Read Online Chosen by Jessica Burkhart - Free Book Online Page B

a regular basis. I rubbed my fingers through my smoother,straight hair, spreading a lightly perfumed shine serum throughout.
    In record time, I dressed and now it was time to accessorize. I grabbed a long silver delicate chain that held an oversized locket. I grabbed another necklace to layer with it. The locket was an antique-looking heart and the other was chunkier and made up of dozens of shiny, black hematite stones, with smaller, matte balls in between each stone. I knotted the hematite necklace with the locket so the layers were at the right spot and they fell perfectly into place.
    I redid one last check of hair-slash-makeup, grabbed my distressed silver purse, then calmly headed to the front door. I was right on time and ready to bask in the fluttery feeling I got before every date with Taylor. A movie and dinner sounded perfect and was exactly the type of thing I was in the mood for.
    Tonight any thoughts about getting into Canterwood (or not), studying for classes, competitive riding, and dressage technique would all have to be put on pause.
    My phone blinked and it was a mention of my name on Chatter by “TFrost,” Tay.
    Happy 2 be going out w @LaurBell! 6:55 p.m .
    I typed a quick reply. @TFrost See you soon! ♥ 6:56 p.m .
    â€œMom!” I called. “Taylor’s dad will be here in two seconds.”
    Mom appeared around the corner. She eyed my outfit, doing her Mom-slash-lawyer daughter-scan for anything inappropriate. Her smile told me that whatever test she’d just given me, I’d passed. I blew her a kiss and headed for the door.
    â€œRemember to check in with us throughout the night, especially if your plans change,” Mom said. “Be home by curfew.”
    â€œI will. We’re just going to see a movie and grabbing food after. I’ll text you after the movie.”
    Even though I’d never been grounded in my life, my mom was still a lawyer and it made her feel better to have set family rules like my nine-thirty curfew. I’d never broken her rules the way Charlotte had, but I didn’t mind them if it made her feel better about things like movie dates and slumber parties with the besties.
    Mom nodded. “Sounds good. Lauren?”
    I turned to face her.
    â€œHave fun,” she said.
    I smiled, waved good-bye, and walked onto the front porch. I was just about to sit on the porch swing when Taylor’s parents’ Suburban pulled into our driveway.
    I slid my keyboard-locked BlackBerry into my purse and walked down the sidewalk to their SUV. I tried my best not to rush—I didn’t want to seem overeager and held my back straight.
    I hoped that the car’s headlights caught some of the shimmer I’d carefully applied. I wanted to impress Taylor tonight, of course, but even more than that, I wanted to feel pretty .
    I didn’t usually obsess over my looks, but felt okay to be a stylish girl that anyone would be proud to go out with tonight. And, for some reason, I felt pretty. Not like a competitive equestrian on the verge of finding out life-changing news, or an organized honors student who kept a neat closet and turned her homework in early. Just a pretty, carefree girl, out with her boyfriend on a Friday night.
    â€œHi, Mr. Frost,” I said, climbing into the backseat of the SUV. Taylor was already seated in the back. His smile widened and he placed a hand briefly over mine.
    â€œYou look great ,” he said low, so only I could hear. I beamed at him, suddenly feeling even prettier and mounted a bashful smile.
    â€œHello, Lauren,” Mr. Frost said. The guy didn’t know how to not be formal. Even on a Friday night he wore asuit and tie. It was like he was on his way to a fancy dinner rather than dropping us off at the movies. “You look very nice tonight, as always,” Mr. Frost told me.
    â€œThank you for picking me up,” I said. “And thank you.” I smiled at Taylor when I spoke. I didn’t