“Remember how last time, I told you that I ignored it?” she asked. “That’s only half true. For a while, I didn’t deal with it at all. I withdrew into myself. I thought, if the world was judging me this hard, maybe I deserved it all. Maybe I was everything they said I was. So I hid, and I ran, and I thought it would all die down.”
“Did it?” I asked.
“No. That’s when photographers decided to start trying to hop the fence and get shots of me in the pool, or start scrutinizing anything they could find online. If they couldn’t get material, they would rehash old stuff or make it up entirely. It was all the same to them.”
“I haven’t seen anything like that here,” I said.
“That’s because hiding, running, holing up, it wasn’t the answer.” Sunny reached out, placing her warm hand on mine. “Tiffany was the one who gave me the advice I needed, back when I first met her.”
“What did she say?” I asked.
“The only way out,” she said, “is through.”
I exhaled slowly, shakily. “I don’t know if I can do that.”
“You can,” Sunny said. “And you will, because we spent three million dollars to give you the night of your dreams.”
I laughed. That was enough to pick up my spirits a little. “I’m sorry that you all did that.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Sunny said. “And try not to worry. You’re not alone. You have me, and you have the others. Four women like us? What can’t we accomplish together?”
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips.
“Maybe you’re right,” I said.
“Definitely I’m right,” Sunny said. “Here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to rest for now. The morning’s been shot. No more for today.”
“Then what?” I asked. “You said I can’t hide forever.”
“Then you’re going to that ball,” Sunny stated. “You’re going to hold your head high, and you aren’t even going to acknowledge those rumors.”
“I wish I could,” I said, “but I wasn’t going to go in the first place.”
“Why the hell not?” Sunny asked.
“I don’t have a gown,” I admitted. “And there’s no way I can afford one.”
“Aubrey,” she said firmly. “Three. Million. Dollars,” she stated with heavy emphasis. “I’ve got you, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“I can’t take your charity,” I said.
“Stand up and come here,” she said in a tone that brooked no argument. “Now stand back to back with me.”
I did. She pointed to the mirror next to us.
“Looks to me like we’re right about the same size,” Sunny said. “So if you won’t let me buy you a gown, you’re going to borrow one from me.”
She smiled at me through our reflection.
“We aren’t leaving you behind,” Sunny said. “We’re going to lift you up. Starting at that ball.”
