Wicked Attraction

Chapter Three

"Hey girl!" Sasha announced brightly as Hazel tossed her overnight bag into the back seat of Sasha's brand-new Camaro.

The car had been a gift from her dad when she graduated from high school.

It was a vivid cherry red, polished so perfectly that it shimmered beneath the afternoon sun.

Its silver rims gleamed with every turn, catching flashes of light like mirrors.

Inside, the sleek black leather seats still carried that faint new-car scent, soft and smooth. But what made the car even more unique was what sat wrapped around the steering wheel — a pink sparkly cover covered in tiny rhinestones that glittered every time the light hit it.

Hazel had worked countless extra shifts at the local diner to afford it. Some nights she came home exhausted, her feet aching after hours of balancing trays and wiping down counters, but she never complained. Every tip she tucked away brought her closer to buying the gift she knew Sasha would adore.

Sasha’s birthday had only been a week ago, but Hazel could still picture the expression on her face when she pulled the steering wheel cover from the gift bag. Her eyes lit up instantly, a wide smile stretching across her face as she held it up like it was the most precious thing in the world.

“It’s perfect,” she’d whispered, already slipping it onto the wheel before the wrapping paper had even settled onto the floor.

The gift hadn’t cost much, not compared to the expensive things other people had bought her, but Hazel understood something most people didn’t — Sasha treasured meaning more than money. The simplest gifts, when given with love, always became her favorites.

And every time Sasha drove that bright red car, hands resting against the sparkling pink wheel cover, Hazel felt warmth spread through her chest knowing she’d put that smile there.

"Hey," Hazel replied, far less enthusiastically as she slid into the passenger seat.

Sasha shot her a knowing look as she pulled away from the curb. "Not exactly excited about starting a new chapter of our lives?"

"Not exactly excited about listening to teachers talk for another 6 hours a day," Hazel replied honestly.

Sasha laughed.

But after a moment, Hazel added, "The good part is that we'll be there together. That makes it a little less terrifying."

That seemed to brighten her mood, if only slightly.

"Exactly," Sasha said, flashing her signature grin. "Besides, imagine how awful it would be if we had to do this separately."

Hazel shuddered at the thought. College without Sasha was not a scenario she cared to imagine. Sasha had been her constant for so long that the idea of navigating something as overwhelming as a first day of college alone felt almost impossible.

"So," Sasha said, her voice taking on the mischievous tone Hazel knew all too well, "to celebrate this exciting new chapter, I have a plan."

Hazel narrowed her eyes immediately. "That sentence alone makes me nervous."

"You'll love it."

"I highly doubt that."

Sasha only grinned wider as she turned onto the highway — very much not in the direction of her house.

Hazel straightened in her seat. "Where are we going?"

"To the mall."

Hazel stared at her in horror. "What?"

"Yep. You and I are going shopping. We're getting you some new outfits that actually show off your amazing figure, and then I'm giving you a full makeover."

Hazel let out a groan. "I don't need new clothes, Sash, and I definitely don't need a makeover."

"Yes, you do."

"Sasha—"

"While you somehow manage to look adorable in oversized hoodies and your brothers' hand-me-down sweats, those clothes do absolutely nothing for you. You've been hiding behind baggy fabric for years. It's time to let the world see what you've been concealing."

Hazel crossed her arms. "I like my clothes."

"And I like your curves. More specifically, I think the rest of humanity deserves to appreciate them too."

Hazel snorted despite herself.

"Besides," Sasha continued, "college is a fresh start. New school, new experiences, and maybe even a new wardrobe."

"I don't have money for a whole new wardrobe."

Sasha waved a dismissive hand. "Lucky for you, I borrowed my dad's credit card."

She even added air quotes around borrowed, causing the car to drift slightly in its lane.

"Jesus, Sash! Hands on the wheel!" Hazel yelped, grabbing the dashboard.

Sasha laughed and corrected the car. "Relax. I've got this."

Hazel considered protesting further, but experience had taught her that arguing with Sasha Roman was about as effective as yelling at the wind. Once Sasha had an idea in her head, it was happening — whether Hazel approved or not.

So Hazel sank back into the soft leather seat, already resigned to her fate.

She hated shopping.

Truly, deeply hated it.

Given the choice, she'd much rather spend the day curled up at home with a good book, wrapped in a blanket, and blissfully ignoring the outside world. Shopping involved bright lights, endless choices, uncomfortable dressing rooms, and far too many people zipping about, hyped up on caffeine. It was, in her opinion, one of civilization's crueler inventions.

Her usual wardrobe reflected this philosophy perfectly. Why buy fashionable clothes when her brothers' oversized shirts and hoodies were infinitely more comfortable?

