Read Rush Into You for Free Online Page A

was serious. That I was for real.
    “Let’s do this.” My words were full of conviction and truth.
    I wanted to do this.
    I was terrified.
    I was hopeful.

Eighteen Months Later…
     
     
    “I HAVE NOTHING to wear. Jayanna! Come here a minute, would you?” I called out.
    Jay stomped down the hall and hit that last creaky floorboard before turning the corner and stopping in my bedroom doorway. “I hate when you call me that. It’s Jay. Just Jay.”
    “Okay, Just Jay. I need your help.”
    Jay giggled as she walked into my room. It instantly felt brighter with her in it. She was the most beautiful girl—naturally tanned skin, long, wavy blonde hair, and big chocolate-brown eyes. She was unbelievably smart as well. The total package. She knew she was a force to be reckoned with, and I envied her confidence.
    Jay stood beside me in front of my full length mirror. She looked at my reflection and smiled. “Oh, Gabby…oh my gosh, you look adorable. What’s the problem?”
    “The problem is that I don’t want to look adorable,” I whined. “I want to look hot...like you,” I whispered.
    “Girl, you are hot.”
    I sighed, exasperated. I really did not want to leave my house and go to my first party in forever looking like a little girl playing dress up. It had been so long since I’d dolled myself up that I’d forgotten how to do it.
    “C’mere, let me throw some mascara on you. It’s supposed to give you crazy volume and length.” She pulled out a tube of mascara from the back pocket of her jeans.
    I arched my brow. “You carry mascara around in your pocket?”
    She shrugged. “I was getting ready to use it when you yelled for me.” She paused for a moment, then clapped her hands. “Oh, I know just what will give you that sexy look! But you’ll have to trust me, okay?”
    Now I was worried. “You better not make me look like that scary clown from that movie that freaks me out so much,” I said warily.
    “I promise I won’t. Have a little faith will ya?” Jay pleaded.
    “Okay, okay. I trust you.”
    Jay squealed with excitement, then ran over to my iPod dock, turning on some music. She danced back to me and pushed me down on the bench seat of my vanity. She started humming along with a catchy tune on my playlist while searching through my makeup bag. I hardly ever let her do my make up, but I was desperate right now. I just wanted to look good.
    I closed my eyes, and smooth lines and gentle strokes of a soft brush swept across my eyelids. She moved on to my lashes and continued working her magic there.
    I stopped trying to focus so much on what Jay was doing, and just relaxed as she rubbed lotion into my skin. I could only pray the end result was good, but if it looked anything like her makeup usually did, then I should be fine.
    “Okay, open your eyes and turn around.”
    I did as she said and gasped in surprise. “Wow, Jay. You really should go to beauty school. I don’t know how you do it.” I slowly turned my face side to side to get a better look.
    “You look hot, Gabby.” Jay smiled.
    I continued to stare at myself in the mirror. Jay had lined my eyes with charcoal and created a smokey look with an added sweep of purple on my lids. It would match my shirt perfectly. My lashes were thick and at least a mile long. It looked classy and not in the least slutty. The end result was completely sexy.
    “Thanks Jay,” I finally said. “I love it. Really.”
    “Anytime, babe. You know that. And don’t you forget it,” Jay added seriously.
    I took in her sober expression and knew she meant it. Jay was an amazing friend. Even though we had only been friends for about a year, she was great to me. She didn’t know any details about the life I’d left behind, but she suspected something had happened. She never pushed me to share anything that I didn’t want to, and I respected her for that. She was my rock. I didn’t know what I would do without her, and I didn’t want to find out.
    Everyone