But no. He’s annoyingly great at tying towels, and he’s always courteous and considerate. He even helped me find a few books that were missing from the boxes from Owen’s place. I don’t remember taking them out, but I must’ve done so. Some of my favorites—ones with lots of highlighted passages—turned up in the library and the living room.
At the same time, he keeps sending me flowers at Get Jacked. They all come with notes in a foreign language. Each day there’s a new language—I can tell because the writing is different. Then in the afternoon he’ll send me the cutest cupcakes or truffles, also with mysterious messages. I keep them all to read on our one hundredth day together.
The little gestures make me feel cherished and important—because he is thinking of me, even when he’s busy at work. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he likes me, but I just can’t believe it.
He must be acting in case we ever run into someone one us of knows—or Joey invades his home again. It’s just that Nicholas is so convincing that I keep forgetting he doesn’t mean any of it.
–Georgia: You’re right. He’s always really proper. I’ve occasionally wondered what kind of woman could shake that composure.
Yeah, you and me both.Maybe one of those hot actresses or models could shake him up. I can totally picture it. They’re glamorous enough to match his effortless magnetism and panache.
Speaking of which… I need to figure out what I’m going to wear to the gala. I don’t have anything sleek like what his other dates have worn to similar events. My closet consists of clothes I picked up from thrift stores and clearance racks. They’re nice, but not good enough for the kind of functions Nicholas goes to. Well, there’s what Dad bought for me, but those dresses are too small—and not very flattering because of that.
I don’t want to embarrass Nicholas by underdressing. I need something spectacular, something that will wow. My gaze drops to my hands. At least my nails are nice. But that’s not much of a consolation at the moment.
Definitely time to go emergency shopping. It’s too bad Georgia’s out of the country. She loves shopping almost as much as chocolate and reading. And she’d know the kind of high-end stuff I need.
Argh. I dig my fingers into my hair. I shouldn’t have been procrastinating out of fear and uncertainty, but what do I know about high fashion or fancy clothes? I’ve glanced atVogue, but the stuff the magazine features isn’t anything I’m ever going to be able to wear and feel comfortable in. Besides, do I want to spend twenty-six thousand dollars I don’t have on a dress that looks like malformed cotton candy?
I could ask Cody for help, but that seems wrong. He’s Nicholas’s assistant, not mine. And even if he gave me some suggestions, being able to afford the items is another matter.
I’m just putting my phone down when Georgia sends me a photo. It’s a screencap of Owen’s latest post.
Getting ready to take my girl to the charity gala tonight. They’re going to auction off a date with my fiancée—which normally I wouldn’t allow, lol, but it’s all for a good cause.
Is he coming to the gala Nicholas and I are attending?Probably,I decide with a sinking feeling. How many charity galas are happening tonight?
And he’s going to bring Dana.
Dad’s disapproving voice rings in my head.You had your chance to be better, Molly.
How long does it take to develop food poisoning? I could eat an iffy egg in the next hour…
Wait. Would that give Nicholas enough time to find an alternate date for the gala? He won’t want to show up solo.
–Georgia: His smug-ass posts are pissing me off. “My fiancée” this, “my fiancée” that. :puke-emoji: I can’t believe he got invited to the Pryce Foundation gala. I thought that family had better taste.
–Me: They probably just want his money.
Maybe this is why he felt the need to dump me so abruptly. He didn’t want to take me as his plus-one and ruin his “personal brand” in front of all the rich and important people.
–Georgia: Ha, he wishes! They laugh at his kind of money. He isn’t rich or important enough to be invited. Nikki told me everyone wants to be on their good side.
–Me: What’s so special about them?
And what do I need to do to make sure I get on their good side? Or at least their neutral side. I don’t want to do anything to embarrass Nicholas or jeopardize his relationship with them.
–Georgia: They’re old money. Not like Hollywood, even though Ryder Reed is some kind of cousin. And they married into other important and rich families. Like the Sterlings of the Sterling & Wilson fortune. They’re somehow connected to the Lloyds too, I think.
I don’t know anything about those people—other than Ryder Reed, of course, since he’s a huge movie star—but I understand they’re influential. The kind of people Nicholas would like to be friendly with.
My anxiety about the evening shoots up high enough to go into orbit. But being cooped up in my room solves nothing. I need to get a caffeine boost and figure out what I’m going to do. The iffy eggs option is sounding really good about now. Maybe Joey or Cody can find Nicholas an emergency fake date.
When I get downstairs, Nicholas is making coffee. He and I both prefer to have a slower start on weekends.
Several sips of the fresh brew later, my brain is functioning better. And with better brain function comes a better mood. I can probably splurge quite a bit on the dress I need. Look at all the money I’m saving on rent and utilities.
I put bagel slices for us in the toaster. It can brown four at once.
