"Yeah, actually I did." I shrugged and put my stuff on the counter. "I forgot that I actually enjoyed skiing."
"See? I told you there was things about this place to love."
"Yeah? Like you." I reached out and ruffled his hair.
"Speaking of your adoration for your one and only brother..." He reached out and tugged on one of the ropes to my hoodie.
"You want food?" I asked.
"God yes, but no vegetables. I already had mine for the day." He moved to sit at one of the stools by the breakfast nook.
"Oh yeah? What veggies did you eat?" I walked to the fridge and pulled out various cold cuts and cheeses.
"I had Cheetos and green gummy worms. I'm thinking that's pretty damn close to carrots and celery." He snorted.
"You're an idiot." I rolled my eyes and worked on getting him something better to eat. "So I met this guy in town today. He seems to be a local."
"Yeah? What's his name?"
"Finn. I didn't get his last name." I shrugged and handed him the plate.
"Oh yeah. He's the town slut. My friends are always talking about wanting to be like him."
"How do you have friends here?"
I made myself half a sandwich and glanced at the clock. I had twenty minutes before I had to put it in high gear. I was surprised that Cindy wasn't there already.
"You know Dad and I spend the fall here." My brother lifted his eyebrow and I nodded, not willing to admit that I'd gotten so wrapped up in my own stuff that I hadn't realized that they were in Colorado all fall. When I called, I dialed their cell, which was an Arizona area code.
"So, this Finn guy is a big fat no?"
"Um, yeah. Unless you like being used for the night and tossed away."
I picked up my lunch and walked away, not ready to have any kind of sexual discussions with my teenage brother. A shiver ran through me and I made a sound of disgust at the thought.
"Yep. He's gross. Stay away."
"Done," I called over my shoulder and walked into my room to start sorting through what I would be wearing for the evening.
I texted my friends to see where everyone was. The twins were an hour out of the city and Cindy was headed my way.
It was decided that it would be easier to meet at a nice little Italian place in the center of town rather than all the way out at my father's house. I dropped the phone on the bed and lamented over the fact that Finn wouldn't be able to find me. If I wanted to see him again, I'd have to find him or bump into him. Why did things always have to be so damn difficult?
I dressed in a cute skirt and tight top before choosing a pair of heels and fixing my hair and makeup in order to impress my friends properly. We all came from wealthy families, and it seemed like the first thirty minutes of any get together was catching each other up on what we did or didn't have, as well as eying each other's clothes and jewelry. Some part of me wanted to cancel for the evening, but it would look bad and I'd never hear the end of it.
"Besides, getting out will be good for you."
I leaned in toward the bathroom mirror and put a second coating of dark pink lipstick on my lips. I looked like a Barbie doll, which was annoying. No man treated a woman who looked like me seriously, especially when I dolled myself up.
"What are you doing in there?" My brother beat at the door and I yanked it open.
"Oh, great. You're going out with this guy anyway?"
"No. Some old friends are coming into town. We're going to dinner and maybe a movie."
"Go dancing. There's a new club my friend's sister was raving about the other day. It's one block from Dad's store, though I can't remember the name of it to save my life."
I nodded and turned around. "Do I look alright?"
"Like my undercover gamer sister." He shrugged and walked back down the hall as I laughed.
"Gee, thanks buddy."
"Anytime."
* * * *
I walked into the restaurant and handed the guy my coat at the front, worrying a little at first about being overdressed until the host showed me to our table.
My three friends were already there and let out loud squeals as I approached.
Momentary warmth flooded me and it was good to see old familiar faces. I hugged each of them and took my seat beside Cindy.
"You look incredible. The sun has done so much for your complexion. I love it." Janet reached for her wine and smiled.
"I agree, and do you dye your hair or is that natural?" Her twin sister, Kinsey, ran her fingers through her long brown strands as she tilted her head and studied me.
Lovely. The microscope light has been turned on.
"All natural, girls." I smiled and turned to Cindy. "How was the flight? The traveling? The family?"
We each took turns going around the table throughout dinner to update everyone on the happenings in each of our lives. Cindy had seen the world, Kinsey had her own million dollar on-line business and Janet had published her fifth book.
"How about you?" Cindy sat back and rubbed at her stomach. "Tell us everything."
"Well, I just graduated from UCLA with my design degree, so now I'm working on starting my own company, which should launch next spring." I glanced down at my top. "I designed this bad-boy."
"Oh nice!" Kinsey reached across the table and ran her fingers over the fabric at my shoulder. "Feels so good. I'm impressed."
"Is your Dad supplying the seed funding?" Cindy asked and lifted her hand to take the check from the waiter.
"Yes, but you know him and his rules. I'm stuck here for the next few weeks, and if I can hang out for the holidays, he'll help me." I tried to overemphasize how put out I was by the demand, but I really wasn't. They just expected me to be bratty and catty like we all were in high school.
"That’s dumb." Kinsey rolled her eyes. "So...what's up next? Shopping? Movie? Dancing?"
"I wouldn't mind checking out the new dance club that opened in the center of town." I shrugged. "Some of the guys here are incredibly hot."
"Yes, and being here for the night means only one thing..." Cindy smiled nefariously.
"One night stand!" Both Kinsey and Janet yelled in tandem.
I glanced around as several people from nearby tables looked our way. Heat rose up my chest and coated my cheeks.
"I love them. So much easier than relationships, don't you think, Chloe?" Cindy turned her dark eyes on me. She was beautiful, the exotic one out of the four of us. Her mother was Asian and her father Hispanic. She was never without a boyfriend back in high school. I had no doubt that not much had changed.
"Love 'em." I turned my attention to my wine and emptied the glass.
"I want to find a local boy. The town whore." Kinsey wagged her eyebrows. "You know, every town has one and this place is so big that I bet there's one for each of us."
I stiffened at the thought of seeing Finn with any of my friends. Anger rose sharply inside of me and I stood, having to excuse myself to the bathroom. How people could be such assholes was beyond me. Not that Finn didn't set himself up to be used, but still.
"He's a user. Hello." I walked into the bathroom and moved to the sink, washing my hands and checking myself out in the mirror. I wasn't beyond dancing with a few boys, but going home with one of them meant that the possibility of a second date was highly probable from both sides. Sleeping with someone only to have them lose my number the next day was too much for me. My friends...not so much.