The bell on the door tinkled when I entered and an overly enthused new girl greeted me with a grin. She told me her name was Susan, and that Belinda was on vacation, then mentioned all the new deliveries for the week. Apparently, a set of delicious red lace lingerie arrived that was just my size. She returned with a scarlet red garter, tiny panties, and lace bra. I smiled, and she handed the hanger to me. I took in a breath when I entered the dressing room. After taking off my clothes, I put on the lingerie and stared. The bra could have been made out of tissue paper because it added very little support and didn't even provide coverage. Yes, it was completely see through. I turned around. The silk ran up the cheeks of my ass and barely hung on my hips. Finnley would love this.

I slid off the dainty material and placed the panties and bra back on the hanger. When I returned to the front, Susan knew instantly by the satisfaction on my face that I wanted it.

"Anything else that I should try on?"

"That's the latest thing we received in the store that's your size. If you'd like, I can call you whenever we get new items that would fit."

"Seriously? Yes. I would love that." I wrote my number down on a slip of paper and handed it over to her. Susan smiled.

"And how will you be paying for that today?"

"I will actually be charging it to my account. Jennifer Downs."

After a few clicks, she pulled up the account and her eyebrows smashed together. More taps on the keyboard, a long sigh, and poor Susan became completely flustered.

"What's wrong?"

"Well, I can pull up your account, but it says that it's locked and I don't know why. I'm going to keep searching. I'm so sorry. Do you have another method of payment just in case?"

"Sure. No problem."

As I pulled out my credit card, Susan continued to click rapidly through screens.

"It says that you were suspended from using this account as of Monday due to… termination."

"This is embarrassing. It's just a habit to charge things to my business account. But it's no problem." I slid my credit card across the counter, and Susan swiped it. I signed the slip of paper, and she placed my pretty panties into a pink bag. What an awkward situation. How could I have been so stupid? Geez, I hoped the new girl didn't think I was trying to steal or anything, because that wasn't my intention. Needless to say, I wouldn't be back until Belinda returned.

I couldn't get home quick enough. Home. It felt nice to have a place of my own.

Once I pulled into the driveway, my phone rang and I saw a number that I didn't expect to see.

Abbie.


Ten

I dreaded answering the phone and contemplated sending her to voicemail, but the bullet could only be dodged for so long. She was once my best friend, after all, even though what she did was unforgivable. After a small pep talk, I answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey."

The awkward silence dragged on.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Jenn, I'm so sorry. I had to call and apologize to you. It's been eating me alive."

I didn't respond, so she took the opportunity to continue.

"I've missed you. Some really great things have happened in the last few weeks. I made an A on my senior project, and my professor suggested I try to get my master’s degree soon after graduation. You're my best friend, and we can't keep on like this. I don't want to."

"I…I don't think you understand how much you hurt me. You knew that there was something between Finn and I, Abb. Don't act like you didn't."

"I know. Finnley is just…I know that I fucked up, and that I should have never put myself in that situation. He cares about you, and he was vulnerable, and I hate myself for it. I know you shouldn't forgive me and that you probably don't trust me anymore, but—"

With her words, a car roared down the street. I looked over and saw the slick black hood of V sliding into the driveway. I turned my head and looked at Finn. He smiled as he grabbed something from the passenger seat. My eyes never left him. The way he confidently moved amazed me.

He looked at me and mouthed, 'almost done?'

I shrugged my shoulders and focused on the voice on the line.

"I don't trust you. I don’t want to forgive you, and I shouldn't."

"I know."

"I hated you for weeks. The way you acted, it wasn't like a friend and sure as hell not like my best friend. I didn't know who the fuck you were or who you'd become."

She let out a long sigh.

"I'll try to get over it. That's all I can do."

"I can live with that, for now," she said.

Then, as if nothing ever happened, she fell back into her old routine of changing the subject. I thought about mentioning Finnley and my virginity so that she would know he was mine. I never had a need to protect my assets, especially from her, but with Finn in the picture a part of me needed to.

