Slow Burn Read Free Page A

me up and down.  “Very hot.  You should definitely get it.  But that can’t be your only set.  I’m gonna go find you a few more things to try on.  Be right back.”
    Before I can stop her, she opens the door—wide—and saunters out.  Before she shuts it behind her, I can distinctly see a guy waiting at the entrance of the changing rooms, craning his neck at an unnatural angle to gawk at me.  I jump forward, and slam the door shut.
    Sighing, I stare at my reflection again.  Okay, well…I guess it’s sexy.
    I’m not self-conscious about my looks.  Enough people have told me that I’m pretty, that I’d have to believe it—or be deliberately obtuse.  But I also realize that I’m far from the most attractive thing out there.  Basically, I’m pretty enough to get hit on by guys, but not enough to be seen as a threat by the most popular girls at my school.  Which is okay by me.
      I’ve been told I look like a living doll, with my big cat-shaped dark eyes, little nose, and big pouty lips. Johnny calls me Teeny for a reason—I’m only 5’3” with a slight build that I like to whimsically describe as wood nymph-ish—but others call scrawny.  I know I look deceivingly delicate and fragile, but I’m actually pretty strong.  I enjoy playing sports, and I’ve got these bony knuckles—I pack a mean punch.
    Okay, I lied when I said I wasn’t self-conscious about my looks.  If there’s one thing…it’s my head.  It’s big.  Like, I’m pretty sure I resemble a lollipop at times.  My mother told me that when I was a baby, my height and weight were in the fifteenth percentile, but my head was in the ninety-fifth!  Nothing was wrong with me—they monitored my growth, and it turned out I just had a giant melon.  I wasn’t self-conscious about it until she told me that story—then I looked in the mirror and—gack!  Pumpkin head! 
    I used to wear hats, because I thought it would cover up my deformity, but it wasn’t until Heather finally told me that they only brought attention to my big head that I realized my mistake.  So, now, I just keep my blonde hair straight and down to my butt, hoping to cover up my insecurity with a whole lot of hair.  People don’t even really notice until I point it out, then they’re like, “No, your head’s perfectly…oh.”  And then they trail off because they can see what I’m saying.  I guess the big head contributes to my doll-like appearance, but damn, some days I feel like a member of the lollipop guild.
     
    “Grooming issues,” Heather says absently after I’ve dressed and joined her at the display of bras.
    “What about them?”
    “Are you going to shave it?” she asks, point blank.  “I mean, it’s fine now, but if you want to go for the wow factor, maybe you should consider the—”
    “No!” I say hastily.  “ Can you hold this?  I have to go find a bathroom again.”
    She shakes her head.  “S houldn’t have drank all that lemonade.”
    “Yup.” 
    I throw my lingerie over her arm, and scurry out to find a restroom.  I hate my nervous bladder.
    Afterwards, I start walking, so preoccupied with my thoughts that I don’t realize I’ ve passed the store a while back.  I turn abruptly—and smack right into a solid chest.
    Strong arms reach out to steady me.  “Whoa, you okay?” a familiar male voice asks, sounding amused.
    “I’m sorry!” I gas p.  Then I look up at an adorable face with twinkling blue eyes.  “Rob!”
    “Hey, there, Juliet.  It’s been a while.”  Heather’s auburn haired brother greets me with a smile.
    “Yeah.”  I laugh self-consciously, untangling myself from his arms.  “How are you?  How’s college life treating you?”
    “Good, and good.”  He runs a hand through his hair and gives me a quick scan from head to foot.  “What about you?  What have you been up to?”
    “I’m doing good,” I say inanely.  I gesture at nothing.  “I’m here with Heather.  We’ve