“Why?” she demands. “Why in the heck is it for the best?”
I’m not sure I still have an answer to that question.
I look down at my chewed-up nails and try to think of a way to fix them. Deciding I can’t do anything now, I give up and sigh. “Lil, can we go now? I’m sure Marcus will love whatever you decide to wear.”
For the hundredth time, Lilla grabs her three dress options off my bed and holds them up. “He didn’t seem to bite this afternoon remember? I mean we flirted over drinks at the hotel bar, and then he just kind of took off.”
“Lilla, he has a girlfriend. Please consider backing off.”
“Not possible. I’ve decided he’s the one I want this trip. I know it’s not going anywhere, but that’s fine.” She returns to her dress decision. “Okay, which one? And remember, I’m going for sexy but subtle here.”
I point to the far left option. “That one.”
She looks at it quizzically. “Purple? Is that sexy?”
“It is when it’s that fitted and with that little fabric,” I joke with her. “Plus, it brings out your eyes.”
“Okay,” she says happily and puts it on. “I love what you’re wearing, Jase. Finally something that actually shows off your amazing figure.”
I pull at my fitted black dress self-consciously. “Oh, thanks.”
I told myself I had no other options when I chose to wear this dress and that it wasn’t because I wanted to impress Dylan. Not at all. I don’t know who I think I’m kidding. I can barely even convince myself at this point.
“Do you think we’ll be able to actually sit down and eat, or will Bill have us racing around all evening kissing everyone’s butt?” Lilla asks as we head to the elevator.
“Most surely the ass kissing. When does our boss ever waste an opportunity to have us be his slaves?”
“True.”
We get into the elevator and run straight into Bill, who’s chatting it up with a woman. He’s leaning in close to her, and he’s got a touch of the woman’s red lipstick on his neck.
I can’t even look at Lilla because I know we’ll both start laughing.
“Hello, ladies.” Bill gives us an actual smile and not his usual snarl. “How are you both this evening?”
“Great,” I say. “In fact, we’re starving.”
“You are, huh?” he says. “Hoping to have time to eat, maybe?”
“That would be nice,” Lilla says.
“Well, don’t count on it,” he says. “There are a lot of hungry football players downstairs who need tending to, and I volunteered you two to help out the hotel wait staff. Seems three employees called in sick, so they’re short-staffed. And I don’t want this event to be compromised because of it.”
“I’m absolutely terrible as a server,” I protest. “Remember my brief attempt at the Super Bowl after party?”
Bill glares at me. “Yes, I do. And I expect a far better performance than that tonight.”
Lilla laughs. “I’ve waited a bunch. But I was fired. That’s how I ended up in advertising, Bill.”
“Then here’s your chance to redeem yourself, Ms. Tamarich. And you too, Ms. Gordon. Get yourselves a drink and settle in. I’ll come find you shortly.”
The elevator doors open into the lobby, and we all step out with Lilla and me looking at each other as soon as Bill and his “lady friend” pass us.
“I can’t freaking believe this,” Lilla complains to me in a whisper. “This is going to completely suck.”
Lilla walks inside the bar first, and I follow behind her. The first thing I see when I step through the doorway is Dylan. He’s standing with a few of his teammates and laughing.
I’m immediately paranoid. Is he laughing at me? Waiting for me to arrive so he can make fun of how he played me for a fool all day, how he tricked me into thinking he actually liked me?
