17. Natasha
NATASHA
“Do I look okay?” Stacy asked me for the third time in as many minutes.
“You look great.” And she did, dolled up in her signature bright colors and perfectly mismatched patterns.
“I’m so nervous,” she said, wringing her hands together. “I don’t know why. We’ve been chatting every day.”
I glanced down at my phone as it buzzed.
It was Trent, messaging to say he’d be there to pick us up in just a few minutes.
I grinned at the little heart emoji he added at the end of the message.
My own heart skipped in response. I was attending Hailey’s birthday party as his guest, and Dominic had invited Stacy.
Actually, he’d insisted she come along rather than just dropping off the dress she’d made for Hailey.
And Stacy had been freaking out ever since.
She’d stormed into my apartment at seven this morning, and the party didn’t even start until twelve.
“What if Hailey doesn’t like the dress?” she said, smoothing her hands over the garment bag she’d packed the dress into.
“She’s going to love it,” I assured her. “How could she not? It’s a poof of pink and purple fabric bedazzled with every rhinestone in Queens. That’s every little girl’s dream, right?”
Stacy’s lips twisted. “You think I went overboard?”
“There’s no such thing. It’s perfect. Trust me. You don’t have anything to worry about.” It looked like a unicorn threw up—perfect for a five-year-old.
Stacy worried her bottom lip. “I just want Hailey to love it. And Dominic too. I feel like this is some sort of test.”
I hadn’t ever seen Stacy this worked up about a guy.
Certainly never over any of her theater guys.
She was usually so damn positive about everything that she hardly flinched when it didn’t work out.
She just moved on to the next guy, forever chasing that figurative Mr. Right. But maybe Dominic was different.
Maybe her feelings for him were different.
My phone buzzed again. “That’s Trent,” I said. “He’s downstairs. Are you ready?”
Stacy tossed the garment bag over her shoulder. “I feel like I’m gonna throw up.”
“Try not to get it on the dress.” I grabbed the small box I’d wrapped—a unicorn toy that the saleswoman had assured me was all the rage this year—and steered Stacy out the door, hurrying down the steps to meet Trent.
He’d turned up in the same car we’d taken on our date, and I tried not to think about all the things that had almost happened in this vehicle as Stacy slid across the seats.
“Hi,” Trent said, pecking me on the cheek.
“Hi.” I climbed in after Stacy. There was a huge box wrapped in sparkly pink paper sitting on the floor. “What’s in there?”
Trent arched his eyebrow as he sat beside me. The driver pulled away from the curb, heading into Manhattan. “The present?”
I laughed. “I understand it’s her present, but what did you get her?” My box was dwarfed in comparison. “That’s massive.”
“Oh,” Trent laughed. “Yeah, I had no clue. Dominic sent me a link to some princess castle looking thing.”
“You’re telling me you don’t keep on top of the latest and greatest princess toy trends?” Stacy teased.
Trent smirked. “I’ve been surprisingly lax about it.
But in all honesty, Dominic has us all on strict present restrictions.
He went through a long custody battle with his ex, and Hailey ended up being a little too spoiled during that process.
I think he was feeling bad. Now that everything’s settled, he’s realized her playroom is exploding. ”
“Divorces are tough on kids,” Stacy said. “I’m not surprised he tried to find other ways to compensate.”
“He sounds like a great dad,” I said.
Trent nodded in agreement. “He actually had her pick out a bunch of her old toys and donate them. He’s trying to instill some good values in her. But he said there were a lot of tears when parting with some headless Barbies.”
I snorted, and Stacy nodded sympathetically. “Those are always the most loved.”
“Really?” Trent asked.
“I think we all had a headless Barbie,” Stacy said. “It’s like a rite of passage.”
“Not me,” I said.
Stacy rolled her eyes. “Because you were probably whittling your own doll out of wood.”
We pulled up in front of a luxury high-rise building.
Trent greeted the doorman by name, and we were directed up to the roof, the three of us taking the elevator.
A large sign board that read HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAILEY hung by the entrance to the rooftop terrace.
The space was enclosed in glass, a few of the braver guests venturing out to the balcony to take in the chilly view.
“You’re here!”
I whirled around, spotting Dominic. He had a lopsided party hat on his head and a gaggle of giggling preschoolers chasing after him.
“Uncle Trent!” a little girl cried. I assumed this was Hailey. She ran over, throwing herself around Trent’s legs. “Is that for me?” She pointed to the present in Trent’s arms.
“It’s definitely for you.”
Hailey cheered. “So many presents!”
“Hailey,” Dominic said, exasperated.
“It’s okay,” Trent said, clapping him on the shoulder. “She’s allowed to be excited. It’s her birthday.”
