by Ava Harrison
“Wow, you met his mother,” she repeats, and I nod.
“So, can you help me find an outfit to wear?”
“For tonight? Oh god, Bailey. There’s no way anything will be fancy enough here.”
“I-I have nothing to wear.” My mouth tightens, spreading into a thin line.
Harper lets out a sigh, and I peek up at her as her eyes soften.
“Let’s go find you the perfect dress. I know just the place—my treat.” She winks.
“I don’t expect—”
She waves a hand, cutting me off. “I know, sweetie.” And with that, she grabs my hand and pulls me down the street.
We walk about fifteen blocks before Harper slows her pace. As we stand at the corner of Fifth and Forty-Ninth, I allow my gaze to skate across the distance. A truck stopped at the light obscures my line of sight as I try to figure out just where Harper is taking me. She steps forward and, as the traffic clears, I can see where she is pointing.
“Saks, Harper? I can’t afford a pair of socks there, let alone a dress.”
“Will you let me worry about that?”
With a soft nudge of the shoulder, she walks by me and begins to cross the street. I quickly follow, not wanting to be left behind.
“Bailey, what are you doing in these parts?” A familiar voice says from behind me. I whirl around to see Carter, who, before I can figure out what’s happening, has me wrapped in his arms.
“Carter!” I squeal.
“Hi, Carter,” my sister says from beside us.
In true Carter Cass fashion, he lets me go and moves on to my sister, where he forgoes the handshake and crushes Harper into a hug. “Nice to see you again.”
She laughs. “You too.”
He smiles. “What are you two ladies doing?” he questions.
“Bailey has been invited to a gala and needs a dress. Oh, and she met Drew’s mother.”
Carter’s eyes flip to mine. His are wide.
I giggle.
“That’s amazing! We need to catch up and talk. I would love to stick around, but I’m meeting a friend down the street.” He waggles his eyes suggestively. I smirk.
“Well, we wouldn’t want you to be late, Casanova.”
He grins.
I wave goodbye to him and then grab Harper’s hand to continue our shopping adventure. When we arrive at the department store, Harper steps forward and opens the door. The door must be heavy as the muscles in her arms flex with the exertion.
The first thing I see is money. Not actual money, but you can just tell right off the bat that I don’t belong here. This place is dripping with fancy designers and expensive pieces. This place is more Harper’s scene. Harper was always more into this stuff than me.
“This way,” Harper says as she pulls me through the cosmetic section and toward the ornate gold elevators along the back wall of the room. It’s shocking how chaotic the space is. I’m not sure how so many people have the time or the inclination to go shopping. I can think of a million things I would rather be doing right now. The truth be told, I’m so nervous about this gala that I would rather have a root canal than be shopping for a dress.
I look over to see Harper rummaging through a rack of dresses. She’s definitely on a mission. The first dress she pulls out is god-awful. It’s pink and frilly, and I think it might even have rhinestones on it. I shake my head adamantly at her, then mouth the words, “HELL NO.”
Next, she pulls out a long black and nude dress that dips so low in the front I’m not sure how she thinks the “girls” will stay in place. I don’t even need to veto this one as her eyes look like they may pop out of her face as she replaces it. She then eyes a white chiffon dress across the room and makes a beeline to grab it. Once standing in front of the dress, I see her scrunch her nose and turn to look me up and down. Pulling the hanger off the rack, she thrusts it at me.
“Try this on,” she orders, and I throw my hands in the air while shaking my head back and forth again.
“God, no. I’m not wearing that.”
“Why not? It would look amazing on your skin tone.”
“I’m not wearing white. Next.” My hands go to my hips as I stand my ground.
“You’re impossible. You know what? I’m going to grab some help. Stay here. Do. Not. Leave.”
I let my eyes roll back. “Fine, Mom.”
She sticks her tongue out at me and laughs as she turns the corner and goes in search of a sales associate. I pull my phone out of my bag and check my messages. One from Drew. My lips part into a huge smile.
