one Arthur and Finlay were a part of. When we slipped inside the massive house, I had to look around. Hundreds of people were packed into the place, dancing to the music and drinking beer. Strobe lights circled the darkness, casting everyone in various shades of pink, blue, and yellow.
I’d never been to a college party before. All eyes looked at me once we walked in. Most of the girls here were dressed in a revealing way, but my dress made everyone else’s clothes look like a nun’s outfit.
Morgan was here with Melissa, sipping wine by the stereo. She sneered as we passed, raising her lip. “Skank.”
“American whore,” Melissa added. The two of them giggled— like that was so funny.
I rolled my eyes and ignored them. They were just pissed off I was getting all the attention.
Arthur was by the drink table, pouring alcohol into various cups, while his mate Vara helped him. He made a face when he saw me walking up. “Did you really have to wear that? Not like I want to see my sister in lingerie.”
I took a glass of wine from his hand. “Hey, I’m pissed off at my mate, I’m pissed off at my mom. The dress was a natural choice.”
Arthur laughed then. “Guess you’re right. Good call.”
Vara was clearly amused. “Nice outfit,” she commented. “You’ll have fun tonight.”
“I’m planning on it.” As I took a sip of wine, I felt an arm wrap around my waist. I initially stiffened, until I smelled the cologne in the air. It was Finlay.
His smile was bright as he gazed down at me. “You went all-out tonight.”
“That I did. You want to do something about it?”
Finlay cocked a small grin that made my heart race. “Maybe.”
Someone called Finlay’s name. He gave me a wink before swaggering off. The girls watched Finlay as he strode away, clearly impressed.
“Uh, girl, you didn’t tell me you had someone interested in you!” Kiara shouted over the music.
I gave a coy grin. “Didn’t know it was necessary.”
“Necessary? Emma, it is completely necessary to get a piece of that Scottish booty tonight!” Odette cried. “You need to jump on that, because Finlay is hawt.”