I look at the hangers. Jeans. Work shirts. The blazer I wear to client meetings. "I have nothing."
"Don't worry. I’ve got you." my roommate says.
I hear her bedroom door. A drawer. Hangers. She comes back with a dress over her arm and holds it up.
Black velvet. Halter neck, high and close at the front with a small keyhole cut below the throat. She turns it around and shows me the back. It has a wide structured bow in the samevelvet, the kind that has real weight to it, the ties going up to fasten at the neck.
"I bought it for last New Year's Eve. It's vintage, which is a fancy way of saying it's from a thrift store." She grins. "But it will look amazing on you."
I look at the dress and then at Emma, who is three inches shorter than me and narrower in the shoulder.
"Emma… I don't know…"
"Try it on."
The doorbell rings. She presses the dress into my arms with a pair of heeled strappy shoes and holds them out. "Try the dress with these." I take them and she's already heading down the hall. "I'll get the door. Try the whole thing."
She leaves.
I look at the dress.
I put it on.
The velvet is heavier than I expected. The front and back sit high and close against my neck. I reach back for the halter ties and fasten the oversized bow. The fabric settles. On Emma the hem would hit the knee. On me it stops mid-thigh. Not scandalous. But not what I'm used to either.
I look in the mirror.
I hardly recognize myself. I'm used to jeans. Messy buns, work boots and soil under my nails. The woman in the mirror has bare shoulders, an elegant dress and she looks like she might actually belong to a place like Vanta.
I wonder if Carter will think the same.
My stomach tightens. I press my fingers against the keyhole opening at my throat without thinking about it. I’m really excited to see him.
I smooth the front of my dress trying to settle the butterflies in my stomach. This night also has potential for high levels ofawkwardness. William will most probably be there too, being one of the owners.
And Adrian? Will he be there?
The thought of being in the same place with all of them after everything that has happened in the last few days has my body going hot.
"Oh my god." Emma is in the doorway with a hand over her mouth. She points at me. "Turn around."
I turn.
She whistles, long and slow. "You look absolutely fantastic." She crosses the room and holds out a black paper bag, ribbon handles, nothing written on the outside.
"This came for you. Courier. I bet Carter sent you a pre party gift." She glances at her phone and her expression changes. "Shit, I'm late. Raid my makeup drawer if you need to." She kisses the air beside my cheek, already moving, already in the hallway, and then the front door closes.
I sit on the edge of the bed.
The box inside the bag is matte black, the surface slightly soft. I open it.
Inside I find a lingerie set. Deep crimson. The fabric so soft and delicate I’m almost afraid to touch it. I pick it out of the box and a note falls landing on the duvet.
I put the lingerie down. Pick up the note.
Wear it tonight. Let's break the rules - Adrian.
I read it twice. Trying to make sense of what is happening.