Drew: My bed is lonely without you.
Me: You’re still in bed!!! Must be nice. Harper has me all over the city shopping—it’s torture!
Drew: I’m sure it’s not that bad.
Me: It’s pretty much like waterboarding.
Drew: Being a bit dramatic, are we?
Me: Shut it!
Drew: God, I love that mouth of yours.
Me: Shit, I see her coming back.
Drew: Let the waterboarding resume.
Me: You’re no help.
Drew: Sorry, babe, I’ll see you tonight and make it all better. And I’m sure no matter what you buy, you will look stunning.
My cheeks flush. God, I adore him. He has this way of making everything all right. Placing my phone back in my bag, I turn my head to Harper, who is quickly approaching with a tall, willowy blonde. When they are standing directly in front of me, the blonde reaches out her perfectly manicured hand.
“I’m Claudette. Your sister tells me you need a gown for the Night of Hope Gala. We won’t find anything in this section that’s appropriate, so I’m going to set you up in our private fitting room and pull a few dresses that will be perfect. Follow me.”
She flashes me a smile so bright I might go blind before taking us to probably the most beautiful fitting rooms I have ever seen. A gorgeous Louis XVI French sofa sits in the back of the room. It’s an exquisite shade of plum with hand-carved mahogany arms.
“Would either of you like a glass of champagne while you wait?”
“Would you mind if I had one?” Harper asks, softly.
“Of course not. Drink away.” I laugh at my sister and then turn to Claudette. “I’ll just have water, thank you.”
“Great! Let me grab both your drinks, and I’ll be right back.” She shuts the door, and Harper sits down on the couch.
“Pretty fabulous, right?”
“Yeah, it’s amazing. Not sure I belong here, though,” I say as I take a seat next to her. Her hand reaches across the couch and pats my knee.
“Of course you do, Bae. You deserve this and so much more.” My eyes mist, and I turn my attention away from her to halt the onslaught of emotions threatening to expel.
We sit in quiet until the door swings open and we are given our drinks.
Within ten minutes, a giant moveable rack of gowns is placed before us. All long and made with different fabrics. I look them over, and then one jumps out at me. A sheer, floral pattern, black lace gown. It’s the most beautiful dress I have ever seen. With the help of Claudette, I step into the gown, and Harper’s mouth drops.
“Wow, Bae! You look amazing,” she says, her eyes huge.
“Really? You think?”
“I don’t think, I know. Turn around and look at yourself.”
My breath leaves my body. If I thought the dress looked good on the hanger, it’s nothing compared to how it looks on me. It molds perfectly to every curve on my body. Pulling out the price tag from under my arm, I begin to choke.
“Oh my god, that can’t be right. Shit, Harp . . . This dress is—”
She holds her hand up to me. “Stop right there. This is my gift to you, and before you utter another word, don’t. I want you to have it. I’m so proud of you, and it would mean everything to me to give this to you.”
Tears well in my eyes, and I throw my arms around her neck. “Thank you. I love you.”
“I’m so proud of the woman you are b
ecoming, Bae.”
A lone tear trails down my cheek. Her words mean everything to me. I hope I never let her down again.
62
Drew
After Bailey skips out on me to go shopping, I ponder what my mom said the other night at dinner. What could she possibly be hiding? The whole thing is so strange. It’s utterly shocking in the best way possible, but I want to get to know the rest, so I jump out of bed and into the shower. I can still smell Bailey all over me. I could sit in her scent all day, but my mother would not appreciate it. They seem to have gotten off to a good start—no reason to mess up a good thing.
When I pulled into my parents’ driveway an hour later, I notice two things right away. My dad’s BMW is sitting in the driveway, which is strange because typically, he’d be on the golf course on a Saturday or out of town. No fail. Secondly, an attractive younger woman is sitting in the passenger seat who is not my mother.