But unfortunately for her, Sasha did not share this perspective.

By the time they pulled into the crowded mall parking lot, Hazel could already feel her anxiety beginning to creep in. Her stomach tightened as she looked at the sea of cars and the steady stream of people moving in and out of the building.

Crowds had never been her thing. Too much noise. Too many strangers. Too many opportunities to feel both invisible and exposed at the same time.

She took a slow breath as Sasha parked the Camaro.

She could already feel the exhaustion taking over.

But then Sasha turned to her, eyes sparkling with excitement, and Hazel felt some of her dread soften.

Because Sasha was more than just her best friend — she was the person who knew Hazel better than anyone else in the world, outside of her family. Maybe even better than Hazel knew herself sometimes.

Sasha had seen every side of her: the awkward, anxious, overthinking parts she tried so hard to hide from everyone else. She knew Hazel's fears, her insecurities, her dreams, and all the little pieces of herself that Hazel rarely shared with anyone.

There were no masks between them. No pretending. No carefully constructed walls.

And somehow, Sasha always seemed to know the things Hazel never said out loud.

Including the fact that Hazel had been harboring a massive, wildly inappropriate crush on her father for years.

Hazel had never actually confessed it. She hadn't needed to. Sasha had figured it out on her own, as she always did. One look at Hazel's face whenever Alexander Roman entered the room was all the evidence anyone would need.

After all, Hazel's expressive dark brown eyes had never been very good at keeping secrets — especially not from Sasha. Not even the thick frames of her glasses could hide the way they widened, softened, or followed her father around.

It was actually hilarious how Hazel thought she was being subtle about it.

She never gave her any grief, though. She knew that someday, when Hazel was actually ready to confess, she would.

Hazel stared at the crowded entrance of the mall. The last day of vacation seemed to bring out almost everyone in the city.

This mall was the largest one around and easily the liveliest.

Hazel let out a small groan before opening her car door.

The car parked beside her held a woman juggling far too much at once — a small boy, an infant, and a whiny teenage girl prancing around complaining about something her mother probably refused to buy.

The poor woman looked overwhelmed.

Hazel felt something twist in her chest when she saw the woman struggling to get the stroller folded down.

Without hesitation, she jumped out and held the car door open for her. Then she moved straight to the stroller, not even bothering to ask if the woman needed help before springing into action.

Hazel pressed the button, and the stroller snapped neatly into place.

The woman gave her a weak smile. “Thank you.”

Hazel helped lift the stroller into the trunk before softly saying, “You’re doing a great job.”

The woman’s expression immediately changed, her tired face breaking into a full smile.

Hazel could tell she really needed to hear that.

Just then, Sasha walked up.

Her attention immediately landed on the teenage girl.

“Jasmin, right?”

The girl nodded, shock written all over her face. Sasha must’ve known her from school.

“You think it’s right that your mom has to do everything while you stand around whining and pouting over stupid stuff?”

Jasmin’s face shifted from smug to nervous in seconds.

“Did your mom buy your school supplies?”

Jasmin nodded slowly.

“So why are you still complaining?” Sasha crossed her arms. “Did it ever occur to you that maybe your mom doesn’t have that kind of money right now?”

The girl looked down.

“How about helping her out with your little brother for once and fixing that attitude?”

Sasha’s voice hardened.

“Otherwise, I’ll tell Nicole to cut you from the team. I still have her number, so don’t think I won’t.”

Hazel turned toward the mother.

The woman’s jaw had practically dropped open.

“Help her. Now,” Sasha said sharply.

Jasmin immediately rushed over, taking her younger brother’s hand while helping with the infant carrier.

“I—I don’t know who you girls are,” the woman said shakily, “but thank you so much.”

“You don’t deserve that,” Sasha replied, her voice softer this time.

She pulled out her phone and held it toward the woman.

“Put your number in. I’ll text you so you have mine. If she starts acting up again, call me.”

Then Sasha looked back at Jasmin.

“You act up, your mom’s got my number now.”

Jasmin swallowed hard.

“And just so you know,” Sasha continued, “there’s no room on the squad for bullies. I’m sure you understand that.”

Before the woman could even respond, Sasha dug into her pocket and pulled out three hundred dollars.

“Use it for coffee,” she said with a wink. “Something tells me you’re gonna need a lot of it.”

“No, I can’t—”

But Sasha was already walking away.

Hazel said a quick goodbye and a wink before following her best friend into the mall.

“Dumb ass children,” Sasha sighed, shoving her hands into her pockets.

Hazel laughed softly.

But the laughter faded when Sasha spoke again.

“They don’t know how lucky they have it.”

Hazel looked at her for a moment before quietly replying,

“They really don’t.”