Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 128742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
Celeste gives me the evil eye.
“Please, don’t get her started again.”
“Get whichever dress you like. If you need shoes or purses or any of that stuff, get that too. Sue owes me a favor,” Dad says with a wink.
“Oh really?”
“Story for another time. Just be sure to say hi to Queen Margaret for me.”
“Oh my God, Dad.”
“What? We go way back, the queen and I. I played a private concert at the palace for the holidays one year, and we stayed up for hours eating cake, talking about James Brown and Billie Holiday. The old greats. Most people don’t know, but Maggie has a great love for American rock ’n’ roll.”
Celeste is gaping at me. “I’m going to have to write a book after this.”
“This is the one,” Mori declares, studying my reflection in the mirror. She plays with my hair, pulling it off my shoulders to show off the neckline. “We can set you up with my jewelry, but I wouldn’t throw too much else on it. The dress is doing the work. Let it.”
A brief fantasy of myself plays in the mirror. I stand there for a moment, imagining this other person I could become. I’m looking at a blank page to write a new story. With the right dress and a ticket to a royal ball, anything can happen.
I smile at my reflection and say, “It’s perfect.”
24
THERE’S A CAR WAITING OUTSIDE AT SEVEN O’CLOCK SHARP.
At 7:08, I’m standing impatiently at the front door in my dress and heels, purse dangling from my wrist, hair pinned and sprayed against a Category 4 hurricane. Lee scurries down the stairs, stops, remembers something else he forgot, and scurries back up the stairs for the fifth time.
“Is this some kind of manic ritual?” I ask Jamie, who leans against the staircase giving me an amused look.
“Two years ago, Celeste got him front-row Adele tickets for his birthday,” he says, popping cashews in his mouth. “He missed the first hour of the show in a panic over a chin zit.”
Jamie’s midchew when a sneeze overtakes him and sends disgusting bits of snot and cashew in my direction.
“Oh my God, Jamie. You are horrific.” I fret, making sure none of his bodily fluids got on my dress. Thankfully, no. “I’ve seen enough of your snot this past week to last a lifetime.”
“Sorry.” He swipes his sleeve over his runny nose, then sniffs a few times. “I told you, it’s these bloody allergies.”
The door opens and bumps me in the back, almost plastering me to the wall. Behind it, Jack walks in, oblivious to me or the weak resistance my body puts up against his forceful entrance.
“You know there’s some rude-looking bloke outside with a black car?”
Jamie gives him a nod. “Other side, mate.”
Jack takes the hint and peeks behind the open door to find me and my whole getup smooshed against the wall.
“What are you doing back there?”
“Just hanging out,” I answer sarcastically.
“Okay, I’m ready.” Lee comes galloping down the stairs in a sapphire tux. “For real this time.”
“Sure you’ve not left some stray nose hairs untrimmed?” Jamie mocks him with a smirk, popping another cashew.
Lee strides past to slide his feet into a pair of patent leather shoes. “I would never.”
“You look different,” Jack says quietly while Jamie and Lee banter. His blue eyes drift over my dress, which, admittedly, is doing most of the work. “I mean nice. You look really nice.”
“Thank you.”
In the weeks since we (translation: he) agreed to pretend the kiss never happened, things have gone back to normal between us. Sort of. My body still hasn’t gotten the message from my brain that Jack and I are strictly relegated to the platonic sphere. My nerves still respond to every small compliment. Stupid things like his shoulder brushing mine trigger a response.
“Here, take a picture.” Lee shoves his phone at Jack and wedges himself in beside me to pose for the camera. “Next time you see me, I’ll be calling from a yacht in Amalfi with my new rich boyfriend.”
“I hope all your dreams come true,” Jamie says, stepping in to adjust Lee’s bow tie.
“Thanks, luv.” Lee grabs his phone from Jack and glances at the time. “Right. Enough dawdling. My future husband could be getting away.”
“Keep an eye on this one, would you?” Jack nods toward me as he speaks to Lee. “Try to keep her out of trouble. She’s liable to topple the monarchy.”
I mock glare at him. “I would never. Not on purpose anyway.”
“Don’t wait up.” Lee takes my arm and escorts us out the door to the impatient driver waiting at the curb. Once we’re on our way, my date lets out a deep sigh. “I might actually shit myself.”
I glance over with a grin. “Cranberry.”
“What?”
“If either of us is in crisis or just wants to get the hell out of there for some reason, we say cranberry. That’s our escape word.”