Linking my arm through hers, Harley shortens his strides as he walks beside us like the third wheel he claims to be. If I thought I couldn’t get our kiss from the creek out of my head, I’m even more confused after whatnearlyhappened in his office.
I felt grateful to his mom at that moment for her interruption, but I spent the whole flight to California in the middle seat, with my hand an inch away from his, thinking about it. Wanting so badly to intertwine our fingers, just to know what it felt like.
Once we got back to our accommodation, Bea could sense there was something off, but we were both adamant that everything was fine. When we all went to our respectivebedrooms, I hovered out the front of his door with my fist up, ready to knock, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I chickened out.
It’s probably better that way.
Making our way to the top of the stairs, we step foot inside the venue, my two friends wide-eyed, mouths hanging open,oohingandahhingat all the little details I’d put together for the party.
The rustic ceiling is barely visible anymore, with hanging black roses covering almost every inch, and fairy lights filling the gaps. There’s a stop motion photo booth in the corner, where most guests are lining up, waiting for their turn. Black silk drapes over every wall, and I’d had rose gold, floating candles strategically placed in the middle of each cocktail table for a small splash of color.
Even though I couldn’t be here to help set everything up, I trusted Janelle and Frankie to execute my vision, and they nailed it.
"What’s this?" I hear Harley’s voice ask the server as she holds a tray of canapés in front of him.
"Chicken Liver Parfait with an onion glaze," the server says, a flirty smile on her face, batting her eyelashes at him.
Shrugging his shoulders, he takes two off the tray, none the wiser of the young girl’s flirtatious gaze, and shovels them into his mouth.
"How are they?" I left the food choices to Jenna, so this is the first time I’m seeing any of it.
"They taste expensive," he replies with a mouthful of food, before bringing a napkin to his lips.
"Says the rich guy," Bea teases.
"Exactly, so I know what expensive tastes like." He gives her a cheeky smile.
"Let’s find Jenna."
Everybody is dressed to impress, including Bea and Harley.
Bea has borrowed the blue dress I’d bought unknowingly for my birthday but never wore, after I determined it looked way better on her than it ever did me. It somehow made her brown eyes look lighter.
Her short, blonde hair is dead straight, sitting on her shoulders, without a kink in sight.
She’s paired it with a neutral smoky eye and a bold cat wing, and nude lips.
Harley is wearing black chinos that he had tailored to fit him this morning, slightly rolled up at the ankle. His black button-up shirt has the top button undone, and I wonder what he would do if I just…no, Cassandra.
His hair has been freshly cut, too, and his face is cleanly shaven, leaving his dimple visible for me to enjoy.
Not that he knows I like it.
"Cassandra," Jenna calls my name from the other side of the bar, and I run toward her as fast as my heels allow. She and I have spoken every single day since I’d been gone, but it’s just not the same as seeing her whenever I wanted. Before I moved back to Grangewood, we lived three song lengths away. Every Thursday night would be our night.
No matter what.
The distance between us is now two and a half movie lengths by plane, but we still FaceTime each other every Thursday night with a glass of wine and our dinner already made, ready to dissect the last week.
We call and text each other daily, too, and it helps fill the void that my departure created.
"God, I’ve missed you.”
She squeezes me so tight it’s almost hard to breathe.
"I’m so glad you came.” She pats away tears that formed in the corner of her eyes, careful to not ruin her makeup as she pullsaway from me and looks me up and down. "Miss Herring, you look fucking sexy," she purrs, whistling as she takes my hand in hers above our heads, forcing a twirl out of me. I opted for a short, tight, satin, dark red dress with a deep v for the neckline, showing just the right amount of cleavage. Just enough to make me feel sexy without making me uncomfortable.
