He looksreal good.
“Isn’t New York getting the storm we just got?” he asks, but in a way that sounds like he already knows the answer.
“I think heavy snow is coming tomorrow but I’m not sure,” I reply, looking over at him. His dark hair falls onto his forehead.
“There’s time to figure it out. When the snow settles.” He grabs my hand with the one not on the steering wheel and pulls it to his mouth for a kiss.
I could melt in this front seat.
Stella is texting me when Holland parks the truck. As I’m responding, he keeps looking at his watch, like he has somewhere to be.
“We’re going to be late,” he says, opening his door, one foot out before I can even unbuckle my seatbelt.
When Holland opens the back door, putting Slate’s leash on and helping him down, I ask, “Late for what? Our casual dinner?” I scoff at him.
“You’ll be late for the surprise," He replies, his eyebrows raised, and his mouth pulled into a mischievous grin.
What surprise?
What is going on?
CHAPTER TWENTY
Ivy
DAY OF THE REDCARPET EVENT
We walk, hand in hand, through the mostly empty lobby—even the front desk is abandoned. Anyone who is out and about, offers me a smile and Holland a nod. It’s like they’re all in on some inside joke. When my heels click-clack through the empty hallway, I’m bummed Bea isn’t around to hear and make fun of me for it, just like she did during my first visit. Even now she'll sometime call me the click-clack queen.
Holland stops me at a set of closed doors, outside the main ballroom.
“Are you ready?” he asks, smiling at me, looking from my eyes to the doors and back again.
“For what?” I still have no idea what I’m about to walk into.
He clicks his tongue before saying, “You’ll see.”
Holland opens the door and the ballroom glows. Twinkly lights hang from the ceiling and around the room. Tables set up throughout the space have candles lit in different sized vases—many of the candles float in the water. The ballroom is full of what I’m guessing are guests and staff members, for whatever is planned.
“What is all this?” I ask, walking in.
Holland points across the room, “Look.”
Something is playing, on a screen, from a projector. I move a few steps closer and realize it’s a red carpet.A red carpet.Just as I’m about to turn away, I see someone who looks like Vivian walk across the carpet.
“That looked like Viv,” I say, squinting my eyes.
Holland smiles, looking at me to the screen and back to me again. “ItisViv. It’s a live feed from the red carpet and once everyone’s done walking it, we’ll stream the event.”
My mouth hangs open and tears flood my eyes. My best friend comes back on the screen and waves, knowing I’m on the other end.
“How did you do this?” My voice is small and there’s no way to hide the crack at the end.
Holland wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. “Bea and Viv really were the ones to make it happen, I just had the idea.”
Bea sees me from across the room. She waves at me, and I feel a tear fall down my cheek. Her hair is pulled back in glittery clips—a perfect Bea accessory.
“I can’t believe you did this." I turn to look at him and his caramel eyes make the lump in my throat impossible to swallow.
