“I said I’d go with him.” Val mumbled around a mouthful of candy.
“You’re going to the ball with him?” Amber tried very hard not to show her glee. “This is perfect!” Briefly, she thought back to her own ball, but she pushed the thought away. Val wasn’t going to have a repeat of that. She’d make sure of it.
“Really? Was your ball that memorable?”
“God, no. But now I get to live vicariously through you.”
“Hmm,” Val said skeptically. “Like that showDance Moms?”
“No,” Amber laughed. “I promise not to be that weird. Besides, you’re way smarter than I was at seventeen. I was stupid and vulnerable at the same time, but I learned my lesson. Now I just stick to stupid.” She crossed her eyes until Val cracked a reluctant smile.
Val flopped back down onto the couch. “I don't have anything to wear.”
Amber clapped her hands together and looked up at the ceiling. “I was made for this moment.”
“Nothing weird.”
“I'm offended. I don't wear weird things. Come with me, child.” She held out her hand and dragged Val to her bedroom where she opened her closet with a flourish. “You've come to the right person.”
"You're so totally weird."
An hour later, the contents of Amber's closet were strewn around her room, and Val was admiring herself in a black dress in front of the mirror. Amber had tried for some color, but Val shot everything down until Amber pulled out a black vintage 1950s dress with a white Peter Pan collar. The bodice was slim fitting, flaring out to a knee length A-line skirt with a slim black belt around the waist.
“This feels very me,” Val said, turning in front of the mirror.
"It really does," Amber said. She tried to rein in her excitement, but the dress was made for Val. A little bit funky, a little bit classic, Amber could guarantee no one else would have the same dress on. Amber had convinced her to pull her hair back away from her face, and she was reminded again how lovely Val was when she wasn't putting off her don’t-look-at-me-or-I’ll-kill-you vibe. A surge of pride and protectiveness took her by surprise.
"You're welcome to borrow it."
"Maybe I will," Val said casually, but Amber noticed how, when she took it off, she hung it carefully over her arm. She paused at the door of the apartment. "Thanks," she said casually.
"You're welcome," Amber said just as nonchalantly. A huge grin broke over her face when the door closed behind Val. Well, that was a successful night. She could never go back to her own disaster of a ball, but maybe she could help Val make some happier memories.
When she got into bed later, she reflectively checked her phone on the nightstand. No messages. She had only let herself check a few times during the night, because every time she thought about Theo sharing a box seat with Pippa at the theater, she felt a surge of jealousy that didn’t make sense. Theo could date anyone he wanted, of course. Successful, leggy brunettes that had actual careers were his type and she knew it well after seeing him with a new one on his arm frequently over the years.
And still, she tortured herself by checking the time again. It was still early enough that the two of them probably went out for a drink at some fancy cocktail bar. She thought about Theo’s warm hand helping Pippa into the car and walking her up to her apartment like the gentleman he was. Pippa’s AC probably wasn’t broken, and she wouldn’t be embarrassed to invite him up. Her life was calm and orderly, and Amber would bet she’d never been fired fordancing on a bar.
Jealousy, longing, and pent-up desire battled inside her until she finally forced herself to pick up her new romance novel. Fictional boyfriends were so much better. Mostly. There was just that one way they didn’t quite measure up. Ugh. Just as she was falling asleep, the phone buzzed.
Theo
Did you hijack my T-shirt for the dog’s crate?
Amber
Depends. Was it your favorite or can the dog and I have a tug-of-war with it?
Theo
Expendable.
Amber
Then yes. :) Dogs like to have their human’s scent nearby...unless you want Puddin’ to sleep with you?
Theo
Not a chance in hell.
