Chapter 53 (1/2)

I nod. “Yeah, but I can’t pull them off,” I tell her and she frowns.

“Yes, you can, they strap around your ankle to prevent you from falling.”

“Is that what the strap is actually for?” I ask.

She laughs. “No, but it helps with that.” She laughs again. “Just try them.”

I sit on the bed and stretch my legs out, gesturing for her to put them on me.

She helps me stand up and I take a few steps. The straps really do help with my balance.

“I can’t wait any longer! Look at yourself,” she says and opens the other closet door. I look in the full-body mirror and gasp.

Who the heck is that? My reflection looks just like me, but a lot better. I was afraid she would go overboard on my makeup, but she didn’t. My gray eyes look lighter against the chestnut eye shadow, and the pink blush on my cheeks makes my cheekbones more prominent. My hair looks shiny and is curled into big waves, not the small, stringy curls I was expecting.

“I am impressed.” I smile and look closer. I poke my cheek to make sure what I’m seeing is real.

“See, you are still you. Just a more sexy, well-kept you.” She giggles and calls for Tristan to join us.

He opens the door and his lips part. “Where is Tessa?” he asks and looks around the room playfully. He picks up a pillow and looks under it.

“What do you think?” I ask and tug the dress down again.

“You look great, really great.” He smiles and wraps his arm around Steph’s waist. She leans in and I look away.

“Oh, one more thing,” she says and reaches over to the dresser, pulling out a tube of lip gloss and puckering her lips. I close my eyes and do the same while she rubs the sticky gloss across my lips.

“Ready?” Tristan asks and she nods.

As we head out, I grab my purse and throw a pair of Toms inside, just in case.

DURING THE DRIVE I sit in the back and stare out the window, letting my mind wander. When we arrive at the restaurant, I cringe at the number of motorcycles outside. I had assumed we would be going somewhere like T.G.I. Friday’s or Applebee’s, not a biker bar and grill. When we walk inside I feel like everyone is staring at me, even though they probably aren’t.