“I’m just trying to control the chaos.”
Trent grimaced at a horde of squealing preschoolers, nodding in solidarity. “Better you than me.”
“I don’t know if controlling the chaos is possible today,” Stacy said.
Dominic beamed at her. “I’m really glad you came.”
“Me too.” She handed over the garment bag. “This is for Hailey.”
He took it. “Give it to her with me?”
“Sure,” Stacy said, wandering off with Dominic.
Trent turned over his shoulder to look at me. “So there’s definitely something happening with them, right?” He gestured after Dominic and Stacy.
“Definitely,” I said, taking his hand. We walked across the terrace Dominic had reserved for the afternoon. The entire space was done up with streamers and balloons, and despite Dominic’s protests, there was a long table loaded with presents. We added ours to the pile.
Another crowd of little girls went racing by us, streaming over toward a magician who had started crafting balloon animals. Trent made a face, and I laughed softly, squeezing his hand.
“Looks like Dominic rented out all the entertainers in town,” I said.
“I don’t know how else you’d corral the kids,” Trent said, dead serious.
We made our way to the other side of the terrace, where there was a space for the adults to gather with drinks and food—close enough to step in if needed, but far enough away to be able to enjoy themselves without the kids being right underfoot.
“Natasha,” Aiden said as we walked up. “Good to see you again.”
“Nice to see you too.”
“This is my fiancée, Cora,” he said, introducing the pretty redhead at his side.
“I’ve heard all about your drink-making skills,” I said to Cora. “Stacy will be thrilled to meet you. She’s followed you on Snug for a while.”
Cora shook her head, rolling her eyes at Aiden playfully. “That’s supposed to be a secret, but this guy can’t stop telling people I’m the Masked Mixer.”
“I can’t help it if I’m proud,” Aiden said.
She patted his hand. “It’s supposed to be anonymous, babe.”
“Who’re they going to tell?”
Vincent and Piper walked over with their baby. “Baby Violet in the house,” Vincent said.
“Can you stop announcing her like a DJ?” Piper said.
Trent and I laughed.
“This is Piper,” Vincent said, introducing his wife. “Piper, this is Natasha.”
Piper gave me a hug. It was surprising but not unwelcome. “Welcome to the madhouse,” she said, smiling kindly.
“Go see your fifth-favorite uncle,” Vincent said, handing the baby off to Trent.
Despite the huff he gave at having a baby thrust at him, Trent looked like a natural, holding Violet on his hip.
Though I supposed he’d been through all of this with Hailey already.
The baby gurgled, chewing on a cookie that she mashed into Trent’s shoulder.
It was ridiculously cute, as was Trent’s playful glare.
“How the hell am I the fifth favorite?” Trent grumbled.
“I’m the first favorite, obviously,” Aiden said, tickling Violet under the chin. “Dominic comes second, with his baby whispering skills. Paul’s third, because Violet likes his hair.”
“And fourth?” Trent demanded.
“Jimmy,” Vincent stated simply.
“Betrayed by my own brother,” Trent muttered before pressing a kiss on top of Violet’s head. “You don’t really like Jimmy better than me, do you? He never does laundry until his socks are stiff enough to stand on their own, you know.”
“Sure, but he’s better at making funny faces than you are,” Piper explained. “How’s he doing, anyway? I thought we might see him today—I wanted to ask how school was going.”
Trent winced. “It’s…going. Adjusting hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing, but once he gets his feet under him, I think he’ll be fine.” His eyes met mine and we shared a smile.
Aiden smacked him on the shoulder. “Speaking of funny faces…” he said, gesturing at Violet. “Incoming.”
“I just changed her,” Piper said. “It’s probably just gas.”
“Gas for her fifth-favorite uncle,” Aiden snickered.
Trent glowered at Aiden. “Seems like she really wants to get in on the action.” Violet kicked her feet, screeching at the party shenanigans. An actress in a princess costume drifted across the terrace, and there were dozens of shrieks of delight from Hailey’s friends. Violet cooed louder.
I spotted Hailey at the front of the pack, now wearing Stacy’s dress. She beamed, shoving a too-large crown up her forehead. I turned back, squeezing Trent’s hand. Stacy must have been thrilled at Hailey’s reception to the dress.
A man walked over, giving me a friendly smile.
“This is Paul,” Trent said. “And his wife, Chloe.”
“Glad Trent finally has someone to bring to all these things,” Chloe said, nudging my shoulder. “I promise they’re not all this hectic.”
I smiled at her. The last I’d heard, Trent’s friends knew we were playing at this relationship for Dee’s sake, but from the way they greeted me, it was like they believed we were a real couple. It was reassuring in a way.