Page 2 of Under the Boardwalk

“Why the hell not? Is it what Skid Mark said? Girl, let me tell you, that little boy knows about as much about dressing as he does about women. My guess is he couldn't find the hole, much less the sweet spot. Don't let him get to you.”

I smile at her words and almost snort at the nickname she gave Jackson. I can just imagine his face getting redder and redder at using the name. He’d hate it.

“I was just being silly, anyway. I should probably get back to watching the register,” I say, trying to get out of embarrassing myself more than I already have.

“Oh, no you don't, girly. I could see it in your eyes. You wanted to rock that dress. You can bury it, but I’ve already seen it, and I'm determined to drag that bitch out kicking and screaming,” she says, causing me to chuckle. I slap my hand over my face, hoping that it wasn't loud enough for my brother to hear. I don't want him to ruin this moment.

“Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me?” I ask, letting my insecurities show, but I can't take being the butt of another joke.

“Because I saw the smile on your face before the ass weasel opened his blubber hole,” she says, shooting a glare toward where he walked off. Again, I have to hold in the laughter.

I walk over to the rack and pick up the dress again, feeling the soft fabric and letting it run through my fingers.

“If I wore this out in public, everyone would stare,” I say, already feeling my cheeks heat at the thought. There is no way I would survive the stares.

“So let ‘em,” she shrugs. I bite my lip and duck my head.

“I couldn't handle that. There is no way I could ever go out in public after that dress again,” I tell her.

“Okay, then we give you a whole makeover. Hmm…” she says, tapping her chin with her finger and looking around the store. “We have a lot to work with here. What do you say to a wig? We can make you a whole new person. Go out, see how unscary it is when people see you coming, then come home and turn back into a pumpkin if you want, but you owe it to yourself to at least try.”

“I wouldn't even know how to act.”

“Well, that's what you got me for. What's the deal, anyway?” she asks.

“Jackson? Oh, that's just my brother doing brotherly things. He always makes sure I know the truth about the way I look,” I say flippantly. Brothers are supposed to be mean to their sisters, right?

“Brothers are supposed to pick on you in jest and protect you from all the bad. I would have thought he was your arch-nemesis. But that's not what I meant. I meant the dress? Why don't you want to wear it out? Or heck, try it on? What are you so scared of? Others to see your greatness?” she smiles at me, and I don't know why, but for the first time, I want to tell someone. I’ve been keeping it in my for so long.

“I’m really good at blending in, and that’s how I like it. I don't want attention or people to stare at me. Well, not everyone. There's this one guy that I wish would notice me. That was my first thought when I saw the dress, but now I know it was a stupid idea…” She interrupts me before I can finish.

“Why the heck would that be a stupid idea? Though I will say I don’t approve of changing your appearance for no man. Especially one too ignorant to notice you just the way you are.”

“Oh, no, no, it's not like that. I purposely hide myself, and Rylie doesn't notice anything or anyone around him. His head is always stuck in a book. He barely pays attention to his best friends,” I say, trying to defend him. She raises an eyebrow at me before continuing.

“Well, if you want him to notice you. Let’s give him a reason to,” she says, looking at me with a sort of evil genius smile.

“What do you have in mind?” I ask nervously.

“Oh, don’t you worry! I’m going to take care of everything,” she says, rubbing her hands together.

Maybe it’s crazy to trust a complete stranger to play my fairy godmother, but I’m so tired of blending in. I’m tired of being overlooked and ignored by the one person I can’t seem to get out of my head. I want to be brave. I want to be strong. I want to be confident for once in my life.

So I shrug and reply, “Do your worst.”

Famous last words

Chapter Two

Riley

I sigh again as we make our way through the carnival along the boardwalk. Hanging out with the boys looks a bit different these days, mainly in the addition of the two women who have seemed to take over the hearts of Grayson and Kas. Don’t get me wrong, I love it for them. I’ve never seen either of them as happy as they have been the last few weeks. Still, I don’t know why I had to be dragged out just to watch the show. I have the latest Alexander Romano mystery novel at home on my nightstand I could be getting lost in. Instead, I’m stuck riding rides and watching two of my friends make complete idiots of themselves trying to win prizes from these rigged carnival games just because their girls wanted a stuffed prize.

“Come on, man, don’t be such a stick in the mud,” Beck says, bumping shoulders with mine. I glare at him because he is the real reason I’m here right now.

I had opted out of coming tonight. Totally fine with letting the happy couples spend a romantic night on the Ferris wheel. Instead, Beck tagged along and gave me the guilt trip until I came too. He didn’t want to stay home but didn’t want to come and be the fifth wheel. That leads us to now. Beck and I are on a date as my boys swoon over their girls. Oh, and did I mention that my date decided he’d rather be entertained by garbage?

“Oh, come on, guys…” Beck pleads, gagging and retching dramatically. “I can’t go on those spinning things again,” he pleads, hugging the trash can before throwing up again. None of us feel bad for him, though. It’s his own fault.