“Yeah,” Hannah calls from the back. “You’re gonna have him eating from the palm of your hands.”
“Please tell me you’re the one driving, Kelly.”
“I am. I knew she was going to pregame, I even booked us two rooms at a nearby hotel.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” She really is too kind for her own good.
“I know.” I can hear the smile in her voice, “but I wanted this night to be perfect for you. I even talked to Hudson and he snuck an overnight bag into Patrick’s truck. Check the closet and you’ll find yours.”
I know talking to Hudson probably wasn’t the greatest for her. The animosity between those two is ridiculous, but as long as it doesn’t screw up my night, I’ll be fine. “Thank you.”
There’s a knock at the front door and I panic. “Oh my God, he’s here.”
“First, calm down,” Kelly laughs, “then hang up with me and answer the door.”
“I need to turn on my lights.”
“No, wait until you get there. Have him help you put on the wings, then turn on the lights. Wait to give him the full effect.”
My thoughts run through my mental to-do list. Costume. Check. Hair and makeup. Check. Bag for hotel. Check. Tickets… “Crap, I forgot to get our tickets from you.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll be there at the same time.”
“But I don’t know what you’re dressed as.” They just had to make everything difficult.
“You’ll see us.” Hannah’s words are slurred. There’s no way she’s making it through the whole party before leaving or getting kicked out.
“Okay. But if I don’t recognize you, you know what my costume looks like.”
“Yes,” both of them say in unison. Kelly adds, “now go get the door before Patrick thinks he has the wrong house.”
“Okay, okay.” I groan as I turn toward the bed, making sure all of the accessories are together. “I’ll see y’all there.”
Ending the call, I rush over to the closet and pull out the bag Kelly left me. Setting it next to the wings, I take a deep breath. My steps are quick but sure as I head to the front door. I don’t have the heels on yet. I’m waiting as long as possible before I put on those torture devices. My phone dings with a text as my hand reaches for the knob. I pull it from the pocket Kelly added to the skirt. How? I don’t know. She’s magical that way.
Patrick: I’m here. I think. The door hasn’t been answered and I’ve been knocking for a bit.
It’s about time I answer the door. If I don’t, he’s going to leave, and he may not come back. There’s no way in hell I’m going to let that happen. Not after I put in all this work. Deep breath in, and out. I repeat that two more times before wrapping my hand around the knob and opening the door.
Patrick is a dark shadow in front of the setting sun. Before I have a chance to say hello, he lifts a hand to his chest as if it hurts. “You look stunning.”
“Just wait until you see it all put together.” I take a step back and motion my hand towards inside. “Please, come in.”
9
Patrick
I keep glancingover at Jaylen. Stunning doesn’t cover how amazing she looks. She said she chose an angel because there’s no way it can be misconstrued as something bad if pictures get out of the party. Which I’m assuming they will for marketing purposes. The fact she could potentially get fired for going out is terrifying, and kudos to her for thinking things through.
“Did you know we were going to have a room prior to tonight?”
Jaylen glances over at me and shakes her head. “I found out about five minutes before you picked me up. My friends like to keep me on my toes.”
“Sounds like it,” I chuckle softly, “the fact that Hudson knew is mind boggling to me. Or that he actually packed some clothes for me and put them in the backseat.”
“I’m sure Kelly threatened something horrible if he didn’t.” She laughs, still shaking her head. “She can be…persuasive.”
“I have no doubt about that.” Back in high school, she could put the fear of God in anybody. Including me. I remember when she told me I had to buy a certain color flower for her wrist. She even gave me pictures and told me which florist to go to.
