He sighed with relief. “You are a lifesaver, Aubrey. I really owe you one.”
A lifesaver? Surely that had to count for something with that old sleigh bell.
What if it rings and you aren’t there to hear it?
I murmured my goodbyes as I pondered the question. Was it like the old tree falling in the forest thing? But seriously, what if that was one of my selfless acts, and I didn’t even know it because I didn’t have the bell with me?
I’d have to start keeping that bell with me at all times.
Once home,I tried to decide between the black sheath and the red strapless dress with a flowy, fluffy tulle skirt.
Eh, why not go with the red? It had sparkles on the bodice and a cute little faux belt with a rhinestone buckle. Plus, red was a better color for me. And I also had a velvet shrug to keep me warm on the way. Well, warm adjacent, but I was just going from house to car to hotel.
But what if you embarrass Cole?
Embarrass him? What about this little red dress would embarrass him? My mind replayed things my mother had said to me, things my ex had said, and even things that my high school algebra teacher had said: “Aubrey, can’t you calm down a little? Can’t you dress more like an adult? Why do you always have to be the center of attention? Don’t you think that dress shows too much skin?”
The voices swirled in my head, and I reached for the staid black sheath dress, a classic LBD that I could’ve worn to a funeral.
No.
When I finally kicked Kevin to the curb, I promised myself that I would do only what I wanted to do. I would stop thinking about how anyone else wanted me to act or be or dress.
But you’re supposed to be doing selfless things, remember?
Well, if Cole wanted me to come to this party, then he wanted me to come as just the person I was. Besides, he’d seemed desperate enough to take me in sweats, so the red dress it would be.
Come to think of it, he’d never really been on my case as much as other people in my life. Not really. Oh, he wanted me to do my share of the dishes and wished my shoes wouldn’t clutter the living room, but he would’ve expected that from anyone.
Never before had I considered such things from his point of view. Of course, I’d spent a good idea of my life preemptively cringing, just waiting for whatever my mom would get on my case for next.
Shaking off any thoughts of my mother, I jumped into the shower and shampooed and shaved and did all of the things. Next, I worked with my unruly hair, deciding on an elegant updo to better show off my shoulders. Makeup? Dramatic. Lotion? With teeny flecks of glitter. Come on, this was a party!
Stepping into the dress, I called for the Lyft and then raced around to get shoes and accessories as a driver headed my way immediately. I found a clutch and grabbed the jingle bell to put inside. I wasn’t going to miss it if it rang this time.
8
Cole
Ibeat Aubrey to the party and stood by the door waiting nervously. She’d texted me to say she was on the way, but I still wasn’t prepared when she walked into the ballroom.
I drew in a breath at her red dress. It had no sleeves—not even straps—and a short puffy-looking skirt. She had her black hair all twisted up and wore more makeup than she usually did. The combination of shorter skirt and higher heels did fantastic things for her legs.
When her eyes locked with mine, she grinned, and it knocked the breath right out of me.
Best friend’s little sister—
Oh, shut up. She’s a grown woman.
As she walked to me with such purpose, I had the impulse to look over my shoulder. Surely, she couldn’t be there for me. And I had invited her!
About a yard away, she twirled. “Do I clean up nicely or what?”
“You are beautiful,” I said, my voice cracking on the last word.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said. “Except for those bags under your eyes. You’re working too hard.”
“Well, I have more work ahead of me. I can’t figure out what is making Ezekiel Angelo unhappy about this contract. It wasn’t what I thought,” I said as I led her toward the buffet.