It’s no secret that my father is a philanderer, but he has never blatantly rubbed it in my mom’s face. This is downright tasteless. I’ve gone from zero to fucking pissed in less than .01 seconds. He better hope he manages to sneak by me because I want blood. Luckily for him, he doesn’t even see me and remains in the car.
I tear out of my car, stalking toward the front door without even a second glance at that woman. I yank open the front door with a jerk and yell for my mom. Barreling down the hallway, ripping open door after door, I continue to call for my mother. I see her frazzled face as she turns the corner, hauling ass in my direction, clearly concerned.
“What in God’s name, Drew? We could hear you all the way on the other end of the house. What’s the matter?” She looks horrified, if not dumbstruck.
“What the hell is Dad doing here with another woman?” I’m seething.
Her face softens, and she pats my hand. “Oh, come now. That’s only Sarah, his financial advisor. She accompanies him on most golf outings.” She rolls her eyes. “Nothing new there.”
“Golf outings, my ass,” I say under my breath, but my mom throws a stern look my way. “I don’t care who she is. It’s disrespectful to bring his whores here.”
“Drew, calm down. Nothing is going on between those two. Sarah is actually a very nice girl. In fact, I think she’d run in the opposite direction from your father if she could. She’s very young and bright. She’s just doing what’s expected of her by him. I’m quite fond of her. You can relax.”
“Why is he even here? He hasn’t been around the past several times I’ve stopped in. I thought we were finally rid of him.”
She frowns. “Despite any issues your father and I have, you should respect him.”
I scoff. “I can’t respect someone who has given me every reason to be disrespectful toward them.”
“Please don’t carry this hate for him on my behalf. I allow most of what occurs in this house.” She lowers her head, looking ashamed.
That may be the case, but my mother shouldn’t have to allow that sort of behavior. He’s an adult and knows right from wrong. He’s a world-class prick, and most days, knowing I’m his offspring makes me cringe.
“I just don’t get why you stay with him.”
She laughs. “Where would I go, huh? Would I come live with you? Your father isn’t giving up his sprawling estate, and I organize the charities. This world would not be kind to me if I tried to start over. I came to terms with my fate a long time ago, Drew, and I wouldn’t change a second because I had you.”
For the first time in maybe my whole life, looking at my mom feels comforting. This is what a mother should be. Why wasn’t it always like this?
“Why, Mother? Why the coldness all those years?”
She sighs, resigned to have this conversation. She knows I won’t back down until I have the answers.
“I’m sorry you felt I was cold. It was never my intention. I put a wall around myself, but I never knew it affected you. For many years, I tried to build my own empire. I worked so hard to network and build a brand in myself so that eventually, when I had the resources, I could take you and we could leave. I tried to get out from under your father’s thumb, but I failed.”
“I can understand that, Mother, but where did it all go wrong? Between you and Dad, I mean.”
“I know you think you know what my life has been, but there are a lot of things you don’t know. Your grandma and grandpa were not my birth parents.” My mouth drops open, and creases form between my brows. My mother continues.
“My birth parents were drug addicts. I was placed in foster care at the age of five, and that’s when your grandma found me and took me in. They couldn’t conceive on their own. I don’t remember much from those first five years, but no child should ever have to live through what I do remember. Your grandparents saved me in so many ways. They gave me things I would’ve never experienced. They were great people.”
I have so many questions, but I can tell she isn’t finished.
“I met your father through the usual social channels. I always knew I wanted to marry someone like your grandfather—strong, hardworking, loving—and I got the first two. I thought your father loved me, but soon after we married, the charade dropped, and it became obvious I was just another step to his world dominance. Ha. My trust was quite large, and it helped to get his empire started as opposed to mine. I was a fool. His family had money, but nothing like mine. He wiped my trust clean and made sure I wouldn’t receive a dime of his as a part of our prenuptial agreement.”
I hate my father and all that he stands for. What he’s done to my mother is unforgivable.
“I don’t want you to worry about me, Drew. I’ll be fine. We have a gala to get ready for.” She smiles. “I want you to have something.” She walks out of the room and returns shortly.
