Mary spat a wad of toothpaste into the pink ceramic sink. “The capitalist.”
“I didn’tclimbhim,” Lizzy said, shooting Lydia a sharp glare. “We didn’t even kiss.”
“Right,” Lydia replied sarcastically. “You went outside to discuss the environmental impact of Hank’s wannabe Coachella.”
Mary paused. “You did?”
Lizzy shook her head. “No.”
Mary frowned and left the bathroom.
“So then, what’s the plan?” Jane asked Lizzy, forcing the conversation back on track.
“Tristan suggested we meet up after the party.”
Jane raised her eyebrow. “That’s kind of late for a date, don’t you think?”
Lizzy gave her sister a placating smile. “That’s why it’s not a date.”
“Whatever,” Lydia said. “I don’t care what’s going on with you two, as long as it doesn’t stop me from going to that party of his.”
Lizzy paused. “What party?”
A smug grin curled up Lydia’s lips. “Oh, he didn’t tell you? Apparently, he has an amazing place in the city and throws huge parties with all these celebrities and professional athletes. People he’s worked with, I guess. He promised to invite all of us.”
“When did he promise that?”
“At the Lodge,” Lydia said, shrugging. “You shouldn’t have left so early.”
Lizzy scowled at her.
“HURRY UP, LADIES!” Mrs. Bennet yelled from downstairs, hitting a decibel that seemed to resonate through the walls. “OR I’M LEAVING WITHOUT YOU!”
Kitty’s brow furrowed as she looked at Lizzy. “Aren’t you driving?”
Lizzy nodded, then focused on her reflection. When the official invitation arrived for the party, it described the dress code as “resort casual,” but after a week of research, she still had no idea what that meant. Her blue slip dress paired with her combat boots wereprobably nowhere near the ballpark but it was the nicest thing in her closet, and left her freckled shoulders exposed. Her hair was loose, falling around them in orange and crimson waves, and her dark eyes were accentuated by a slight cat eye. Whatever the dress code, Lizzy had to admit, she looked good. Over the past year, she’d barely had time to put on mascara, let alone wear anything other than her same small collection of band T-shirts and overalls. She hadn’t realized how much she had needed this refined view, so she took a moment to appreciate it, to finally—
“LET’S GO!”
Lizzy sighed. Never mind.
“You heard the woman,” she said, and began to shoo her sisters out of the bathroom.
“I’m not done with my lipstick!” Lydia moaned.
One by one they abandoned their tasks, disappearing out the door and down the stairs. Just as Lizzy was about to follow, Jane grabbed her hand, holding her back for a moment.
“Are you sure I look okay?” she said, her voice low again. “Is this dress too short? Maybe I should go try on—”
“Jane.” Lizzy cut her off with a smile. Her sister looked even more gorgeous than usual. Despite the fact that she barely had any makeup on, her red lip tint made her large eyes pop, and the square neckline of her cream-colored linen dress highlighted her long neck. If Charlie wasn’t already head-over-heels in love with her, he would be after tonight. “You looked amazing in all fifty outfits you tried on. You picked this one because you love it, right? That’s what matters.”
Her sister nodded, even though there was still a line of worry between her perfect eyebrows.
Before they could discuss further, Mrs. Bennet’s voice rattled the house again.
“THAT’S IT! I’M LEAVING!” Then, a moment later: “WHERE ARE THE CAR KEYS?”
Lizzy didn’t know what she expected from Charlie’s Fourth of July party, but it was definitely not this.
