Free The Secrets of Attraction by Robin Constantine Page A

band from Manalapan, had been discovered by a small indie label. Now it was every band’s wet dream to be plucked from obscurity, and dates were booked far out. I’d dropped our CD off right before HannahDunk. It was cover songs, but that’s what they focused on for the eighteen-and-over nights. I was pretty sure Dad could call in a favor. Maybe if we took on the second guy and had some intense practice, we’d be ready soon. But did I want a favor? Wouldn’t it be better to earn it?
    â€œI don’t know, T . . .”
    â€œProcrastination is really fear of the future,” my father said, full-on college-professor mode.
    Tanner nodded. “Wow, um, what he said. C’mon, Jess, we can jam with them this week, make a decision, and start practicing.”
    What if we chose the wrong guy? What if we were never as good as we were before? But what if we were better? Wondering about it was safe . . . and stupid.
    â€œOkay, let’s do it. Guess we’re going to a dance next Friday.”

FIVE
MADISON
    ON SATURDAY MORNING, MOM DROVE ME, JAZZ, and Wren to the mall to hunt for something to wear for the Sadie Hawkins thing. Wren had already purchased the perfect little black dress weeks ago so she was there to help us get our glam on—and maybe hit the food court for lunch afterward.
    â€œWhat do you think?” I asked, checking myself out in the three-way mirror. The lacy cream-colored dress draped perfectly over one shoulder and came to a flirty but chaste stop right above my knees, perfect for a Sacred Heart event.
    And something a granny might wear.
    A hip granny with rockin’ shoulders, but still.
    â€œIt’s pretty; you just don’t look like you ,” she said.
    â€œYou should talk, where would you wear that ?”
    Wren was on tiptoe, pivoting to see the back view of a tinyblack miniskirt with zipper pockets and barely there halter top she was modeling.
    â€œYou don’t think it’s appropriate for Brooke’s baby shower?”
    â€œHave they changed the theme from tropical to S&M? Wait, that would probably be more fun for you,” I laughed, doing a twirl of my own. Nope, still not me.
    â€œNo, Gray might . . . might ,” she said, knocking on the wall for luck, “actually make it into this band he auditioned for yesterday. Just trying the rocker-chick look on for size in case, you know, we get to see them play out. Think he could handle my edgy side?”
    â€œThe bigger question is, can you handle him handling your edgy side? Because I think he’d handle it fine.”
    â€œHmm, exactly what I was going for,” she said, pivoting one last time, a sly grin crossing her face.
    â€œOkay, how about this one,” Jazz said, slinking out of the dressing room in a red cocktail dress with an A-line skirt.
    â€œJasmine Ka-Day-am—that is . . .”
    â€œStunning,” Wren finished.
    â€œNo, come on, better than the white one?”
    She stood before the mirror, lifting out the skirt a bit and then letting it swish back into place. The color complemented her bronze skin and dark hair in a way that made her look lit-up. Not sure how she pulled it off, but she looked sexy and modest at the same time.
    â€œThe other one was nice, but this is, wow,” I said, steppingback to take in the dress again.
    â€œThat’s just it, I think it might be too special,” she said, turning to the side. “It’s not like it’s prom or anything. Just a dance with someone I barely know.”
    â€œNo, this is the dress that Logan is going to see you in and forget why he’s there with Darby,” Wren said.
    â€œAre you bummed that you’re going with Kyle?” I asked.
    She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. “No, I’m happy I’m going with him, I guess. He’s cute, nice, can carry on a conversation, but he’s, well, I already know I don’t want to, like, hook up with