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crisscrossing downtown Manhattan, he’d have only a few minutes before it was time to pick up Chyna.

Chapter 6
    â€œN o.” Liani snatched the black slacks from Chyna’s grasp and pivoted, staring into the open closet.
    â€œWhat was wrong with those?” Chyna lamented.
    Liani glared at her with annoyance usually reserved for parents chastising a recalcitrant child.
    â€œYou are going out with Jared Dawson,” her friend said. “You need to think sexy, and pants are not sexy.” Liani gestured to Chyna’s lower half. “You are five foot eight with a pair of the most incredible legs I’ve ever seen. Show them off.”
    Chyna flashed her a flirtatious smile. “You’ve been checking out my legs?”
    Liani practically growled. “Stop playing around and pick a dress. I have to leave in a half hour, and it’ll take at least that long to do your hair and makeup.”
    Chyna settled on her favorite little black dress. It was sleeveless with a scooping neckline, practical but elegant. “I don’t want to go over the top,” she reasoned. “I’m noteven sure where we’re going. We may decide to just stay at the Patisserie and have paninis.”
    â€œThis is Jared Dawson we’re talking about,” Liani stressed unnecessarily. As if Chyna needed a reminder of whom she would be meeting in just under an hour. “He is not going to take you to a coffee shop for sandwiches. Jared doesn’t skimp. I’ve told you stories of how he doted on that stupid girlfriend of his.”
    â€œWell, I’m not stupid and I’m not his girlfriend,” Chyna pointed out. She sat in front of the mirror and waited for Liani, who was retrieving makeup from a collection that would make the girls at the Sephora counter seethe with envy. “It’s not as if this is anything serious,” Chyna continued. “The only reason I’m going out with him is because I knew he wouldn’t stop asking until I caved.”
    Liar.
    Liani looked up from the cosmetic case and shot her a look that said she was wholly unconvinced.
    â€œOkay, fine. I also think he’s just a bit gorgeous, too,” Chyna conceded.
    â€œThank God. I was about to question your sanity. Turn toward me.” Liani caught Chyna’s chin between her fingers. “Actually, I still think you’re crazy,” she muttered through thinned lips as she drew a thin black line along the lower lash of Chyna’s eye. “If Jared Dawson was in hot pursuit, I would be all too ready to let him catch me.”
    â€œI don’t have time to get caught,” Chyna complained.
    This conversation was starting to sound like a broken record. No matter how many times she stated her case, Liani couldn’t comprehend the work Chyna had to do just to survive. She didn’t have parents living in a penthouse on Fifth Avenue whom she could fall back on. The onlysafety net Chyna had was the few thousand dollars she’d managed to save over the past eight years.
    â€œEven if you’re not looking for anything serious, just have some fun for once,” her friend implored. “If you’re not careful you’re going to burn out before you reach thirty.” Holding the liquid eyeliner brush in one hand, Liani captured Chyna’s chin with the other, and with a concerned plea, said, “Promise me you’ll let yourself enjoy Jared.”
    â€œDepends on what you mean by ‘enjoy,’” Chyna said with a guarded chuckle.
    â€œEnjoy his company, not him as in him. At least not yet.” Liani winked.
    Chyna sat for a few minutes more while Liani put the finishing touches on her hair. Moments later, Liani was packed up and ready to go.
    â€œHave fun tonight,” her friend demanded. She blew Chyna an air kiss as she backed out of the door and carted her suitcase of cosmetics down the stairs.
    Chyna slipped into her dress, then spent way