“Well, all three of you girls look guilty,” he said, “and you’re the one who usually starts things.”
“OK, I admit it,” I said. “It wasn’t Naya, it was me. I was looking for Jack’s movie.”
That was true-ish, true enough to throw Jack for a loop, anyway. He blinked, and his expression changed, and I couldn’t tell if it was curiosity, surprise, or terror he was trying to express. “Why?”
“Because your premiere’s tonight, Jack,” I told him.
When I saw his face, I wondered if I’d made a mistake. He ran his hands through his hair and opened his eyes wide. “Shit! I’ve got to put on my tux.”
“Haha, someone’s forgetful,” Mike said. Lana threw a cushion at him.
“Why are you so worried about the tux?” I asked him.
“I hate that shit,” he responded, “I hate fancy clothes, I hate tying a bow tie…all of it.” There was some confusion when Mike thought he’d have to wear a bow tie too, but Jack made it clear that only the cast and crew had to go in formal wear. Seeing him so stressed, I reassured him: “You’re going to look great. You should try it on and give us a sneak peek.”
He hesitated, then ran off to his room, and Naya announced she was getting changed, too. That’s when the chaos began.
Lana left, and I stayed sitting in the living room, since I was the only one who didn’t have to dress up. When I got bored, I took a walk and called Spencer and Shannon. When I came back, it looked like a bomb had gone off. There were dozens of high heels thrown out in the hallway in a pile—Naya’s rejects. She ran out a second later, barefoot, in a pretty pink dress. I smiled at her, and she sobbed: “I look terrible!”
Before I could say anything, she ran back inside, slammed the door, reopened it, and threw out a few more pairs of shoes.
Sue emerged and started playing with her phone. She was wearing a button-down shirt and black slacks, and honestly, she looked amazing. She had on lipstick, and had pulled her hair back, which was, to my knowledge, a first. Did Jack’s big day mean that much to her? If so, it showed she was a good person deep down. Though, to be honest, I’d never doubted that.
Will soon joined us in a black suit, looking like a gentleman. I gave him a thumbs-up, and he blushed. Since Jack hadn’t revealed himself, I walked down the hall to his room. Behind me, I could hear Sue cracking jokes about him having stage fright.
It was weird seeing Jack in our former room. Since I’d come back, he’d avoided it like the plague. His black jacket was on the bed; brows knitted, he was staring at himself in the mirror and trying to tie his bow tie. He was concentrating so hard, he didn’t notice I was there until I walked up behind him.
“Don’t laugh,” he murmured.
I hadn’t known I was doing so. I needled him a bit. “Looks like someone never learned to tie a bow tie. You want some help?”
“Can you?” he asked, trying even harder to do it on his own, and failing more spectacularly.
“For your information, I can. Here, step aside.”
Jack straightened up, and I tried to undo the mess he’d made. I could feel his eyes on me as I worked, but I ignored them. I didn’t want to get nervous. He was handsome, and he smelled amazing, and feeling him so close was electrifying. Finally, I untangled the ridiculous knot he’d made in the middle of the delicate silk, smoothed it out, and retied it, centering it under his Adam’s apple.
“You look great,” I told him, and he thanked me.
“And your bow tie is gorgeous,” I joked.
“Don’t torture me.”
“Trust me,” I said, “I’m just getting started.”
He lifted his chin so I could adjust his shirt collar and said, “If I had it my way, I’d go in a sweatshirt. One with Mushu on it, maybe.”
“Keep talking and I’ll turn this thing into a noose,” I warned him.
“Sorry, sorry. I’ll shut up.”
I was surprised at how good he looked when I was done. I hadn’t tied one of those in a long time, but I hadn’t lost the knack. I fixed the wings of his collar, smoothed down his lapel, and gave him a soft pat on the chest.
“All set. My perfect little gentleman. I guess it’s close to time for you guys to go, right…?” I said.
He interrupted me. “Why don’t you come along?”
Me? With him? Now?
