Chapter 5 The white dress

I am hiding in my room for the rest of the day. I only walk downstairs when Mum calls me to have lunch with them.

Ethan and Spencer talk mostly. They share their ideas about their future. Both want to be advocates, and they think Yale is the best university to help them realize their dreams.

"Good. I can't wait for you to join me in business," Dad says to them with a smile. Mum smiles widely as well and nods her head.

"What do you think, Cora? Maybe after you finish school, you could follow us." Spencer says, which makes me lift my head. Glancing at my father, I see his face changing, disliking the idea. However, I can't answer. What could I say to that? No, because I don't want to see you with another, get married, and have a lovely family where I could be a sister-in-law and auntie. I would instead move far from here and live my life alone.

"Leave her alone, Spencer." Mum pats my hand with a smile. "She is very sad you are leaving."

I suddenly looked at Mum. How come she understands what is going on in my head? I have always loved Mum, but this time, I was a little afraid of her realizing my feelings toward my brother.

I smile and sigh.

Spencer and Ethan stare at me like they don't understand, but their expressions change in seconds. They look guilty.

"In the blink of an eye, you will also go to university. You will make new friends, and we will need to make an appointment to see you," Ethan says.

I smile at them and then continue eating. They expect me to say something, but I have nothing to say.

After lunch, we went outside a bit. They chatted about the boy's future while I sat quietly. After an hour, the boys stood up. They needed to go upstairs to pack their stuff. Mum reminded them to pack everything necessary.

The evening comes quickly, and everyone enters their rooms to get ready. Mum and Dad booked a table in the best restaurant in Los Angeles, so we also needed to look perfect.

When I go to my room, I feel anxious. I go to my dressing room, and I check my dresses. They are all costly and beautiful. When we bought them with Mum, she asked a stylist to accompany us. He chose dresses that followed my lines gently, but they hid my curves and made me look a bit thinner.

I choose a dark green dress, and I hang it out before I head to the bathroom to take a shower. I get out when someone knocks on my door. I open it. It is Mum.

"Are you ready, darling?" She asks, which makes me frown.

"Is it that late?" I asked, but Mum shook her head.

"No, but you need to hurry. I will help you."

She asks me to sit down, then does my hair, putting it in a nice bun. Then, she does my makeup.

"What dress will you wear, darling?" She asks.

"The green one." Then I turned to look at it.

"Good choice, but isn't it a little dark?"

"I like this colour," I said.

"I think a lighter one would make you look better."

I shrugged my shoulders and watched Mum choose another dress for me. She chose a white one with a shorter skirt.

"I think that would look better on you."

"It doesn't cover much," I say, but she shakes her head.

"It covers just enough." She says, then she walks to me with the dress in her hand. "Darling, you are a beautiful young lady with nothing to hide."

"I am fat," I stated, but Mum rolled her eyes.

"You are not fat. You have just got some weight on, but that doesn't change the fact you are gorgeous. Put this on. Let me see if it fits you."

I take the dress, and I put it on. My mum claps her hands.

"You look gorgeous in it." She says, holding my hand to pull me to the mirror.

"Look!" she says. When I check myself, I have to admit that Mum is right. Even if the dress doesn't make me look thinner, somehow, it makes my shape acceptable. I nod with a smile.

"I like it, Mum. Thank you," I said, and Mum moved closer to kiss my face.

"Okay, darling. We need to leave in half an hour. I will leave you alone now, and we will meet downstairs, " she says, leaving my room.

I only think of Spencer's reaction as I watch myself in the mirror. Will he like my appearance? Will my appearance make him think of me the way I feel about him?

Then, my thoughts darkened when I recalled Carla having fun in a bikini. I remember the moment when she was dancing with Spencer, pushing her butt into his lower abdomen, and Spencer enjoyed that.

I suddenly returned to reality when I remembered I must have been down in time. I checked the time, and I still had five minutes. I take my bag that goes well with my shoes and put a few things in it. I have a last look in the mirror; then I leave my room.

The stairs were safe, but I didn't want to fall because of my heels, so I walked slowly. When I got to the living room, everyone was already there. However, I got the reaction I hoped for when I stepped in. The boys looked at me, stunned, but only Spencer's response counted for me. He looked at me with an adorable smile, making me feel the butterflies in my stomach again.

"Hey, Georges!" Ethan steps next to me and offers his hand for me to hold. I accept it, even if I want Spencer to hold my hand.

"If we are all ready, then we can leave," Dad says coldly, and we all head to the car.

I sit between the boys, and even though we can sit comfortably, I try to sit close to Spencer. My leg touches his, but he doesn't move. Instead of that, he rests his hand on my thigh.