By the time I got back to the flower shop, I was shaking in my very painful shoes. Chloe was waiting outside, tapping her foot, her expression full of excitement.

I’d barely parked when she descended.

“Well, what happened? Did he die? He must have … I really outdid myself with this look.”

I laughed at her rapid-fire speech, then let out a squeal and managed one tiny hop without breaking an ankle.

“It was amazing,” I gushed, and Chloe let out a squeal of her own. “Dillon couldn’t even speak, Gabe and Reardon had to do it for him. And, Chloe, I’m going with him to Chicago as his plus one. Can you cover for me?”

“What? Oh my God, this is even better than I’d hoped. Yes, of course I can … Wow, I really am good. Maybe I should change careers.”

“You probably should, but there’s no way I’m letting you go,” I said with a laugh, too happy to contain it. “I hate to let your amazing work go to waste. What do you say to an early Ladies Night? We can call Jazzy, Zoey, and Rena.”

Chloe nodded. “You’re right, you look too good to go home and hang out with your cat. We should definitely do dinner and drinks, even Zoey can sneak away for that.”

“Yay!” I exclaimed, reaching for my phone as we walked into the flower shop. I waved to Lisa, one of the college students who helped me out, and said to Chloe, “I’ll call Jazzy and Serena, you call your sister.”

Less than an hour later, I left Lisa to close up shop, and was at The Eaves, Cherry Springs’ high class offering for dinner and drinks. It was the place you went for special occasions and fancy dates, or in our case, for a night out with your best female friends.

“I’m so happy you guys could all come out on such short notice,” I said when we were led to our table by the large bay window that overlooked the town square.

“Well, if I’d known you were going to be looking like that, I’d have taken a little more time to get the smell of spit up out of my hair. You look gorgeous.” Zoey said, patting her bun self-consciously.

“Seriously, who did that to you?” Jasmine asked. I wasn’t offended; Jazzy was used to seeing me in my normal, borderline sappy sweet clothes, not this bombshell look I was currently loving.

“Chloe,” I answered.

“Guilty,” Chloe said with a smile. “Doesn’t she look great? I mean, Laurel always looks great, but I had so much fun dirtying her up a little bit.”

“Yeah, that’s a great way to describe it,” Serena said, looking me over. “Laurel has a great style, but it’s very sweet. Very Lauren Conrad, but I’m digging this look.”

“Totally hot,” Jazzy agreed, then narrowed her eyes and asked, “But why? What’s the big makeover for? I doubt it’s just dinner with the girls…”

Damn, maybe going out with the girls wasn’t the best idea. I should have known Jasmine would get suspicious, she knows me better than anyone.

Before I could stutter a response, Chloe saved me by answering, “It was my idea. She was indulging me by letting me play around with my new makeup and this dress that has been in my closet torturing me. Being big and pregnant means no slinky dresses and I was itching to play dress up. Laurel agreed to be my doll.”

I gave a jerky nod of agreement, and Chloe’s answer seemed to satisfy Jasmine because she let it go.

We put in our drink orders. I opted for a glass of red, then perused the menu as everyone caught up.

“You all set for your trip to Boise?” Serena asked Jasmine as she buttered a piece of bread.

“Uh, yeah, hotel is booked, and I’m meeting with a realtor to scout a few locations.”

“How long will you be gone this time?” Chloe asked.

“Two weeks is the plan, but I’ll know more once I get there.”

“Is Dillon’s trip to Chicago about the expansion, too?” Zoey asked, thanking the waiter as he set down her sangria.

“No, he’s going to a convention, it’s just for the weekend.”

“Actually, I’m going with him,” I said quietly, and all conversation stopped as three sets of eyes turned to me. “It’s not a big deal,” I added, hurriedly, “Dillon needed a plus one so I volunteered to go with him.”

“Really, are you sure you want to do that?” Jasmine asked with a frown. “I know you guys don’t always get along that great. I’d hate for you to go and have a miserable time.”

Shaking my head, I replied, “No, things have been fine between us, and I really want to help him out, as a thank you for everything he’s done for me with my business plan. He doesn’t have time to find a date, and I don’t mind going; it’s the least I can do. I’m actually looking forward to getting out of town for the weekend.”

“Okay, if you’re sure. But if he gives you any shit, just short sheet his bed, remind him who he’s dealing with,” Jazzy joked.

Rather than reply, I just smiled, thinking that’s the kind of advice that had Dillon hating me in the first place. Then, her words sunk in and I began to worry. Was I going to be sharing a room with him, or expected to get my own? I didn’t have extra money for a hotel room at a convention in Chicago, even if they discounted the rate.

Shoot, I really hadn’t thought this through.

Plus, what are our travel arrangements? When are we leaving? How are we getting there, and how long will we be gone? What do I need to pack?

I’d gotten so carried away by Dillon’s reaction, and excited at the prospect of going away with him, that I hadn’t bothered to worry about the details.

I needed to talk to Dillon.