Page 19 of What I Like About You

“Really.”

“Okay,” she agreed sheepishly.

“Good. Then we need to get you a dress!”

The rest of the afternoon had been a dream, even if it had included hours of being pinched and pricked by Posey and her staff as they fitted and measured her for a dress. Zara worried that it was too much to ask they have it done in a week, but Dalton assured her that Posey had said it wasn’t a problem. After the dress shop, he’d dragged her to her favorite salon for a consultation on hair and makeup, and made sure that she had appointments set up for the day of to be properly pampered. He’d left absolutely no detail unseen, and she’d never felt so special.

Sure enough, the dress was done in time and fit her like a glove. Standing in front of the full-length mirror in her bedroom, she felt like a princess in the ice-blue bejeweled gown and a sparkly tiara on her head. As she walked down the stairs to greet Dalton, she had heard her mother gasp, and she couldn’t help but blush.

“You look just like Galinda,” Dalton whispered in her ear as her mother took photos in front of the grand staircase. The butterflies in her tummy fluttered a little harder at the mention of one of her favorite theatrical characters. She’d dragged him to see Wicked last year, and while he hadn’t complained too much, she hadn’t realized he was paying close enough attention to remember what color the good witch’s dress was.

The candy apple red 1950s Rolls-Royce that had been waiting outside to take them to the hotel downtown took Zara’s breath away. The car shimmered in the setting sunlight, looking as if it were brand-new off the lot rather than something that had been restored.

“You always say that limos are boring, so I thought this might be more fun,” Dalton said, helping her into the car.

“Tripp, this is a dream come true,” she responded.

“Night’s just getting started, beautiful.”

True to his words, Dalton made sure the night played out exactly how Zara had always dreamed. He’d picked out the entree that he knew she liked when he’d bought their event tickets, yet still offered to switch meals with her if she didn’t like it, and kept her in constant supply of Shirley Temples so she didn’t even have to get up from the table. The only downside had been having to sit with Dalton’s popular buddies and their dates, who were polite enough to her face, but Zara could tell felt like she didn’t belong there with them. But once dinner was over, they’d been out on the dance floor, laughing and making fools of themselves. Dalton only seemed to have eyes for her, turning down every other girl who came and asked him to dance. It made her feel so special, like she was the only girl in the room. The whole thing was a dream come true.

After taking a break to use the ladies’ room and catch her breath, Zara made her way back over to find Dalton. She found him standing just outside the ballroom with Chet and Jonah. Zara had never been a fan of either of them. After all, they were usually part of the group mocking her for something, but she knew that he was close with them, and she wasn’t about to begrudge him that.

“I still don’t understand why you brought Shamu,” Chet said. “You could have had anyone you wanted!”

As soon as Zara heard Chet’s voice, she ducked behind a fake bush up against the wall. She knew she should walk up to them and grab Dalton so they could head back to the dance floor, but she was interested in what they had to say. She wanted to hear him defend her and put them all in their place.

“And what if I told you that I’m with the girl I want?” Dalton responded, and Zara smiled to herself. This was the guy she knew.

“Dude, you are not. I know you two have a weird little thing going. But there is no way you want Shamu,” Jonah said.

“Don’t call her that.”

“You’re up to something, I know it,” Jonah said, egging him on.

“Am I?” Dalton retorted.

“You’ve got a plan…”

“I do…” he said.

“You gonna tell us?” Chet asked.

“Fine,” Dalton relented. “But this stays here. I got us a room for the night. So, once we’re done here, gonna take her upstairs and cash in her V-card.”

Zara couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Dalton sounded so callous and distant, not at all like the caring, loveable guy she knew him to be. Is this how he was when he was with the guys? Was this the real him? And did he really just say what she thought he did? He wanted to take her virginity?

“You’re not really gonna fuck Shamu!” Jonah laughed.

“Sure I am,” he insisted.

“Dude, you’re a braver man than me. I don’t think I could look at it. Talk about a boner killer,” Chet said through his own laughter.

“Whatever,” Dalton shrugged. “Flip her over and shut out the lights, it’ll be like any other pussy…”

Zara felt all the air disappear from her lungs. It was like a ton of bricks had suddenly dropped on her chest and the room started to spin. Just like any other pussy? That’s what this had all been about? Tears stung her eyes just thinking about it. He’d gone to all that trouble just to get her into bed. All this time, he was playing her. He was just like the rest of the popular group, and she was just a joke to him. The chubby girl that no one could ever love. She’d trusted him, let him into her life, all so he could brag about taking her virginity.

She needed to get out of here. Turning quickly to get away, she knocked over the fake plant that had been concealing her. The sound of the planter toppling over caught the attention of the guys, and all three turned around to see her there, fighting back the tears.