Finnley looked over at me and gestured for me to hurry so I made up an excuse to get off of the phone. I promised to call her soon. But I wouldn't.

"I'm glad we are starting over. I love you, sis."

"Yeah," I said and hung up the phone.

I got out of the car and walked over to V, where Finnley waited impatiently.

"Get in the car."

I didn't have a chance to ask why. "This better be worth my precious time," I said behind a smile.

"If it's not, I will give you your job back at The Elite."

"Oh. This sounds interesting. Deal."

We took a right on Westwind. Almost every house had small retaining walls outlining the property. Then we made a right and pulled into a car dealership.

"I need to stop here and pick up something quickly. Come with?"

We walked over to the side door of the Aston Martin dealership, and in front of the door was a white Aston Martin with a gigantic red bow tied to the roof. I stopped walking, and he placed his hands on my waist and whispered in my ear, "Congratulations on becoming a woman."

I turned around and stared at him. "What. The. Fuck?"

Finnley burst out laughing.

"Are you serious right now?"

"Aren't I always?" He pulled the key from his pocket and held it out in his palm. When I reached for the key, he pulled me in close to him. "You needed this. Don't act like you didn't. Don't you Americans love your holidays? Why not celebrate losing your virginity?"

I took a step back from him and shook my head. "You're absolutely ridiculous."

"Remember what I said when you drove V? Respect her. Treat her nicely. Control her and she will rock your world. This is my gift to you, Little V."

"I've got my own Aston. Wow." I wrapped my arms around Finn. He leaned down and kissed me so soft and sweet that I thought I might completely lose myself in his embrace. I bit his bottom lip while he ran his fingers through my hair.

"Later," he whispered, then grabbed my hand and dragged me to the car.

"Let's take her for a ride, shall we?"

I placed the key in the ignition, and she purred with satisfaction. A smile spread across my face. Finnley's hand found its way to my thigh, and he smiled too.

"Automatic? No stick?" I asked.

"I thought this would be more comfortable for you."

"I just… I can't believe this is mine."

"I'll give you anything in the world if it will make you happy, Miss Downs."

"I'm sorry, where is Finnley Felton? And what have you done with him?"

The smile stuck to my face, and I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming amount of happiness.

"Should I be fucking offended?"

"Much better," I said. Now, that was the Finnley I loved.

The car took corners and handled like I expected her to. The wind, my emotions, and the rumble of the engine carried me down the street. Houses passed by us, and I zipped between cars while I changed lanes. The open freeway called my name. I accelerated to ninety miles per hour, and rolled over mile five. I could have driven this car to Texas and back, but I took the exit and looped back onto the freeway heading toward the dealership.

"I still can't believe you did this for me."

"Why not? The Honda is quite embarrassing. That car is not you."

"And this one is?"

"It's bitchy, fierce, and sexy."

I reached over and interlocked my fingers with his. Finnley's thumb trailed over mine. How could I be so lucky to have him like this, sweet and intimate? It may not be love, but this 'like' I could get used to.

"It all seems like too much."

"Oh, I've deducted the amount from the balance I owe you for fucking your socks off. Actually, I think we're even now."

He gently massaged my neck as we pulled into the dealership. Finnley walked around to the driver's side. I rolled down the window, and he leaned in, bringing his face close to mine.

"You and Little V were made for each other."

"Are we?"

"That's still to be determined."

He took his time tracing my bottom lip with his thumb then turned and walked away. Sometimes I didn't know Finnley, and other times I knew exactly who he was. Sugar and spice, confidence and beauty, all mixed into a single man. He should be illegal.

V pulled out of the drive, and I zoomed past him, allowing him to eat my dust. At the light, I looked over as he revved his engine. Of course he would beat me, he always did.

Once back at the townhouse, I placed my keys on the counter. A few minutes later, Finnley entered. How the hell did I beat him here?