“You have quite the brain.”
“That’s not where those ideas come from.”
She laughed. “I know.”
OceanofPDF.com
BAILEY
All week, I worked to complete the scholarship application, and by the time Saturday morning rolled around, every form was filled out, essays were complete, and letters of reference obtained. Perfect or not, I had to pull the trigger and submit it at some point rather than edit it for the umpteenth time.
As a reward for completing it, I allowed myself to deviate from budget a little. After all, if I’d splurged on a dress for my disastrous birthday dinner with Luke, I could justify buying something for the gala.
Before hitting the shops, Siobhan and I stopped by Starbucks for a requisite caffeine and sugar fix.
“It’s freezing outside,” Shiv said, nodding to my drink—an iced caramel macchiato—once the barista slid it across the counter. “How can you drink something cold right now?”
“It just tastes better this way.” I shrugged. Cold caramel coffee trumped warm caramel coffee no matter what the outside temperature. I didn’t make the rules.
“I don’t get it.” Siobhan shivered dramatically. “I practically need to carry a personal space heater everywhere I go to survive the winter.”
“That’s the Florida in you,” I said. “You’ll adapt to winters here eventually.”
She snorted. “Or freeze to death trying.”
We collected our coffees and made our way out of Starbucks and into the mall. It had just opened for the day, and it was already filling with weekend shoppers. Shopping with crowds was the worst—crowds in general, really—hopefully we wouldn’t be too long. Chase had led me to believe that probably wouldn’t be the case, though, so I’d mentally prepared myself for the possibility that I’d be here all day.
“I know I said I wouldn’t buy anything, but I think I’m going to cave on that point.”
Shiv turned to me, her eyes alight and a huge smile spread across her face. “Really? Yes! It’ll be way more fun if we’re both trying stuff on.”
Her definition of fun was wildly different from mine in this situation. Finding clothes that fit properly and didn’t make me look like even more of a giant was always a challenge, but items like dresses were somehow always hopelessly out of proportion in either length or width.
“But I have a strict budget,” I said. “Like, hard stop. I can’t go over that amount.” I really shouldn’t be spending any money, but we only live once, right? Even if it means I have to live on a bargain basement food budget as a result.
Her blue-green eyes sparkled. “I love a challenge. This is what I live for. It’s like a reality TV show where we have to compete to find the best deal.”
Good, because the idea of navigating the sales racks alone was incredibly daunting.
Coming to a stop by the mall’s directory, Siobhan scanned the list of stores, frowning in concentration.
“Okay, let’s make a battle plan.” She pointed to the screen, tracing out a path in the air with a well-manicured purple fingernail. “We should hit the department stores first. Find dresses. Then circle back for shoes.”
“Sounds good. I need shoes too.” My monthly budget was going to be blown to bits, but I could re-wear both the shoes and the dress. Or at least that’s what I told myself. Repeatedly.
“To be fair, I don’t know if I need them. My parents might kill me if they see another shoe store on the credit card statement. But Dal put in a request.” Shiv huffed a laugh, raking a hand through her dark hair. “More specifically, he asked that I buy ‘slutty’ shoes.”
I sipped my macchiato, trying to translate. “What does that even mean?”
“Probably a stiletto.” She shrugged. “You know, fuck-me heels.”
“That’s a thing?” Now I was seriously questioning my own shoe wardrobe. Did I own said fuck-me heels? Did I want to? I wasn’t sure on either count. I knew where Chase would stand on the second question, though.
Siobhan’s cherry-red lips pulled into a bemused smile. “How are you this innocent? I thought Chase would have corrupted you by now.”
“Oh, that’s well underway.”
She nodded behind me. “Let’s start at Nordstrom and work our way over to Bloomingdales.”
“That sounds expensive.” I sucked in a breath between my teeth, grimacing.
“You’re talking to the sales rack queen. Give me your budget and I’ll deliver.”
We navigated through the throngs of shoppers over to Nordstrom. Siobhan glanced down at her navy Apple Watch, scrunching her face up in thought.
“By the way, are you, um, coming to the game against Callingwood next week?” She hedged. “It’s totally fine if you don’t want to. Just wondering if I should talk to some of the other girls so I have someone to sit with.”
Walking into the department store, we headed to the escalators off to the back. “Yeah, I plan to.” And I’d pray beforehand.
“Awesome.” Siobhan drained the last of her mocha and tossed it into a garbage can as we passed by. “Moving out probably helped put a damper on some of that stuff. There’s no way it’ll be as dramatic as last time, right?”
“Right.” At least, I hoped so.
OceanofPDF.com
CHAPTER 48
OceanofPDF.com
FIND OUT
Bailey
The week flew by in a blur of classes, newspaper, dinner with Zara and Noelle, and trying to squeeze in some time with Chase. Emphasis on trying, because the universe seemed perpetually determined to make our schedules incompatible. If we didn’t have sleepovers, we’d never see each other.
Getting ready for the gala consumed a good half of my Saturday. Probably because Siobhan made an event out of it. We ordered takeout for lunch, we pre-gamed—in my case, that consisted of only one drink, because I had zero alcohol tolerance—and we listened to music while we got ready. I even curled my hair, which was a momentous twice-a-year event. Shiv had to swoop in and help me with my makeup because I still hadn’t mastered the fine motor skills necessary to make a straight line with liquid eyeliner. Probably never would.
When it was time to leave, Chase strolled through the door, and his jaw literally dropped. “I definitely should have tried to squeeze in a quickie with you earlier, because now I might die waiting.”
“Well, hello to you too.”
“Do you think there is any chance we still—”
His phone chimed, and he glanced down, brow furrowing. “Guess not. Ward’s timing strikes again.”
When Chase said the gala “nice,” that was a massive understatement. It was by far the most lavish event I’d ever attended. To be fair, that list mostly consisted of family weddings, which, in my middle-class suburban circle, meant they were held at a community center and were sometimes potluck. They were nice in their own way, but they weren’t high-end like this.
On top of feeling out of place at such a formal event, I was beyond starstruck. The banquet hall was stacked with college players, AHL players, NHL players, and management from teams at all levels. I had to stop myself from fangirling multiple times.