Freefall (Santa Cruz Skydivers Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

lipstick to finish my look. Completing my outfit, Lili lent me a black clutch handbag. Just as I did a final go-over in my mirror, our taxicab arrived to take us to the function.
    Considering all that had transpired, we ended up only being an hour late when we opened the door to the Hilton Santa Cruz function room.
    “I thought you said this was semi-formal,” I hissed at Lili under my breath as we stood in the doorway. There were easily two hundred people in the room, all dressed immaculately in formal wear.
    I looked down at my dress and immediately felt severely outdated and underdressed. The hem on my dress stopped at the knees while all the women inside, like Lili, were dressed head to toe in current season designer floor-length gowns, and the men were all fitted out in tuxes and ties. I stood out like dog’s balls on an uncastrated mutt.
    She replied in the same hushed tone. “That’s what Scotty told me. Clearly, these women are professional socialites.”
    “Clearly. At least you look like you could belong here. Your dress is gorgeous and mine, uh, not so much.”
    “You don’t look that bad. You look very pretty. You never give yourself enough credit.”
    “Um, yeah, I do. I give myself plenty of credit. I’m just a realist.” Besides, I didn’t want to look pretty. I wanted to look gorgeous. I took another look down at the lace-frilled dated piece I was wearing and wished the floor would open up and swallow me before anyone noticed me. Perhaps this dress would have looked fashionable in the 80s. Who was I kidding? This would never have been in fashion. I wondered if it was too late to bail?
    Scotty rushed up to us before I could make my getaway, and grabbed Lili around the waist, kissing her firmly on the mouth. He broke for air. “Finally you girls made it. Babe, you look so sexy.”
    I may have been mistaken, but I’m sure he growled in her ear. Eww. Scotty wasn’t exactly a turn-on for me. Weird Al’s song “White and Nerdy” shamefully started playing in my head. I chastised myself for being so cruel. He was a great guy and treated Lili like a princess, even if she didn’t treat him the same in return.
    Unsurprisingly, Lili pushed him away and dabbed at her lipstick. “Sorry we’re late. Andi had a wardrobe malfunction.”
    I couldn’t help but notice the way he looked at her. His eyes devoured her. I didn’t blame him. She looked sexy. I, on the other hand, looked as plain as usual next to her. But after years of being her friend, I was used to that.
    “Um, hi, Andi.” Scotty finally greeted me after he had finished ogling his girlfriend. “You look, um, great too.”
    I looked at Lili and raised my eyebrows in a silent “told you so” at Scotty’s obvious attempt at a compliment to make me feel better.
    “Shut up,” I retorted. “I put my heel through the pants I had planned to wear. This is my mother’s. Just point me to the bar so I can get drunk and forget I even agreed to come here.”
    “Bar is over that way.” He pointed to the other side of the room then leaned down and gave Lili another quick kiss, but this time, she managed to turn her head so he kissed her cheek instead. “I’ve got to keep on the move, babe. A lot of important people here tonight. I’ll grab you later and introduce you to my editor. Have fun, girls.”
    Before he left, he quickly snapped a photo of us together. I so hoped he didn’t submit that for use in the social pages. Last thing I wanted was everyone in the Santa Cruz area seeing me dressed in my mother’s Sunday best.
    “Come on.” I grabbed Lili by her hand and pulled her toward the place Scotty had pointed to. “I need a drink, pronto. I’m thinking tequila will do the trick.”
    “Not so fast,” she complained, tugging me back. “These shoes are hideously high, and this dress is not made for running. One false move and this split will reach my belly button.”
    We both laughed at her joke. I slowed down nevertheless, which