Seasons in the Sun by Kristen Strassel Read Free Book Online Page A

it was I was looking for.
    Taryn pulled out a short tailored sleeveless coral dress with black trim and a thin patent leather black belt. “What do you think of this … for me?”
    I nodded.
    She held it up against herself. “I want something kind of conservative, but still sexy, you know?” She handed the dress to the clerk to hang in the dressing room. She resumed flipping through the racks. “Now something for Callie.”
    I stood behind her as she looked for something suitable. She pulled a few things out, held them up in front of me, and then put them back on the rack, frowning.
    Minutes later, Taryn and I were behind side by side curtains trying on dresses. The clerk found a few other things for Taryn as well so we each needed to pick a winner.
    Taryn knew her own style best, the coral dress was stunning on her. It hugged her curves but still looked classy. The color complimented her tan skin and dark hair.
    I felt like a ballerina in the first couple of dresses Taryn and the clerk had picked for me, and not in a good way. Too frilly, too cute. I wanted to at least look a little sophisticated. Not only was I having dinner with the president, I really wanted to wow Tristan. A reject pile grew on the stool near the mirror. One dress remained, a black eyelet lace sundress that flared out in a gentle A line. A black satin sash circled the empire waistline. I pulled it over my hips and shoulders and zipped the side.
    This was the first dress worthy of a fashion show. “This is it, Callie!” Taryn declared as she tied the sash. “You look fantastic.”
    I swirled back and forth in the three way mirror in the corner, making the skirt fan out softly around me. “I love it.”
    Once we had our packages in hand we headed back out on Main Street. “Do you want to get ice cream or something?” Taryn surprised me with her question. I didn’t think she’d want to spend any more time with me than necessary.
    “Sure,” I was never one to turn down ice cream.
    We sat on the deck with our sundae cups and dug in. “This is good stuff.” Taryn declared.
    “Yeah, it’s all homemade.”
    “I can tell,” Taryn scooped her spoon around the cup. “I’m glad we did this. I’m having fun. I know we don’t really get to spend a lot of time together.”
    “Yeah, me too. I’m glad you asked me.”
    “Well, I did kind of have an ulterior motive,” Taryn looked down at her ice cream almost sheepishly as she said it. “I wanted to talk to you about Tristan.”
    I guess I probably should have seen that coming. “Okay.”
    “Listen, he really seems to like you, and I think that’s great, but I’m kind of surprised he’s taking you so seriously.”
    “What is that supposed to mean?” I felt like she slapped me.
    “It’s not you. My brother doesn’t take anyone seriously. Or anything.”
    I narrowed my eyebrows, trying to wrap my head around what she was saying. Sure, he joked and teased, but I thought it was a bit extreme to go as far as to say he didn’t care about anything. Or anyone.
    Taryn picked up on my confusion. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice. But this isn’t him. Either being here, or you, seem to have some sort of calming effect on him. But when we leave, you need to forget about him. Or else he will break your heart, just like he does to every other girl.”
    My eyes widened, as I tried to process what she was saying. My brain rejected it. “I don’t know what to say.” I said quietly, playing with the melted ice cream in the bottom of the cup.
    “Say you won’t sleep with him.”
    I couldn’t hide my shock. “What?”
    “Say you won’t sleep with him. Listen, he’s my twin brother, my best friend. He tells me everything. I know you guys meet up at night. He swears to me you guys haven’t had sex. I love him, but I just can’t trust him. It just wouldn’t be fair to you. He will get back to LA and go back to being a train wreck, just like he was before.”
    “What are you talking