Chapter Nineteen
Tessa arrived at the Winthrop Grand at the exact moment she’d promised.
She’d skipped curling and pinning her hair into the updo she’d found on Pinterest, skipped the full-face makeup she’d spent the previous night practicing with an online tutorial and the slow, methodical “everything shower” she’d hoped to enjoy before the big event.
She did not, however, let her friend down. And that was all that mattered.
A crowd of paparazzi, members of local media, and onlookers gathered along the street opposite the historic hotel.
Many snapped photos and called out to attendees as they waited to enter the building.
Tessa recognized more than one familiar face from her For You page as they exited outrageously priced vehicles at the valet.
“There she is!” Hallie’s voice rose through the white noise, and Tessa pulled her eyes away from the cars in search of her friend.
Hallie rushed toward her, bare shoulders curved against the wind.
The temperature had dropped steadily since Tessa left work, and the occasional sound of distant thunder put her on edge. She and her friends had already been rained on once at this bar, and it couldn’t happen again tonight. Kate needed this night to be perfect.
The wind picked up as Tessa trudged toward Hallie.
The fervent gusts plastered Hallie’s thin satin-and-gossamer gown against her skin.
The fawn-colored liner clung to her petite form, while the deep-purple overlay added a sexy, edgy appeal.
Combined with her newly cut and colored hair, she looked like a manic pixie.
She’d gone light on the makeup per her usual style, opting for ivory foundation to match her flawless skin, long eyelashes with liquid liner, and lip stain the color of a fresh bruise. As promised, her military boots peeked out from the long slits on either side.
Tessa grabbed Hallie’s hand when they met near a stone column, several yards from Kate and a circle of women taking selfies. “This is wild!” she said, motioning to the crowds.
“Look at her,” Hallie said, smiling widely at their friend. “She’s practically glowing.”
Tessa squeezed Hallie’s icy fingers as they rushed to Kate’s side.
The space inside the glass front doors held an equally thick crowd, waiting for the hotel elevators.
Distant sounds of music drifted down from the roof as the line pressed forward.
Thunder rolled, and Hallie lifted a warning finger to the sky. “Don’t even think about it.”
Tessa laughed but seconded the sentiment.
“Smile!” someone called.
Beside them, Kate held her chin high, as cool and confident as any influencer. She winked in Tessa’s direction while posing for photos with others dressed to the nines.
Her long white dress gripped her from breasts to hips, then fell over her legs in layers of ethereal wispy fabric.
Thousands of crystals sewn into the material twinkled like ice, catching light with every camera flash.
The structured bodice flattened her middle and cinched her waist, forcing her breasts into an abundance of cleavage that would make the wardrobing department on the set of Bridgerton proud.
Seeing Kate in the gown made it clear to Tessa why she’d want something more comfortable for next year’s event. Tessa wasn’t sure how her friend could breathe.
Around them, the night’s Lewis Carroll theme was in full effect, heavy on the Alice in Wonderland, which the crowd had taken to heart.
Some guests dressed as characters from the far side of the looking glass, while others had simply drawn inspiration from the tale.
Tessa spotted a half dozen women in long red sequin gowns and elaborate updos, possible nods to the Queen of Hearts.
Twice as many wore blue tea-length dresses with white knee-high stockings and black crinolines, clearly having chosen Alice as their muse.
Guests in suits with large top hats or pocket watches were plentiful as well.
A few wore bunny ears, noses, or tails. Those attendees were sure to love the oil paintings outside Fox and Hound.
“She’s in her element,” Hallie said, smiling proudly toward Kate. She rubbed her palms against her bare arms and shifted foot to foot against the cold.
Soon a large man in a dark suit scanned Kate’s ticket and ushered them into the hotel lobby.
“Hey,” Kate whispered, turning to Tessa in the closely packed space. “What happened at work?”
Tessa swallowed the urge to sob and shook her head. “Later, okay?”
Kate examined her for a moment, undecided. The elevator dinged, announcing its arrival, and Kate let the subject drop as they stepped in.
