I never had many close relationships. Never cared enough to hold on to people before they slipped away. But then there washer.And for the first time, I wanted to hold on with everything I had.
I just hadn’t realized that holding on too tight could push someone away. Instead of letting Macey decide what was best for herself, I had tried to take over completely. I had turned us into something uneven, something controlled. But we worked best as partners—both on and off social media. Equals. I needed her to know that.
“I will,” I said. “I can’t leave for three months without telling her how I really feel.”
Daphne grinned and clapped me on the back, nearly knocking the air out of me. “That’s the spirit! Now go grovel like your life depends on it.”
Nathan, who’d been playing the role of Silent Spectator up to this point, finally let out a sigh. He leaned toward Daphne, muttering under his breath, “You didn’t need me for this.”
She shot him a look, pursing her lips. “You can learn a thing or two from Noah. You never date! At least he’s been in a relationship these last few months.”
“A fake relationship,” Nathan deadpanned.
“Better than no relationship,” Daphne countered, flicking a fry at him. “Besides, it was never fake to Noah.”
I cocked my head. “I never said that.”
She sighed dramatically as if this was exhausting forher. “That’s sibling telepathy, big bro. I won’t question what works for me.”
“For you?” I scoffed. “How is this for you?”
“I’ve always wanted a sister,” she said solemnly as if I had denied her some lifelong dream.
I rolled my eyes, stealing the last bite of her hot dog as I stood. “Let’s get out of here. I need to get ready for a very important event to attend tonight and Nathan probably needs to polish his shoe collection again.”
Nathan flipped me off as Daphne dissolved into laughs.
But none of that mattered.
Tonight, I’d see Macey. And maybe I’d find the words to tell her everything I hadn’t been able to say before.
27
MACEY
The Burrow Bitches
Macey: Guess who’s attending her first press event as Macey’s Miles?
Britney: hmm i don’t know, could it be chicago’s newest it girl, macey?
Kira: You’re going to kill it!
Ariadne: I can’t wait until you’re rich and famous
I had never been so nervous to do something I’d done a million times before.
Tonight was the media event for the opening of a new hotel in Chicago, The Astor Royale, and this was my very first press invite as part ofMacey’s Miles. Recent changes in my life were all sparked by covering a resort opening in Aruba, so needless to say, there was a niche here for the taking.
The nerve-wracking part was covering the eventas part of my new blog. What if someone asked too many questions about why I leftRoamer’s Digest? What if they thought I couldn’t do it on my own? What if someonelaughed?
Ugh. I was convinced that no matter how successful you were, there would always be moments of insecurity.
I hoped that if I walked into The Astor Royale with confidence, they might not even notice I was an experienced professional turned newbie blogger. To help blend in, I wore an all-black dress, silky and smooth. I took out my braid and let the soft waves flow down around my face and down my back. A little bit of dark makeup and red lipstick rounded out the look of someone who belonged.
The moon hung low in the sky just over the new hotel. Its grand facade gleamed under the streetlights, and the sound of laughter and clinking glasses echoed faintly from the lobby.
As I approached the front entrance, I saw the impeccably dressed doormen greeting guests, their sharp eyes scanning the crowd. One large man held a clipboard and pen, checking names of people as they entered. I froze.
