Free Cursed by Monica Wolfson

the locker room, she snagged a ride home with one of her teammates.  She was waving goodbye to her friend when she ran into her mother at the front door.
    “You better go shower honey, our reservations are in half an hour,” Willow Bean said.
    Then, as if she suddenly realized it was the first time she’d seen her daughter all day, Willow Bean yelled to her daughter’s back as Sasha climbed the stairs.
     “Happy birthday sweetheart. I love you 17 times as much as I did the day you were born.”
    “Mother you are so cheesy,” she yelled back. She hopped in the shower and washed away her anxious day. She put on a party dress lying on her bed. Her mother must have put it there sometime during the day because it wasn’t there this morning.
    The dress was a midnight blue with tiny embroidered flowers. It was casual enough that she could wear it to parties too. She yanked it over her head when there was a knock at the door.
    “Just a second,” she yelled.
    “It’s alright,” a man said. Sasha quickly got decent and ran to the door.
    “Daddy,” she screamed and threw herself into his arms. “I thought you were away on business.”
    She felt tears well in her eyes as her father wrapped his arms around her. She never felt more loved and safe than when she was being hugged by her father. He was the one steady source of affection in her life and she clung to it.
    “Well I was,” he said. “But I told those finance guys that I had to come back. I wouldn’t miss your birthday.”
    He pulled back and kissed the end of her nose.
    “You’re my favorite oldest daughter,” he said with a smile that made wrinkles appear at the corner of his eyes. His happiness was infectious.
    “I’m so glad you’re here,” she purred into his chest.
    “Me too,” he said. “Now get ready before your mother gets out her whip.”
    He pushed her back into her room and shut the door. Maybe she didn’t need to speak with her mother after all. She was sure her father would be very open with her about the pendant. She’ll ask him as soon as the party was over.
    Satisfied she had a plan, Sasha finished getting ready.

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    When Sasha spied Evan coming across the restaurant toward her table her, she felt a thrill as her stomach dropped in excitement as if she’d just ridden a roller coaster. She loved how a guy could make her feel that way.
    Evan strode confidently toward the table, his clean-cut good looks setting him apart from the crowd of mostly families with children. His hair was cut short, his clothes were pressed and his eyes shone. He looked as nervous as Sasha felt. His smile met hers and she couldn’t shut hers down. Her glee was uncontrollable as she watched him take the seat next to her and place a card in front of her plate. She felt an urge to lean over and kiss his cheek but resisted the impulse.
    Even though he sort of accepted the invitation, she wasn’t sure he would show up. Sasha was pleased she’d been able to save the seat beside her for him. Cady was on Evan’s other side and Hannah was on Sasha’s right side, while Jenna sat across from her. Sasha was dying to open the card but instead put it in her purse to save for a private moment.
    The adults were at the other end of the table talking in hushed tones. Her father sat beside her mother but didn’t seem engaged in the conversation. When he saw Sasha watching him he winked at her. Sasha ignored the adult end of the table and focused on a conversation between Cady and Evan.
    “I can’t believe we haven’t met,” Cady said in her best southern belle voice. “I would not have forgotten a guy like you.”
    Cady was laying it on a bit thick and Sasha’s smile faltered as she watched Cady get into her flirty girl mode.
    “I can’t imagine you and Sasha have much in common,” she said. “I’m more likely to find her in running shorts, while you, I see in leather.”
    Evan eyed her quizzically. “I don’t understand,” he