Twenty-eight
Maisie stood behind Lexi, making her feel like she was back in high school again, getting ready for a party or a night out. Of course, then she’d have been with Jackie and Becca. And she would be again tonight.
Nerves assaulted her in a way they never would have as a teen. She’d been too young and full of herself. How did someone who knew so little of the world feel so incredibly confident? Graduating made her feel like she was ready to take on the world. But even before her dad’s death, it’d been harder than she expected. Maisie peered around her so she too could look in the full-length mirror on the back of Lexi’s bedroom door.
“You look smoking hot. Will’s sisters know how to shop. Every dress is gorgeous but I think this is the one.” Maisie walked over to the closet where they’d hung the gowns. All of them, Gwen included, had fun trying on the real-deal name-brand designers. Prada, Chanel, Ralph Lauren. The collective cost of the couture garments in her room would probably buy a new car. Kyra had said she didn’t wear any of the dresses anymore. On one hand, Will’s younger sister reminded her of Maisie with her enthusiasm and openness, which made it easy to connect. On the other, the woman handed her thousands of dollars’ worth of dresses and said she could donate what she didn’t want to keep. Which, while sweet, flashed a light on their differences.
“I really thought the burgundy would be the one with your hair and eyes. I had no idea you looked so amazing in green.” Maisie lifted a pale-pink dress from the hanger and held it up against her body.
The emerald-green Calvin Klein she’d chosen had a V-neck bodice that was both sexy and discreet. Perfect for polite society. Lexi smirked at her reflection, loving the way the light bounced off the sparkling bodice. The waist cinched before flaring out into a flowing, tulle skirt that would swish beautifully while dancing or walking. Plus, it’d be easier to sit down in.
A knock sounded on her door right before her mother called out, “Honey? Will’s here.”
Pressing a hand to her stomach, she told herself that everything would be okay. The scales were starting to balance.
“You got this,” Maisie said, putting a hand to her back.
Air whooshed out of her lungs. “I do. And even if I don’t, Will always has it together enough for both of us.”
Lexi pulled the door open, watched as her mom’s eyes filled with tears.
Gwen clasped her hands together and tucked them under her chin, just staring. “It’s like prom, only better.”
Stepping into her mom, she gave her a hard hug.
“You are stunning. Your dad would be so happy to see you happy. So proud of the woman you’ve become.”
Tears threatened so she moved back, gave her mom a cheeky grin. “Or he would have mocked me for going to a snooty, upper-crust party.”
Her mother laughed, putting an arm around her waist as they walked toward the living room.
“I heard that,” Will said as they walked in. “Some of us snooty upper crust are pretty fun.”
Speaking of stunning. The man was gorgeous. His dark hair was newly cut. His strong jaw was clean-shaven and those deep-brown eyes sparkled with happiness. She enjoyed him so much she didn’t let herself think about what-ifs and what-happened-whens. Dressed in an actual tuxedo, he could have been the next Bond.
Their gazes locked but he spoke first. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”
Lexi laughed, a little too loud, almost on the verge of squeaky. “Stop. It’s not even my dress.”
Will came forward as Gwen dropped her arm. “Don’t do that. Don’t diminish how amazing you are. Not just in looks either.”
Maisie took Lexi’s spot, pulling Gwen into a side hug. “Our girl is growing up,” Maisie said with a sigh.
Everyone laughed, but Will kept his gaze laser-focused on Lexi. She pulled her lip between her teeth as he mouthed, Stunning .
“Let me take a couple pictures,” Maisie said, extricating herself from Gwen.
“It’s not actually prom,” Lexi moaned.
Still, they posed for photos and Lexi couldn’t help but think her mother looked happier than she had in a long, long while. Every day was still hard but there were little moments of progress. Things that might look like nothing to anyone else but meant something to Lexi. Two nights this week, when Lexi had needed to go to the second Side Tap location, Gwen had gone to bed instead of falling asleep in her chair. Yesterday, she’d offered to make Lexi a sandwich and jotted down a few items for Lexi to pick up at the store. She was taking an interest. She was coming back. She’d even pitched in with the pie. They’d made the filling together and used the premade crusts. It was delicious.
Maisie and her mother said goodbye at the door. It wasn’t until it was closed behind them that Lexi noticed the limo on the street.
“Seriously?” She looked up at Will.
He lowered his gaze and shrugged in such an adorable way Lexi’s heart expanded, grew bigger, right there in her driveway with the October moon shining down on them.
“It’s a company thing. Usually, we book one or two for the family for special events, but I wanted to be alone with you, so we have it all to ourselves.”
Lexi turned into Will’s front, grateful she’d splurged— thank you, Ethan, for the starting bonus —on a long, black wool dress jacket.
Putting her hands on his face, she held his gaze. “You are the sweetest man I’ve met. I feel like you’re not real and any minute now, I’m going to wake up back in my old life that was falling apart.”
His gripped her wrists, leaned in so their noses almost touched. “Not falling apart, just temporarily disrupted. But I promise you, you’re not sleeping.”
No, she wasn’t. She was very much awake and aware and she planned on taking advantage of every moment she had with Will. For once, she needed to take her own advice and stop waiting for the other shoe to smack her upside the head like a sledgehammer.
In the heels she wore, she didn’t need to go on her tiptoes, so she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ve never made out in a limo.”
