Free Cherry Red Summer (Emely and Elyas Book 1) by Carina Bartsch Page B

there?”
    “It’s so underhanded the way you go directly for my conscience,” I moaned. “Your mouth is big enough I’m sure you can manage on your own. Plus, it’s not like I’m going to be much help since you’re going to have to talk to him yourself eventually.”
    “No! You’d be a ton of help. You’d be there with me, and that alone would be a huge help!”
    I pinched the bridge of my nose.
    “Emely,” she started again, “I can’t bring myself to go out alone. I’d feel way too lame. And you do want me to land a good guy, right? Someone I’d be happy with? Please! I’ll protect you from my brother, too.”
    I grimaced and let loose a snarl.
    “Is that a yes?” she squeaked.
    How the hell did her groveling and whining evaporate, just like that?
    “No, that was not a yes. I’ll only think ab—”
    “You’re the best, Emely!” she interrupted. “We’ll pick you up in an hour at the main entrance to campus, OK?”
    “Alex, I don’t have any—” I said, starting to protest.
    “I knew I could count on you. I’ll totally make it up to you. You’re the best friend anyone could wish for, did you know that? You can’t believe how grateful I am and what a huge help this is!” She chattered on without periods or commas, leaving me no opportunity to say anything, though I was standing there, mouth agape.
    Alex knew how to make me feel just guilty enough to always say yes. I hated her for it. When she finally paused for breath, I said, “Alex, I swear to God, you so owe me!”
    “Anything, Emely! Just name it! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You’re so awesome!”
    I rolled my eyes.
    “See you in an hour,” she reminded me. “And wear the top!”
    “We’ll see.”
    “No, not ‘we’ll see.’ Definitely wear it! Thanks, baby. I’ll see you in a bit!”
    “Bye,” I snarled into the phone and hung up.
    How did she always force me into doing things I didn’t want to do? And why did I freaking let her do it to me again and again? I always asked myself that question, and I never came up with an answer. Today was no exception.
    A night on the town with Elyas, for Pete’s sake. Should I just kill myself now, or wait until afterward? It was a tough decision.
    I had already run into him twice since the embarrassing fainting incident the previous week. He hadn’t made any annoying comments about it yet, but that didn’t mean he was going to spare me.
    And why did they have to be going to a club , anyway? What was wrong with a bar?
    As I realized what I had gotten myself into, I sighed in frustration. And I realized I barely had enough time to get ready, since I was now going to have to shave my legs.
    I grumbled my way to the shower, and forty-five minutes later—I’m a long showerer—I finally left the bathroom and started browsing through my closet for something to wear. I found Alex’s top, pulled it off the hanger, and considered whether I really wanted to wear it.
    It was made of a thin, black fabric with a wide band over the bust. Inside the band was a cord you could tighten so it would stay up without straps. The waistline also had a band in it, but without a cord because it was tailored perfectly to my hips. The fabric featured a discreet gray floral pattern. I liked it a lot.
    So even though I would never have bought it myself, I liked it. I wondered if I’d change my mind once I was out and about with it on. There was only one way to find out, so I pulled it on and studied myself in the mirror.
    I liked that it wasn’t skintight, unlike the clothes Alex usually tried to talk me into. At first, I was still afraid it might slide down, but once I adjusted the cord, it felt firm—“earthquake-proof,” as Alex said. Not having big boobs has its advantages from time to time. If I had D cups, the top definitely wouldn’t have worked so well.
    What I didn’t like in the mirror was how pale my skin was. My cleavage, my shoulders, and my arms—they all looked a shade too light.