“I am.”
I reach for my coat, but Billy’s already got it his hand. He bought me a black, floor-length winter coat. It was on sale so, I let him buy it. I currently owe him over eight hundred bucks for this outfit alone.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a box, one from a jewelry store.
“Billy, no.”
“It’s just a little something.”
I sigh but hold my hand out anyway. I’m so full of shit, I know. Popping open the box, I see there’s a gold necklace with a small emerald stone hanging from the center. It’s not over the top or anything, but it’s beautiful. I feel my eyes grow wet, but I shake it off. “It’s beautiful, Billy.”
“Perfect for your dress.”
“It is.”
Turning around, he removes the costume jewelry, placing it on a nearby table; then he hangs the emerald from my neck. Touching it with my fingers, I close my eyes and make a wish.I hope tonight is perfect. That his parents like me, and he kisses me at midnight like I’m the only one he’ll ever need.
“I hired a car for us. It’s downstairs. Shall we?”
“First, though.” I step closer to him, and I barely have to get up on my toes thanks to my shoes. I kiss his lips and whisper, “Thank you. For everything.”
“You’re welcome.” He’s smiling, but then his face changes to something much more serious. “I love giving you things. You don’t expect them or even want them, which makes it even more fun. And you appreciate everything you have. I’ve never met anyone like you, JoJo. It’s just one more thing I love about you.”
“Billy.” I choke up, doing my best not to cry. It’ll ruin my makeup, and if Luis at the salon gets wind I ruined his makeup, he’ll have my head. “I love you too.”
“Let’s go. Mom has been texting me all day. She can’t wait to meet you.”
I’m nervous. And when I get nervous, my stomach does all sorts of whirly swirly things.Deep breath, Jo. Deep breath.
* * *
“Champagne?”Billy holds up a bottle of the bubbly that was waiting for us in the back of the limo.
I know I shouldn’t. “Sure.” I little liquid courage would be nice. Billy and I sit hip to hip, our legs touching in the car. Just having him this close is helping calm my nerves more than the champagne ever will. “Don’t run off and leave me alone at this thing.” I look up at him. “Okay?”
“Don’t be nervous, JoJo. I’ll make sure you’re having fun. My family is going to love you.”
How can he say that? He literally barely knows me. He doesn’t know about that time in college when I got wasted and tried to do a keg stand but slipped and fell over a railing on to the beer-soaked grass below. Did I mention I was wearing a dress?
And he doesn’t know about that time I—
“We’re here.”
I look out the window and see Navy Pier come into view. The car takes a back way that I’ve never seen before. It leads to a parking area at the end nearest Lake Michigan. The driver pulls up to a set of double doors and stops. Billy taps on the window. “I’ve got this.” The driver nods. Looking at me, he adds, “Wait there.” He slides out of his side of the car and jogs around to mine. Opening the door, Billy holds his hand out to me. I take it and scoot out until my feet find the ground.
You can do this, Jo.
“Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
Hand in hand, we make our way through the double doors down a long corridor. There are other people walking toward the ballroom as well, but some of them aren’t dressed like we are. You know… fancy. At the entrance to the actual event, we check our coats and make our way inside. I gasp at the space. It’s huge and open. The dome is lit with colorful lights, but thanks to outside lights, there’s still a view of the lake from almost every window around the space. “Breathtaking,” I say with a sigh. “This is like a fairy tale.”
“That was the idea, my dear.”
“Mom,” Billy says excitedly, “Dad.” He wraps his mom up in a big hug then kisses her cheek. Next, he extends his hand out to his dad. I know now what Billy will look like when he gets older. A silver fox. He shakes his dad’s hand, but Mr. Mathers pulls him in for a hug and a back slap. “I’d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, JoJo Foster. JoJo, this is my mom, Rebecca, and my dad, William.”
Ah, now I know why he goes by Billy. Too many Williams can get confusing.