Will bounced his eyebrows playfully. “Me neither. I’ll tell the driver to take the long way.”
It was like a fairy tale as she and Will entered The Grace, a historic and elegantly restored hotel in the heart of Seattle, overlooking the water. The lobby floor gleamed, light from the multiple chandeliers hanging on the regal tiled ceiling creating little bursts of light. High marble countertops lined the reception area. A sign to the right of the tall, gold-enameled doors pointed them in the direction of the ballroom where the gala was being held.
They checked their coats before entering the room. With every step, Lexi’s stomach swirled with a combination of excitement and nerves.
“Breathe,” Will whispered, patting her hand. It was gripping his biceps.
Loosening her fingers, she laughed. “Sorry. This is pretty swanky.”
“It is. But there’s an open bar and it’s a celebration, so it’ll be fun.”
The archway to the ballroom was decked out in gorgeous garlands of leaves in all the fall colors. Each of the round tables was dressed with a burnt-gold tablecloth. The centerpieces consisted of multicolored mini pumpkins, fat cream-colored candles, and beautifully dried flowers resting on dark-wood, cutting-board-style planks.
Will said hello and nodded to several people as they wove their way between the tables, heading for the front of the room near the stage, where they found Will’s family.
Kyra jumped up when she saw them and came around to give Lexi a hard, unexpected hug. “You look amazing! I’m so glad you found one that you liked.”
Still holding Lexi’s shoulders, she leaned back, looking down the length of her. “It suits you perfectly.”
Lexi smiled. “You’re too generous. I think Maisie and my mom will be trying them all on again while we’re out.”
“You look pretty good yourself, kid,” Will said, leaning down to kiss Kyra’s cheek. In a two-tone yellow dress with sparkly, Cinderella-like heels, Kyra was stunning.
The others stood. Lexi said hello to his sisters before Will introduced her to his sister-in-law Rachel, whose skin shimmered in her gold gown. She gave Lexi a quick, welcoming hug, easing the knots inside Lexi’s gut.
“I’m so happy to meet you. Try and breathe. Their parents aren’t as scary as they seem,” she whispered, squeezing Lexi’s shoulders.
Will’s father was a tall man who shared features with his son but in a more imposing sort of way. He gave her a tight smile that contradicted his words. “Nice to meet you.”
“We really need to have a proper family meal, dear,” Emily Grand said to Will. “It’s preposterous that this is the first time we’re all sitting down together.”
When she stepped back, Will whispered in Lexi’s ear, “Preposterous,” making Lexi laugh.
His grandparents were both elegant and adorable. His grandmother was a tiny woman, barely up to Lexi’s shoulders, dressed in a Katharine Hepburn–style dress while his grandfather looked like an older version of Will’s dad, distinguished in his tuxedo.
He charmed her immediately, giving her a hug instead of a handshake. “I told William, you’ll know when you know. When she’s the one, it’ll just hit you differently.”
A little kernel of longing lodged in her heart at the mention of her being Will’s one. Stop. It’s a fairy-tale night, not a real-life fairy tale.
Once the introductions were made, they’d only just sat when a waiter appeared by their sides to take drink orders. Champagne flowed as the Grand family shared memories of the store and its history all while saying hellos and chatting with people who stopped by their table. It’d been just her and her mom for so long Lexi had sort of forgotten what it was like to have a bigger tribe.
When her father was alive, her parents had multiple friends. They enjoyed hosting dinners and game nights. When people came over, their house was filled with food and laughter and love. The love was still around, but there was definitely less of the other two.
Which, Lexi realized as she sat here now, was an absolute shame. They hadn’t just lost her dad. They’d lost so much more.
“You okay?” Will leaned in, his fingers dancing along the line of skin between her shoulder and neck, sending shivers over her body.
“I am. This is wonderful.”
“In small doses,” he whispered.
She laughed. “Be grateful. You’re a lucky man, Will.”
Using his index finger, he turned her chin toward him. “I am grateful. For them and for you. I agree. I’m a very lucky man.”
The heat in his gaze warmed her from her toes to her head.
“Quit making googly eyes at each other,” Kyra said, leaning over into their space. “You’re making me jealous.”
Will pretended to push Kyra’s face back with his hand, making her and Lexi laugh.
“You’re a lucky woman, Alexandria. No annoying siblings.”
“Until now. Now she has us,” Maddie said from across the table.
“I apologize in advance,” Will said and the others laughed.
Lexi laughed along with them but inside, she reminded herself that as real as this was, it was also pretend. She wasn’t marrying this man. She wasn’t going to join his family even if she got to know them. Their limo wouldn’t turn back into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight but William Grand wasn’t her prince. This was a fairy tale Lexi had inserted herself into and when Will’s infatuation ended or the truth came out, she’d be alone again. He’d brought so much into her life. It would be so easy to let herself believe it could always be this good or better. What would have happened if Cinderella hadn’t married the prince?
Lexi listened to the Grand siblings, Rachel, and Will’s grandparents laugh and joke as more people filled the room. His parents sat rather stiffly, joining the conversation when spoken to but they didn’t seem to be in a very celebratory mood, whispering back and forth to each other. She liked that the others didn’t let it dampen their night and that they pulled her into the fold so easily. Like she belonged there. Lexi chose to believe that even if Cinderella hadn’t ended up with the prince, she would have found her happiness on her own terms. When all of this was over, she’d do the same.