I know which one she’s going to choose before she answers, maybe before she even makes up her mind.
“Guess.”
“Well, it’s got to be pretty.” I say. “A pretty name for a pretty girl.”
Cinderella preens under my praise.
Interesting.
I catalogue that realization away to unpack at another time.
“Won’t you give me a hint?”
She shakes her head wordlessly, the grin on her face portraying just how much she likes this little game.
I reel off three names from the top of my head, watching as Cinderella shakes her head at each of them.
“You’ll never guess it,” she singsongs.
“Tell me,” I urge. I’ve never felt such a need to know somebody’s name before, but I can’t bear the thought of going the rest of my life without knowing hers.
She giggles, this sweet little sound I want to make her do again, capture with my lips and swallow down.
I gaze down at her, towering above her even in her five-inch heels. “Your trouble, aren’t you?”
“Me?” She places a hand to her heart. “Never.”
“I disagree.”
She shrugs. “It’s whether you can handle it or not that makes the difference.”
My blood thrums red hot in my veins. “You—”
“Calla!” I hear a feminine voice shout. “Calla!”
I follow Cinderella’s line of eyesight as she peers over my shoulder, waving away whoever is calling for her. One of her friends I presume. Slowly, I drag my sight away from the hen do, landing back on the pretty blonde in front of me and tilting my head to one side, assessing.
“Calla?” I ask, feeling her name settle into my bones.
She nods once, lashes shuttering to half-mast.
“And what do you do,Calla?” I throw her question back at her.
“Real estate.”
I take another mouthful of my drink, while I look at her, unable to put my gaze anywhere else.
“So, how long have you known the bride-to-be?”
“Since we were children,” Calla answers, shifting a hairsbreadth closer to me, our hips almost grazing.
“And when’s the big day?”
“September 2nd.”
“Whose idea was the fancy dress costumes?”
Calla peers up at me through her lashes; her attempt at faux innocence, I think. “Who do you think?”
