She’d found it in one of those upscale, secondhand thrift shops that carried designer labels. Even half off, the thing cost a fortune. But she’d put aside enough money to make the purchase. Then she hung it in the back of her closet and hoped. Hoped that someday she’d get to wear it.
Today was someday.
Thankfully, it still fit.
Silver sequins on white silk, a slit up to her right thigh and stilettos she’d bought to match.
She’d even sprung to have her hair professionally styled, her curls wrangled into a sleek twist that totally hid the way they liked to get outrageously frizzy later in the day.
Red lipstick. A whole lotta sequins. And hair that didn’t look like she’d stuck her finger in an electric socket. And Oliver was with friends.
“Why do you carry shooters of liquor in your purse, anyway?” Molly asked.
Rachel gave her a look like she’d dropped her marbles on the carpet of her bedroom. “Evelyn and her damn doesn’t-exist cat.”
Rachel pulled a second one from her purse, cracked open the lid and took a little sip. “And it’s difficult to carry a flask into the ballrooms at these things. But these little guys”—she held up the tiny bottle and gave it a shake—“fit perfectly in my clutch or my cleavage.”
“How many do you have in there?” Molly should look; she should probably even confiscate some of them. For the sake of Tomorrow Rachel, who would appreciate not being hungover.
“Enough,” Rachel said. “I have enough to get through a night like this with my mother-in-law.”
“Don’t they serve cocktails at these things?” Molly figured there would at least be a champagne fountain. What good was a black tie event without a champagne fountain?
“Oh, there are drinks.” Rachel sashayed toward the door to the hallway. “But I like to be extra prepared, just in case.”
“You’re channeling your inner Kaiya?” Molly confirmed, following her.
“Yup.” Rachel nodded. “It’s best not to find yourself unprepared around Evelyn. Or her cat.” The last part was whispered.
“Good to know,” Molly murmured.
“Do you have plans for after the event?” Rachel asked as she trotted down the stairs—she’d not gone with high heels.
“Just to come home.”
“Nothing else?” Rachel turned to Molly, nonchalant, like she wasn’t prying.
“Not as of now.” Molly rolled her eyes.
Since Travis and Rachel were also attending the event, the boys were all spending the night at a friend’s house. There was a promise of soda and pizza and a late-night movie.
Ollie wouldn’t be home until well into the afternoon tomorrow.
Which meant…Molly could spend the night with Gavin. If he wanted to. And she wanted to. And they wanted to, together.
Just because she could spend the night with him didn’t mean she would.
Could and would were, absolutely, two separate things. Just because she could, didn’t mean she should. You know?
She wouldn’t.
Oh, boy,no, she wouldn’t.
She’d take her Cinderella night with the dress and the shoes and the hair, and she’d enjoy it. Then she’d set Gavin free to roam with Cassidy—like she should’ve done before. Like they were destined.
Guilt gnawed at her stomach. The guilt of knowledge that this was a night she straight up stole from another woman.
But Cassidy could have the rest of her life with Gavin.
