Chapter 36

Rainey

Tessa came over to the house bright and early Saturday morning bearing coffee and donut holes. While she and Tanner ate the donuts, I sipped on my coffee. My stomach was a jumble of nerves, and I couldn’t imagine eating. I hoped that feeling would subside by later since the menu we chose was exquisite. I wanted to taste everything.

We took off around nine to get to the city. When we arrived at Bloomingdale’s, we went straight to the floor with all of the gorgeous dresses. A woman named Joanne helped us. She was in her late sixties and had the fashion sense of someone who knew her way around a red carpet. I was in good hands.

Tessa and I had way too much fun trying on dresses. With Tessa’s advice, I brought my budget to anything under a thousand dollars. It took some convincing on her part, but she guaranteed that Michael wouldn’t mind.

“It would probably come off as a business expense,” she’d said.

She had a good point.

Two hours later, I narrowed my search to two dresses. The one that Tessa picked for me was a red chiffon dress with a halter neckline. It flowed around me and ended in a sweeping train. The slit up the side was a little much for me. Tessa insisted I’d made a statement.

I didn’t want to make a statement, though. This was about the kids, not me.

So I decided on my second choice. The bodice was nude colored mesh with intricate silver embellishments that topped off at the cap sleeves. The scoop neckline gave me enough coverage over my chest but made my neck look longer and more poised. The fabric of the skirt was the softest chiffon and flowed to the ground in white waves.

“Damn girl,” Tessa said when I tried it on again.

Joanne nodded her head. “It was as if someone made this dress for you.”

I smiled and checked the prize. I nearly balked but kept that reaction to myself. It was nine hundred dollars! I squealed on the inside. I could get groceries for several months on that budget.

Tessa didn’t even blink before she said to Joanne, “Now let’s get some shoes.”

We topped off the day with a small lunch at the restaurant while my dress was being pressed.

“I feel like I’m getting ready for prom,” I said to Tessa.

“Like a prom from a high school musical. That dress is killer, my friend. I’m so jealous.”

“Well, when I run the event next year, you can be my plus one.”

“That’s a nice offer, but are you sure you won’t already have one?”

“What do you mean?”

She shrugged. “What if you and Michael are an item by then?”

“Since school ended, I don’t think of my future that far ahead,” I said.

“Why not?”

“Because in the past month I’ve been through the ringer with this job and Michael. I take it a day at a time now.” Even though Michael and I were at a strange place, I knew I nailed this event. And since that was the main point of this job, I had a feeling I’d be sticking around for a while. With his blessing, if I took over more events then I’d be on my own a lot of the time, keeping the relationship between us more professional. Which was what I wanted.

Right?

“Well, don’t discount him. I know you’ve been through a lot together, but I have a feeling he’s smitten with you.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Who wouldn’t be?”

My phone rang from my purse, and I grabbed it. All day I’d been jumpy about my phone, wondering if there were any last minute items to do before the event.

Michael’s name filled the screen. I picked it up. “Michael. Is everything okay?”

“Yes. I wanted to let you know I’m sending a car around to pick you up this evening.”

“Okay.” By his word choice, I knew he wasn’t coming with the car.

“I have to do a photo shoot beforehand with the coordinators from the hospital and some of the kids. I do apologize. They sprung this on me last minute.”

“That’s fine,” I said.

“I’ll meet you there, just text me when you’re nearby.”

“I will.”

“I hope you picked out something nice today.”

I smiled at the phone thinking how amazing my dress was. “I did. I can’t wait for you to see it.”

There was a long pause on the other end, and I realized that remark was strange for me to say. It was something that a girlfriend would say to a boyfriend.

I quickly covered my tracks. “It will be worthy of the event.”

“I’ll see you then,” he said, then hung up.

I dropped my head into my hands.

“See,” Tessa said.

I looked up at her. “What?”

“You both can’t deny what’s going on between you.”

It was hard to deny it, but I would try.