If I Return Read Free Page A

here with you.”
    Audrey sighs dramatically and flops over on her back. She even pouts a little. “I know... I just want my baby sister to have fun. I want you step outside the box a little.”
    “I know. And I love you for it. I’ll compromise though. I’ll go to some of the events with you, as long as you respect my need to have some quiet time, okay?”
    She flashes me a brilliant smile as she leaps from the bed. Giving me a huge hug, she lays a wet kiss on my cheek. “Awesome. We’re going to have so much fun together this week.”

 
     
     
     
     

     
    The Great Hall is crowded and I’m nervous about meeting all of Audrey’s friends. I’ve met Jenna a few times, and her fiancé, Landon, once. But past that, I don’t know any of these people.
    When I agreed to come down for drinks tonight, Audrey took it upon herself to spit-shine me. After I took a shower, she fussed and fretted over my hair and makeup for a full hour. My scalp is still slightly sore from the mauling that took place. She then proceeded to dress me in her clothes, proclaiming my baggy jeans and sweaters were not appropriate for a posh, winter resort like The Montgrove.
    I have to admit, though... I do look nice. For the first time, I would not describe myself as average. I think I’m slightly above right now. I will never have Audrey’s natural beauty or confident walk, but as I gazed in the bathroom mirror just a bit ago, I have to admit I’m pleased by the results. Audrey tediously blew out my long hair with the dryer and a large brush, so it was glossy and full of bounce. The makeup she put on me was subtle, all except for my eyes, which she lined with dark kohl. For the first time, I saw more green than mud irises staring back at me. She has me wearing a pair of black leggings with shiny, black riding boots. The scarlet, cashmere sweater that hangs off both of my shoulders gives me an air of sophistication that even I didn’t know I possessed.
    As we walk toward a large crowd hanging out around the bar, I nervously start to fidget and my palms grow sweaty.
    “Stop pulling on your sweater,” Audrey hisses in my ear.
    “I can’t help it. My shoulders are naked and I’m not used to that.”
    “You look stunning, and every guy here is going to have his tongue hanging out when they get a peep at you.”
    That thought does not inspire confidence in me. Instead, it just ratchets my nervousness up to Defcon 5. Maybe this was a bad idea. I stop walking and Audrey turns to look at me. She must see the indecision on my face because she grabs my hand and forcefully pulls me along.
    “Don’t even think about bailing. In fact, I’m going to pour a few drinks down your throat right away so we can loosen you up a bit.”
    Audrey leads me through the crowd, nodding at people in greeting, stopping to give air kisses to some of the girls, and even suffering a hard slap on her ass by one of the men in the crowd, to which she just gives a saucy wink back to the offender.
    Once at the bar, Audrey orders us two gin and tonics, a drink I’ve never had before, but I accept it gratefully. After my first sip, which burns like hell going down, I nervously take in my surroundings. There must be a crowd of thirty or so people standing around us, and they all seem to know one another. I see Jenna and Landon standing together, his arms wrapped around her waist. I take another slug of my drink and, while it still tastes like gasoline, I won’t deny I like the warm feeling in my belly that’s starting to set in.
    “Now there’s the sexiest, hottest FSU grad I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.”
    I hear those words and, for just an instant—a split second really—I think someone is talking about me, because...well, I’m an FSU grad. But as I turn around, I see Audrey is being lifted up by a bear of a man and hugged tightly. She squeals in delight and hugs the guy back. When he puts her down, Audrey turns to me.
    “Hope... I want you to meet a