“Not at all, Eunice,” I lied. “I am so looking forward to seeing an old friend.” If Lee wasn’t going to tell his momma I practically spat at him earlier, I wasn’t, either. Saved me the lecture on all the money she spent on refineryclasses for me.?
“Well, I’m looking forward to seeing you. I know Dane is, too. Did you get the package with the dress I sent?”?
“Let me check.”?
I padded out into the front hallway and scooped up a few packages waiting by the door. With my music up so loud, I must not have heard the delivery driver.?
“Got it. Thank you, Eunice,” I said, dropping the packages on my kitchen counter. Pickle jumped up and swatted at them, trying to knock them down.?
“I can’t wait to see how beautiful you look. It’s a special night, you know.”?
I hung up the phone and tore open the box from Fancie’s Boutique, pulling out the knee-length, periwinkle cocktail dress and accompanying shawl.
I let out a frustrated sigh and opened the second package, the heat from the box seeping through the cardboard. Inside was a to-go container from Clary’s, the familiar comfort of buttery pancakes and sweet syrup wafting up as I pulled it free. A folded note sat beneath the box, the handwriting unmistakable:
I’m sorry I ruined your breakfast. No one should miss out on the best pancakes in the city, especially after running into their ex. Looking forward to seeing you later. - Lee.
Whelp. Lee was officially back. I set the note aside, staring at the pancakes, the memory of his thoughtful surprises rushing back. Birthdays, random Tuesdays, afternoons when I’d find something waiting for me—always perfectly timed, always exactly what I needed, even if I didn’t know I needed it. His gifts had always felt like a promise, but I’d learned the hard way that promises were fragile things.
I stabbed a fork into the pancakes, taking two quick bites before tossing the box in the trash. This time, I wasn’t falling for his shit. Not again, and definitely not now.
Back in my room, I ran a straightening brush through my hair, the hot bristles smoothing out any lingering waves. I locked the whole style in place with enough hairspray to keep the humidity at bay and knock a satellite out of orbit, all the while wishing for the wild curls that used to tumble down my back—beforeEunice convinced me to chop them off for a more “sophisticated” look.
I took my time with my makeup, carefully blending away the dark circles from another sleepless night and artfully concealing the freckles I never quite embraced. A spritz of perfume, a dab of pink lip gloss, and I took a long look in the mirror, barely recognizing the woman staring back at me.
I had no idea who the hell I was anymore.?
I slipped into the dress, its fabric cool against my skin, and stepped into a pair of nude wedges that added just the right amount of height. In the living room, I grabbed my purse and Eunice’s gift, placing them carefully on the table. A quick glance at the clock told me I had a few minutes to spare, just enough time to pour myself a glass of wine. I took a slow sip, hoping it would calm my nerves.?
But could anything truly take the edge off walking into a party where the man you were supposed to build a future with was waiting while your past, with all its muddled memories and unfinished business, kept pulling you back?
***
I sauntered into the party a little early, nerves buzzing in my chest. I perched on the kitchen counter, trying to steady myself as I poured a glass of wine for me and Sutton, who was busy bustling around the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on everything. I took a sip, hoping it would calm me down, but the jitters remained. I reached over to grab a bacon-wrapped scallop, and she swatted at me.?
“Where is everyone?” I steadied my voice before sipping my wine slowly.?
“The boys, you mean?” she asked, raising an eyebrow and flipping on a blow torch to flame up the tops of her lobster mac and cheese. “I have no idea. Dane’s still locked in the office with Vance. Eunice is in there now, too. I haven’t seen Lee since I got here.”?
I nodded. “Has my brother graced you with his presence yet?”?
“No,” she said, busily decorating small cups of something with chives that was unidentifiable yet smelled delicious. “He’s on his way, though. He stopped by earlier to help Jordan and Doyle drop off the cases of wine and the charcuterie platters.”?
“Do you need help?” I offered, my mouth salivating.?
“You could help me tremendously by going away,” she giggled. “Stop eating that chopped bacon, Magnolia. LaMonte will kill me if this party isn’t perfect. The only reason he even let me come today is because Eunice threatened him.” She pushed out an exasperated sigh and wiped her hands on her apron. “Why don’t you go hide in the upstairs bathroom for a while? No one will look for you there, and you can finish your glass of wine without snacking on my creations, which will cause me to lose my job and thus force me to punch you in the back of the head.”?
I rolled my eyes and slid off the countertop, stomping down the hallway and up the wide staircase to the second floor of the Wilder property. I’d spent half my childhood between these walls, but knowing both Wilder boys—Wildermen—were somewhere in this house made the air feel thick and foreign.?
I shut the bathroom door behind me and crawled into the wide garden tub, letting the cool porcelain chill the backs of my arms and legs. I was sweating profusely already, and nothing exciting had even happened yet.?
My eyes closed, and I let the quiet fall over me. The soft hum of the activity in the kitchen and the band doing soundcheck downstairs were soothing and distant. My heart picked up again at the thought of running into Lee at the party and attempting to avoid him at all costs so as to not have to fake my way through another hair pulling conversation in which I fight the urge to kick him.?
After Lee left for Nashville, the Wilder family drew me in closer than ever. I always suspected they knew letting him go was a significant sacrifice, though I never voiced it or let it show. For years, I felt a heavy guilt for pushing him away and effectively taking their son from them. But as time passed and Lee’s success grew, so did Eunice’s pride. It became clear that letting him go had been the right decision.
No matter how hard it had hurt. And no matter how that hurt never seemed to completely fade.?
The bathroom door flung open, startling me so much that I jumped up and whacked my head off the side of the tub.?
