“Wear this. No this.” Vanessa’s throwing clothes out of her closet. “Do you want my fake eyelashes? I have the perfect shade of nude lipstick that will pull all the shades of your coloring out.”

“She doesn’t need all this shit. Mauro’s already smitten with her.” Lauren smiles at me through the mirror of Vanessa’s vanity.

“Smitten?” I ask and she shrugs.

“I have to admit, I gave him a green check mark after his speech the other night.” Lauren sits on the bed, leaning against the headboard pretending to relax, but I can tell her eyes are secretly taking in Vanessa’s space, looking for clues.

“What speech?” Vanessa comes back out of her closet holding a simple pink dress with a beaded belt and neckline. I like that it flares at the waist so it will hide my thighs.

I stand up and grab it.

“Well, if you didn’t have to run off to a mystery location you would’ve been here to hear it. He basically declared that he’d take her off our hands.”

I roll my eyes.

A purse hits my head. I turn and stare back at the culprit, Lauren.

“It’s true, Maddie, he likes you. So, don’t go all glam for him. Just be yourself.”

Lauren will forever be the ‘I am who I am and if you don’t like it then so be it’ kinda girl. She could feel sexy in a tracksuit, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with putting in a little effort and I can’t wait to see Mauro’s eyes when he sees me out of my overalls and baseball cap.

“Thank you, but I want to dress up to feel sexy for him.” I take a seat on the bed. Vanessa stands on the other side, after months of being absent, she’s really here, present in this moment with us. “I’m not worried about not being good enough for him.”

Lauren purses her lips and crosses her arms over her chest.

“Okay, not like I once was. But this dress and that makeup will show everyone that I belong with him.”

Lauren stares at me for a moment and Vanessa’s hand lands on my thigh. “You don’t need other people to think you belong with him. You’re more than worthy of Mauro. You know that, right Mad?”

Vanessa glances at Lauren, the two of them on the same line of thinking.

“I do.”

Lauren slides up to me and wraps the three of us in a hug. “Close your eyes, Madison,” she whispers.

“No. Not tonight, Lauren.” I try to get out of their circle of truth, but they tighten their hold.

“Close them,” Vanessa orders.

I do as they say, my heart pounding, waiting for what they’re going to tell me.

“You are perfect. You have no reason to feel insecure when you’re with him.” Lauren speaks first.

“You’re gorgeous. Though I do wish you’d wear a tighter dress and show off that ass.”

The three of us laugh at Vanessa’s comment.

I love these girls.

They release me from their hold and my gaze veers to the clock on Vanessa’s nightstand.

Shit, it’s almost time for him to pick me up.

I collapse on the mattress, my hand on my stomach. “I can’t believe I’m going out with Mauro Bianco and it’s not some sick joke. Pinch me, girls.” I hold out my arms.

They both grab pillows and smack me on the head.

“Hey,” I say, standing up.

“It’s not a dream and he should be the one pinching himself.” Lauren smiles and Vanessa takes the dress off the hanger.

“Come on, let’s get you ready. He’ll be here soon.” Vanessa holds it out for me.

I take a deep breath and grab it from her hands.

Unlike when I was sixteen, or our time at the café, this date feels like it means something and I’m surprised to find that anticipation and excitement are at the forefront of my emotions, not anxiety or nerves.

That has to mean something good, right?