“Bring a woman diamonds, and she asks for fast food.” Gavin shook his head. “Really can’t win with this one, can I?”
Molly slid her tush across the bench seat. “Depends on how big the diamonds are.”
Turned out, they were decent diamonds. Really decent. The rented kind of decent because no one could actually afford diamonds that size.
He clasped the necklace at her neck. The weight of the stones reminded her she was where she didn’t belong, and she was taking what wasn’t hers.
This must be why they called it a choker—because suddenly, she couldn’t breathe.
Perhaps she should’ve taken a cue from Rachel and wore no heels so she could have pre-gamed vodka.
The weight around her neck had her quiet during the rest of the ride. Even though Gavin held her hand and prodded her to take part in the small talk with openings here and there and everywhere.
“Hey.” Rachel looped her arm with Molly’s as the four of them made their way up the staircase to the event center. “Are you feeling okay?”
Molly nodded. “I’m fine. Why?”
“Uh.” Rachel tugged her to stop, letting the guys continue on. “Because you’re not talking.”
“I talked.”
“Not Molly amounts of talking.”
“It’s a lot,” she admitted. “This whole thing is a lot.”
“Because you’re scared to be happy?”
“No.” Molly leveled a stare at her best friend. “Because I’m wearing a necklace that definitely costs more than my car.”
“Enjoy it.” Rachel gripped Molly’s arm as they moved toward the entrance. “You get to wear diamonds tonight. Dress up. Dance. Eat wonderful food.”
“Says the woman who pre-gamed with vodka.”
“Which is why I’m so relaxed. You need a glass of champagne and to enjoy yourself. You deserve this.”
“I deserve this.” Molly strode forward to her date.
“Keep saying it,” Rachel said with a squeeze before handing her over to Gavin. “See you two at the table.”
“You’re not doing pictures?” Gavin asked.
“Later.” Rachel waved at them. “First, we are going to find Dave and meet his date.”
“This ought to be good.” Travis flashed a thousand-watt smile before Rachel led him away.
Gavin escorted Molly to the photo area, where there were complimentary photos sponsored by Puffle Yum. Because, of course there were.
They posed like they were in high school going to homecoming—the only thing missing was her corsage and his matching boutonniere. But, since she had diamonds bigger than her eyeballs, she could live without the corsage.
“Did Rachel get you sorted?” Gavin asked as they both smiled for another flash of the camera.
“I didn’t need to be sorted.” Even if she did, she didn’t want to admit it.
“Molly!” Gavin’s mother, Evelyn, parted the line beside the photographer like she was the belle of the ball.
The belle of the ball in canary yellow satin.
“The necklace.” Evelyn squeezed Molly’s shoulders to admire the gems. “The stones match your dress so beautifully. It’s perfection.”
