“There.” Ember smiled softly. “What do you think?” I glanced at my reflection in the mirror.
“I think you are a master of your craft,” I complimented while checking out the cat eye liner she’d drawn on me. Ember rolled her eyes and snorted. “I’m serious. I’ve had my makeup done by tons of artists, and you do the best liner. If you get tired of the whole saving lives, being a nurse thing, cosmetology could totally be your next calling.” Ember hugged me before putting things away.
“Thanks. You look gorgeous. I’m glad you went with the pink dress.”
“You sure? It doesn’t clash with my hair?” My eyes connected with Tabitha’s as she looked at me like I’d grown an extra head.
“You literally look great in anything,” she encouraged before hugging me. “I have a good feeling about today.” She smiled at the mirror, and our eyes locked in the reflection.
“Sure.”
“I’m serious,” she said with a wistful smile. “He’s going to be here.”
“He?” Abby asked. “He who?”
“Her one.Theone.” Tabitha smiled brightly. “He’s going to take one look at you and fall madly in love.” My smile faltered at her words.
If only they knew.
“You sure you’re okay?” Abby asked. “You seem… off,” she observed, and I felt two other pairs of eyes fall on me. “Anything happen?”
The three of them had come to the suite I’d been given when I’d agreed to promote the event to help me get ready. Never, not since the whole prom incident, had I ever kept anything from them. But for some reason, I couldn’t get myself to tell them aboutDaddy. Caleb, I reminded myself.It was one night.The cynical side of me I thought had vanished perked up, trying to keep me from falling apart at the idea of never seeing Caleb Walker again. I tried to put on the most genuine smile I could muster.One great night, but the moment he found out who you were, he left.I knew that wasn’t true. He left because he had to make sure his daughter was okay.
“I’m good. I just… didn’t sleep all that great last night.”
“Because of the storm?” she asked, watching me closely. Too closely.
“Yeah,” I lied through my teeth. I’d been there when Abby and Tabitha had fallen in love, all of them at first sight. It had been hard to believe it was real even with having had front row seats to it. How could I tell any of them about Caleb and the night we’d shared without making it sound like something I’d made up or hallucinated?
“I should have called you,” Tabitha said.
“Hey, it’s okay. I was fine.” I got up and slipped my heels on. “What do you guys think?” I gave a slight twirl.
“Pretty in pink,” Ember said.
“Perfect in pink,” Abby added. I blinked away the tears that threatened to fall. Daddy had said I was perfect and thenleft.Because he had to make sure his daughter was okay!I reminded myself for the millionth time.Maybe I was too hasty running out?
“Okay, well, I gotta head down there,” Abby said, checking her phone. “Looks like the dessert caterer is here and the candy bar has been set up, but I have to check on the bartenders and make sure everything’s put in place before we get started.”
“Sounds good. You guys should head home, too,” I said to Ember and Tabitha. “That way, you won’t have to drive in the dark.”
“I’m not that much of a scaredy cat,” Tab muttered. The three of us smirked, giving her knowing looks. “Whatever,” she muttered under her breath as her own lips twitched. “Have fun and give people a chance. Be open to the possibilities.” If only she knew just how open I’d been last night.
“I promise,” I lied. My heart wanted one man and one man only. If it weren’t for the promise I’d made Abby, I would have been by his side at the urgent care to meet his sister and daughter.
But that hadn’t happened.
Instead, I’d stupidly walked away from the man of my dreams, who literally was everything I could have ever wanted, without even exchanging numbers. Tabitha and Ember said their goodbyes. Just as Abby was about to walk out, she looked at me from the hotel door, and there was something in her stare that made me brace.
“You know… we can talk about you know who when you’re ready.”
“You know who?” I repeated, trying not to freak out. Did Abby know something? Had she seen us?
“The guy you met last night.”
“What?” I squeaked.How does she know?
“You texted me that you were going on a walk with him and you’d left your phone at home, remember?” Holy fucking hell, I’d totally forgotten! “I figured since the girls didn’t know and you didn’t bring it up, I shouldn’t either.”
