She kisses my forehead. “Only if you promise to go with Becks. You need to get out more.”
I glance between the two of them and their begging eyes, deciding there is no way I can say no.
“Fine, send me the details, and let me know which dress I should wear.”
Beck claps her hands excitedly. “The dress is covered. I’ll bring it over tomorrow. My treat.”
What?
I shake my head while Becks’s eyes shoot daggers at me. I have plenty of gowns from the galas I had to attend with the ballet, so why should they go to waste?
“Just say thank you, Becks. You’re the bestest friend in the whole world for treating me like a queen all the time.”
“Thank you, Becks, for being a pain in my ass, and…thanks for the dress. Now I’m leaving. I’ll talk to you later.”
I kiss Becks and Mom goodbye before limping up the stairs.
My phone blasts through my speakers, and I run over to see Becks calling. “Hello? Please tell me you’re running late because I am.”
“Of course you are, and you know I’m not, so get your ass downstairs,” she snaps and hangs up.
It grates on her nerves when I’m late, so I’m not surprised she’s pissed off, but she’s bossier than usual tonight.
I powder my nose for a shine-free evening and finish slicking back my hair before taking one last look in the mirror. You would think I’d be sick of my hair tightly pulled back after years of bun-wearing, but you gotta do what the dress calls for.
I spin around to make sure everything’s in place. Becks somehow always knows exactly what will look perfect on my body.
It’s a dark purple, silk, floor-length dress with a deep slit showing off my long-toned legs—her words, not mine—a high neck and low back. No embellishments or fluff, sexy yet still simple and classic. And, of course, I finish the look with the diamond studs my dad gave me when I earned the role of principal dancer.
Grabbing my clutch, I shut off the lights and lock up but hesitate when I turn the key. Shit…I run in and check the kettle.
It’s supposed to shut off automatically. Apparently, that function stopped months ago, and I may have forgotten a few times and left the apartment with it still on. It’s hard to remember everything when I’m somehow always running late sprinting out the door, but after my mom freaked out on me the other day, I won’t be forgetting anymore.
Hopefully.
I shut it off, turn back, and the letter from building management catches my eye. I tried to hide it, so if it’s out, Mom’s been sitting here worrying about it. I hide it again in my closet for now; hopefully, she doesn’t find it this time.
She’s upset, rightfully so, but we have time to figure something out. After all the hell we’ve been through this year, we’ll get through this. The Caldwell women are resilient.
The apartment buzzer goes off, and I press the intercom. “I’m coming down now. I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
“Yeah, baby, look at you!” Becks whistles over the nonstop, honking from down the street.
What the hell is going on down there?
My nosy neighbor, who sits on her stoop every night, pokes her head around to see what Becks is going on about, so I give a quick wave and run toward the Uber when something almost knocks me down.
“Hey. Watch it!” I stop short. “You’re not even supposed to be on the sidewalks, you jerk!” I yell after a biker speeding past me.
What is it, a full moon tonight?
I huff when I get in the back seat. “The city is in rare form tonight. Let’s hope it’s not a sign of how our night will go.”
“It’s been a while since we’ve been out all dressed up together. It’s going to be so much fun.” She leans over and kisses me hello.
“Hey, Jules!”
Gasping loudly, I throw my hand to my chest. “Holy fuck, Joshua, I thought this was a freaking Uber.” I playfully slap Beck’s older cousin’s arm. “When did you get back to New York?”
