He winks at me and licks his lips.
I step backward enough that he’s forced to release his hold on me. Then I pick up his drink and dump it on his head.
“Don’t ever touch me again,” I say, my voice sounding surprisingly calm to my ears.
I keep dancing past him, but I’ve lost all sense of focus. I barely make it up to the stage for our final bows. Once we’re back in the van, Clarissa turns to me.
“That almost never happens,” she says. “I’ve never seen that man in here before.”
I tell her it’s okay, but her words just make me feel worse. So I happened to rendezvous with the only asshole they’ve seen?
As I drive home, I blink back the tears and try to forget about tonight. Between my father’s unexpected message and the man in the audience, I’m a mess.
I pull into my driveway and consider calling Cam to cancel. But Craig’s counting on us, and I won’t leave Cam hanging at the fundraiser by himself.
I tell myself to quit feeling badly and jump in the shower. I rinse off the bad energy as best I can, and then I spend forever getting dressed and even longer in front of the floor-length mirror in my bedroom. I decide on a long black skirt, white shirt, and black sweater. I pull my hair back in a tight ponytail and step back for one last look at myself.
Ugh.
I look drab and depressed. And for once, I’m not okay with that.
So I take down my hair, peel off what I’m wearing, and go through my closet again. This time, I put on a purple and black dress. It’s made of a thin, comfortable fabric that shows off my figure and yet keeps all the important parts of me covered.
The cool asymmetrical patterning on the sleeves was what really sold me on the dress, and when I put it on tonight, I still like the way it hangs on my body. I pair it with black ankle-high boots and a fancy purse that Mama insisted I buy in case I ever need to dress up. I pin my hair up in a bun with loose tendrils hanging down, and then I head for the living room.
Molly and Mama both squeal when they see how my hair’s pinned up in what Mama calls a “fancy bun,” but I make it clear to them that this is a business event. Molly’s on Cam’s side that it’s a date, but I tell her she’s way off-base. She just smiles and tells me to make sure I let him drive.
“You’ll need a couple of drinks to get through a party of that magnitude,” she explains. “I don’t like social events either, but you’re definitely the shyest one of us McMann sisters.”
“Let’s not focus on my shortcomings right now,” I say.
“It’s not a bad thing to be shy,” Molly says. “I just know how difficult this party must feel to you.”
I open my mouth to tell her that the party is the least of my problems right now. But I shut it just as fast. I can’t tell Molly about Daddy’s text in front of Mama. It would upset her too much.
“Isn’t that dress lovely?” Mama says approvingly.
“Thanks, Mama.” I kiss her cheek.
Molly and Mama get distracted and start laughing at a scene on the television.
“We’ve seen this episode like four times already,” I say. “We never watch any new shows. I think Celie’s right—this house is stuck in a time warp.”
Molly points at me with the remote. “You’re in a shitty mood. Why?”
She can read me like a damn book. I never should have started teasing her.
“I’m fine,” I lie. “I’ll see you later. Don’t wait up.”
I’m waiting in the front room watching out the window for Cam’s truck when my phone rings.
I glance down at the caller ID before answering.
“What’s up, Cel?” I turn away from the window and grab my coat.
“I need a favor.”
“Wait. Cel…”
