Good Game (The System, #1) (24)
I catch a flash of gold and pause, pulling the gown from the rack. It’s a gold-toned, sequin-embellished fishtail dress. In other words, it’s gorgeous.
I peek at the price tag.
Forty-three hundred dollars.
My lips purse. It’s a little pricier than I wanted for this event, but money is nothing if it means I look better than everyone else. Plus, Father had wired six thousand for the dress, so this leaves me with some cushion to buy a hot pair of stilettos with which I can stomp all over Felicity.
Okay, my bitterness toward her might just border on plain hatred at this point.
There is just something about someone who makes it their entire life’s mission to outdo you when you have never been anything but nice to them that just sends you a little over the edge. I tried being her friend, invited her to events, and even hung out with her. She used every little thing against me, turned every situation into an opportunity to climb the ladder above me. Her personality is toxic. Thankfully, I’ve always been able to outmaneuver her. Well, until she finally managed to sleep with Chase. I really didn’t think that would happen. An oversight on my behalf that Chase wouldn’t someday give in to her open legs.
Which is why I need to kick ass at this party.
Now, I just have to pray that this dress fits me. As gorgeous as a dress looks on the hanger, you never know how that’s going to translate on your body.
I turn to look for the dressing room and bump into a hard body. A strong, tattooed hand comes down to steady me.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise.”
My body shivers as the voice runs over me, and I look up into a pair of deep emerald eyes. His mouth is broken out in a smile, and I feel mine pulling to match.
“Aleksander.”
Somehow, Aleksander’s grin gets even wider after I say his name, his left dimple becoming more pronounced. It’s an adorable smile, completely at odds with the rest of his look. He is wearing a plain black tee that shows off his tattooed, muscular arms—arms I am becoming unnaturally obsessed with—ripped black jeans, and cobalt Odissea sneakers. He looks hot again. Of course.
This guy oozes sex appeal in the way you only read about in books or see in movies. He could probably knock me up with a single look. Utterly mesmerizing.
“Stevie.”
Oh, thank god, he remembers my name.
“That’s quite the dress you’ve got there.”
I bristle at the comment, shoulder raising. “What? Too much?”
“Not at all. It seems like a showstopper.”
The tension melts away with relief at his response. I’m so used to my mother telling me that my dress choices are “too loud,” that my brain instantly reverts to that expectation.
“Thank you, I have an event coming up. I was just about to try it on.” I pause. Screw it. “Would you mind giving me a second opinion?”
Surprise flashes in his eyes before a lopsided grin steals onto his face.
“I would be honored.” He winks at me before guiding me over to the dressing rooms I had been searching for.
I peek at him from the corner of my eye. His arms are sexy as hell, veins peeking out from the taut muscles. The leather jacket he wore the other day hid the strength he was packing underneath…that and the extra tattoos. They look like the patchwork kind; a bunch of different small tattoos dot his arms. I can see an intricate sword tattoo that disappears under the sleeve of his T-shirt. The linework is gorgeous. Tattoo artists truly are in a league of their own.
My eyes snag on a small scar by his eyebrow before tracing down his sharp jawline. He wears a small black hoop through his left lobe with a chain that is cuffed to the top of his ear. God. He really is dangerously handsome. With his soft, fluffy hair, he gives off boy-next-door meets delinquent-skater-boy vibes. Like he is the kind of guy who would rail you in the backseat of his car before heading inside the house to charm the pants off your parents at dinner. Well, maybe not my parents. They’d probably have a heart attack at the sight of him.
My abdomen clenches.
Great, now I’m picturing him railing me in the backseat of a car.
“Are you getting your car fixed?”
I startle at his question. “My car?”
He laughs at me. “Yeah, the car you crashed.”
Right. Right.
“I’m bringing it in to get repaired soon. It’s a pain, but they should give me a loan car while they fix it.” In all honesty, I haven’t called the dealership yet and I’m dreading it. Paying to fix cars is one of the worst things in the world. It costs a stupid amount of money.
“That’s good.” He hums.
We finally make it to the changing rooms and the woman managing it gives me a smile that could reach the moon with how large it is.
“Hi, just one item today?” She chirps.
“Just the one.”
“Perfect, you can use the room over here.” She gestures behind her.
Aleksander gives my shoulder a small squeeze. “I’ll just wait outside. Let me know when you’re ready.”
“Thanks, Aleksander.”
“Just Aleks is fine.” He winks.
“Alright, Aleks.” My mouth tips into a small smile before I follow the employee. She leads me around the corner to a dressing room, unlocking the door for me. “Would you like me to get you a pair of heels to try on with the dress so you can check the length?”