Vicious Circles by Leann Andrews Read Free Book Online Page B

his vehicle. “Get your ass in the car.”

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“You need something to wear. I’ll call and get a reservation while you look.” He shifted the car in gear without batting an eye, as if buying some homeless girl a nice dress was shit he did all the time.

“Mason,” I half laughed-half snorted, “you can’t buy me a dress.”

“Uh-uh,” he shook his head back and forth. “You said I could take you out when you got the part. No take backs.”

I scrunched my nose and looked at the small row of stores he was approaching with disdain. “Are you fucking five?”

He pulled a one hundred dollar bill from his wallet. I was scared to take it from him. “Just take the money and find a dress.”

I sighed and unhooked my seatbelt. “Fine, but I won’t have fun.” I made sure to snatch the money extra nasty-like to emphasize my dislike of the whole situation.

The store smelled like lilacs and my immediate thought was Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Only difference was, I would poke a bitch in the eye. Luckily no one approached me and I browsed the colorful dresses in peace. Somehow black seemed to be what I kept going to. Black was always a smart choice.

I wasn’t completely ignorant. I knew my size and I knew what was happening as far as style around Hollywood. The simple pair of black heels, tucked away in my backpack came to mind when I finally found the dress.

A slight v-neck, calf length…perfect. I paid as quickly as I could and practically sprinted from the store. Mason was leaning against his car, smoking a cigarette. I dropped the change in the driver’s seat through the open window.

“How did it go?” He questioned through a puff of smoke.

“I would rather not talk about it. I found one, thank you.” I shielded my eyes from the sun and crossed in front of the hood to get back in the car.
     
    ***
    Makeup was not something I used often. I couldn’t put it on and in the end I never thought I looked any good with it on. For some reason, I felt like I had to wear it with that damn dress. One of Mason’s roommates came home while I was holed up in the bathroom, but lucky me; he grabbed something and left again.

“We’re going to be late,” Mason called while pounding on the door.

“Jesus, I’m ready…calm the fuck down.” I swung the door open with force to knock him back into the hall a bit.

‘Whoa.” He stared at me, silently. Half his face was hidden in the shadows but from the eye that was visible I could tell he was impressed.

“It’s the dress,” I said shyly.

He turned and walked toward the front door. “No, I still say it’s your eyes.”

I almost didn’t hear him. He’d spoken the words so low I didn’t know if I was even meant to hear them. I didn’t respond in case they weren’t for my ears.

Like a gentleman he opened the car door for me and then closed it behind me. I fussed over the placement of my dress as he made his way to the driver’s side and got in. He tapped the clock, probably because we were running a little late.

“I think we’ll make it,” he said confirming my thoughts.

The whole thing was surreal. The atmosphere screamed date but could I really call it that? He hadn’t asked me out, per se. It was more of an agreement.

“Shit,” Mason swore.

I turned my eyes forward to the cause of his anger. Traffic, of course. “We’ll never make it on time in this traffic.”

“Well, aren’t you full of optimism tonight…” He laughed but I could tell he was still pissed.

“Look, I’m sorry I took so long to get ready.”

“Fallyn, you didn’t cause the traffic. This is Hollywood.” His hand left the gear shift, grazing mine on the way to his phone.

“Are you calling the restaurant?”

He nodded with the phone already to his ear. I listened to his side of the conversation which wasn’t going so well. “I don’t understand, I made a reservation…Why can’t you hold