A Taste of Utopia Read Free Page B

widen and my red lips part as I gasp. My trembling fingers touch the flawless skin. The image reflected in the mirror is not me. She is, I dare say. . . . beautiful.
    “I told you, the makeup course I took would be worth it,” Chloe says, clasping her hands and sighing dreamily.
    “You are a miracle worker.”
    “Nope.” She waves her hand in mocking modesty. “Tonight I’m just your Fairy Godmother, Cinderella.”
    In disbelief, I sigh deeply. “I just hope midnight doesn’t strike soon. Thank you,” I whisper.
    “You deserve it, Lottie. We both deserve to be happy. And it’s time we seek it. Write our own destiny and all that jazz.”
    “I look so different.”
    “You look like the gorgeous woman I know you to be.”
    Tears burn the back of my eyes.
    “No. Don’t cry,” she says softly. “Your eyes are going to be all puffy. Besides, you’ll ruin my masterpiece.” She dabs the tears off my face. “You’re beautiful. After tonight, our lives will never be the same.” She gives me a brief hug and walks to the closet.
    “Let me get your second birthday present.” Since it’s our summer vacation, Chloe’s gift to me was the airplane ticket to come and spend a week in Vegas. Apparently, she got me something else.
    “Come on, paying for my ticket was already too generous. You shouldn’t have bought me anything else.”
    “Trust me, Lottie, I’ve only just begun. Wait until you see your main gift. It’ll be unforgettable.” She squeals in excitement.
    Chloe collects a hanger from the closet. “Present number two.”
    The hanger’s cover announces in bold letters that its contents are from Prada. Her fingers swiftly unzip it, revealing a strap of fabric sewed together.
    I gasp again. This time in horror. I can’t wear something so tiny. It would barely cover my behind. Besides, with my curvy figure I would look hideous. To make matters worse, the micro dress is red. Bright, bold, blinding red.
    “Oh, no. No, no, no. I won’t be caught dead in that.”
    “You swore on your life you would live wild tonight.”
    “Showcasing my derriere has nothing to do with it.”
    “You promised to do as told. Besides, only your back will be on display.”
    I did promise. We made a pact that we would live a night of debauchery. Not for one minute did I think it would include a tiny red dress.
    Resigned, I push the robe off my shoulders. “Where’s the bra?”
    “Silly, you don’t wear a bra under this dress.”
    A frustrated groan finds its way from the back of my throat. And as a lamb walking to the slaughter, I step into the dress she holds out in front of me.
    I examine my reflection again. The dress has a halter top with a floaty skirt that covers only midway to my thigh. I turn only to see that the bare back dips low and dangerously close to my buttocks.
    Chloe kneels in front of me and slides a pair of silver Louboutin heels on my feet.
    I’ll be lucky to survive my twenty-first birthday without cracking my neck. The stilettos feel several feet high.
    “Now, just like we practiced, confident and elegant.” She stands up and claps her hands. Her Alice complex is growing to unhealthy levels.
    “Not one male in that club will go home without dreaming about getting you in the sack.” She pulls me by the hand toward her bed. “I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
    “Payback is a bitch, Chloe. Wait until you turn twenty-one.”
    Laughter trails her as she goes to get ready.
    For almost an hour, I wait for Chloe. I don’t move a muscle, fearing death if I ruin any of her work.
    Again, I consider the possibilities of tonight. Perhaps it’s time I hook up with a random guy and lose my virginity and all the romantic notions I grew up nursing from reading too many romance novels.
    Or maybe I can just confess the truth. It’s mortifying keeping this from Chloe. Most people have a slew of secrets. Not me. I have two. In my entire life, I managed to collect two secrets. They both haunt me daily. One is