Free The Secrets of Attraction by Robin Constantine Page B

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 complimented 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, stepping back 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 him, and shouldn’t that be part of a dance? Shouldn’t you want to kiss your date? I mean if it happens, great, but I’m thinking more about Logan. It doesn’t feel right.”
    â€œYou’re putting too much importance on what things should be like,” I said, popping back into my dressing room to try on my next choice—a strapless black-and-white brocade dress with a high/low illusion hemline. I fumbled with the zipper for a moment, then went back out to the mirror.
    Wren clapped. “Now that is you.”
    â€œAbsolutely.” Jazz grinned.
    â€œYep, I think this is it,” I said, twirling. The dress showed off my legs, which were seriously toned from months of crescent lunges and downward dogs. I pulled both Wren and Jazz next to me and we struck a vampy pose. The saleslady breezed in to collect the clothes off the reject rack.
    â€œHow are you girls— Ooh, so pretty,” she said. “What’s the occasion?”
    We stepped away from each other, giggling.
    â€œOh, um—Sadie Hawkins Dance,” I said.
    â€œFun. I have to say that red dress is lovely. Didn’t seem like much on the hanger, but on you it’s really -- smashing. Let me know if you girls need anything else.” She darted out of the dressing room with clothes draped over her arm.
    â€œSee?” I said. “Even the saleslady thinks you look smashing .”
    â€œShe’s not exactly impartial.” Jazz checked out the price tag near her armpit. “And hey, look, all of my birthday money and a month’s worth of working for my mom just for what’s pretty much a practice date.”
    â€œOkay, you’ve got to stop this—so what if you’re not in love with this guy? We all can’t be Wren and Gray.”
    They both gave me quizzical looks.
    â€œAren’t you in love with Zach?” Jazz asked.
    I laughed, but when neither of them joined in, I stopped.
    â€œNo, I’m not,” I said. It felt strange to be declaring it out loud in front of a three-way mirror—endless images of me saying the same thing. “I mean, I like him a lot— we have fun and all, but do I think this is love? Hell-to-the-no, but I’m not hung up on it. Neither is he.”
    My little speech was met with an uncomfortable silence. Was it really so awful that I felt that way? Wren checked her butt out in the mirror again. Jazz looked at the floor.
    â€œI just don’t know if I can do that. Be all casual,” she