I just had my makeup done.
“Remind me to ask you for the motivational speech before we get ready next time.”
“Yes, well, that’s probably a good idea.” She fans my face with her hands, the gesture making me snicker. “Are you always this emotional?”
She means it teasingly, but I feel the words ricochet through me, hitting every nerve and insecurity as they go.
“Sadly, I’m not used to people being this nice to me.”
She opens her mouth and then closes it, silently removing my dress from the bag and looping the hanger over the hook on the wall.
“I think we all try to protect ourselves from the outside world. There’s an impossible number of variables that dictates how our day goes, and we have to decide which ones we’re going to take to heart and which ones don’t deserve our time.”
“How do you do it?”
“By remembering I’m fabulous.” She grins but I can see the fire in her eyes. “I’ve earned my seat at the table. My life is fast-paced and I work long hours, but I make time to recharge a priority. I don’t give a shit if anyone thinks my skirt is too short, and I don’t make myself smaller to fit anyone else’s narrative. I’llbe the villain in their story because I know damn well they don’t have a page in mine.”
I gape at her, knowing I’ve never had that kind of confidence.
But I can try—more than try.
Because I haven’t been the main character in my own life, and it’s time to change that.
Right now.
In the dress that Tom picked out because he knew before I did the kind of woman that would be stepping into the gala tonight.
“I’m so proud of you, Kat. You’re so much stronger than you know,” Emerson says, her espresso-colored eyes a little glassy this time. “Now let’s go show ’em what you’ve got.”
Emerson’s confidencein me had me riding high until we got to the venue, the imposing high-rise giving way to cathedral ceilings, extravagant decorations, and chandeliers dripping in crystals. I thought I might be overdressed, but I fit right in as much as I stand out walking through the crowd.
“I’m supposed to go fawn all over Jace but just know I will be over in a heartbeat if you need me, all right?” she asks, squeezing my hand as Jace saunters across the room toward us. “Oh, he’s precious,” she coos and I hide my laugh behind my hand because I’m not sure that’s the reaction he’s going for.
“Ladies,” he says, brushing a kiss against Emerson’s cheek, “you both look stunning.”
“You look very handsome,” she says and he preens.
She’s right, he is adorable.
The thought is a fleeting one as my gaze strays past them to where Tom is standing in a tuxedo that has me nearly coming on the spot. The man should come with a warning sign.
His lips curve up on the side as his gaze rakes over me like a physical caress, and that’s not helping with my composure at all.
“Oh my gosh, look at you, so pretty!” Hazel coos as she walks up and stands at my side. “All ready to accept your big award.”
“You look great,” I respond, bypassing the rest of her comment and the strange sense of foreboding.
Get it together, Kat.
The unknown is the worst kind of stress, and even though I desperately want to believe that everything is going to be fine, I’m just not there yet.
I wonder if I’ll ever look back on this night and remember being a part of something life-changing, not just for myself but for the kids.
Or will this night always be sullied by the hatred of someone beyond my understanding.
“Did you just get here?”
“I did.” I laugh nervously, not recognizing half the people in this room. “I haven’t even gotten a drink yet.”