“Here, open it.”
I open a box to find a ring. It looks antique with a large diamond encased in smaller ones.
“What’s this for?”
“This is the ring your grandfather gave your grandmother. You remind me a lot of him. He was a reckless young man who grew into a strong, powerful, loving man. He may not have been our blood, but he was every bit my father from the day he adopted me. Seeing you with Bailey made me happy because I can see that you’re finally happy. I believe she’s helping you to find the man you were meant to be. I want you to have this. Maybe one day . . . you will give this to her.”
Is it that obvious? Can everyone see what this girl is doing to me? I don’t like feeling vulnerable, and that’s exactly what I feel right now.
“You’re more like him than you are your father. Stay that way, Drew. Promise me you won’t lose that kindness I see in you. Take care of Bailey, too. I can tell she’s had a rough go of things, but she’s a good girl.”
I don’t even realize it until the first tear slides down my cheek, but my mother’s praise means more to me than anything in this world.
63
Bailey
As I make my way down the hall to where Drew is, I watch as he takes me in. His eyes go wide and sweep from my head to my toes. As I move closer, his breath hitches, and his Adam’s apple bobs. Leaning toward me, he brushes his lips lightly against mine.
“You are breathtaking, Bailey. I’ve never—” He chokes up, and I smile at his reaction. “I’ve never been prouder to have a woman on my arm.” I peck his cheek, eliciting a smile from him. “You ready?” he asks, his words tickling my mouth. It feels like the soft petals of a flower, and I lean into him once more, never wanting to break away. A laugh escapes me at the sensation.
“Come on, we’re late.” He grins.
He pulls away, and my mouth immediately misses him. Our fingers entwine, and we walk into Cipriani on Forty-Second Street. As we make our way inside, I can’t muffle the gasp that leaves my body. The room is breathtaking. Large marble columns rise toward the soaring ceilings as delicate trees of orchard branches climb out from the tables lit only by candlelight. I’ve never seen anything so magnificent in my life
. A waiter with a tray of tall flutes of champagne walks past us, and Drew lifts an eyebrow to me. I shake my head, and he grabs one for himself.
I beam up at him, and he smiles down at me. He looks so incredibly handsome in his slim-cut black tuxedo, I can barely stop staring at him. He must know it too because his lip quirks up, and he leans in.
“I can’t wait to get out of here and see what you have on under that dress.”
Not much.
Drew trails his hands up and down my skin, sending shivers and goose bumps all over me. He lifts his eyebrow with a smirk.
“Cold?”
“Hardly,” I choke out, my eyes dilating.
“Let’s find my mother, dance a little, and then get the fuck out of here. It’s been way too long since I’ve been inside you.”
And, god, has it. It feels like an eternity since this morning.
I nod as he places his glass on an empty tray when another waiter walks by. The dance floor is alive and vibrant with a twelve-piece orchestra playing on the stage. On the edge of the dance floor, I see Cynthia. She looks lovely with her chestnut hair pulled back into a chignon and sparkles of diamonds across her neck reflecting glimmers of light. She throws her head back in laughter, and my own smile comes. She truly is a remarkable lady.
“There she is, Drew,” I say, pointing over in her direction, and we walk across the dance floor, weaving our way through dancing guests.
“Drew, darling,” she says as she places a kiss on his cheek, then beams up at me.
“Mother,” he responds.
“Bailey, such a pleasure to have you here tonight. You look stunning. I can see why my son is so smitten.”
My face heats, and I’m sure I’m blushing. “Thank you so much for having me, Mrs. Lawson. This is magnificent. I have never seen anything so beautiful in my life.”
“Cynthia, dear. And I’m so happy you think so. This event means so much to me.” We all stand silently for a minute, taking in the activity around us before I feel Drew’s hand make contact with the small of my back again. I love and hate this dress. Every time he touches me, I want to beg him to take me right here on the dance floor. And seeing as that’s not an option . . .