Tessa focused on her reflection in the shiny metal doors.
Despite a lack of time for her hair and makeup, she looked sufficient for the event.
Her ice-blue gown and silver jewelry did the heavy lifting.
Her dress looked nearly white in the stark lighting, but her accessories accentuated the faint, sky-like hue.
She just had to smile and support Kate however she could.
Shoulders back, she stuffed all feelings of panic over quitting her job, upsetting her former boss, and leaving her work friends without a proper explanation into the recesses of her mind. She’d reach out to Millie, Nina, and Josephine tomorrow. For now, her phone was set to Do Not Disturb.
She paced her breathing as the car climbed silently upward, hoping again that urging Kate and Hallie to take stands in their lives wouldn’t cost them what it had cost her.
If tonight went well enough, Kate could reestablish herself online in the days to come.
People would dole out photos of this event for weeks, which made it the perfect opportunity to regain old followers or, even better, find thousands of new ones.
The elevator doors parted, and the passengers made soft sounds of delight.
Faux vines and twinkle lights hung thickly from the ceiling of the vestibule, draping nearly to the floor at the corners.
Guests piled out and marveled at the small space and decor.
Music and laughter spilled from the bar’s entrance, now held slightly ajar.
The others gushed and laughed, stepping through the space behind the large framed photo and into the party beyond.
Kate held Tessa and Hallie back a moment, tugging discreetly on their elbows.
“This is like a fever dream,” Kate said. “I can’t believe I’m really here.”
Her eyes swam with unshed tears as she looked from Hallie to Tessa. “I’ve dreamed of this for a decade. Just getting invited is huge. And I did it.”
Tessa slid an arm behind her back and pulled her into a soft side hug.
Kate nodded, working to fight the tears. “Feeling legitimized like this, among my peers— It’s priceless, you know? People recognized me and my content. A few people even mentioned the new material I’ve posted. They loved the painting and books. The real, everyday life.”
“Real, but heavily romanticized,” Hallie said.
“Exactly!” Kate took a long deep breath. “Maybe I can really build a following with my new brand.”
“You can do anything,” Tessa said. “I’m certain of it.”
“Come on,” Hallie said. “Let’s get inside before the next group arrives.”
Kate took photos as Tessa guided her into the bar behind Hallie.
The venue had been transformed into an odd dreamlike state.
Shimmering gauze covered the ceilings, giving the illusion of walking near the clouds.
Moss clung to faux trees, and giant toadstools stood beside grand mirrors.
Elaborate spreads of finger foods filled buffet tables draped in white linens.
Outside, a DJ’s muffled voice carried through the glass from a microphone, and the low notes of music vibrated the floor.
“They’re BookTok girlies!” Kate said, gaze fixed on her phone screen. “One owns an indie bookstore in Chesapeake!”
“Who?” Hallie asked, holding the door to the rooftop for them to pass.
Kate extended her phone to reveal her screen and pressed a palm to her collarbone. “The people I met outside. And it’s a romance bookstore.”
Hallie’s lips turned up at one corner. “Your people.”
Kate nodded, tears threatening to fall. “My people.” Her cheeks reddened, and she turned away from the room, wiping gently at the corners of her eyes.
“Do you know how many of those book accounts I follow? Dozens. I adore them! They’re so unapologetically themselves.
Completely unconcerned about whether or not what they read is trending.
They just like what they like, and somehow they all found one another, and I found them too.
I never miss a book review. Now, a few of them found me.
” Her voice cracked. “They liked the content I’ve posted about our book club, our personal challenge, and the books they saw on my shelves in the background. They get me.”
“That’s great,” Tessa said gently. “This is wonderful news. Why are you crying?”
Kate groaned. “Why do I feel so ridiculously fake, even in this wonderland?”
Hallie craned her head for a look around the crowded rooftop bar. “I don’t know. This all seems pretty badass. And you’re here, just like everyone else. Seems like you made it to me.”
A man in striped silk pajamas pedaled by on a unicycle as she spoke.
Hallie lifted her palms, as if to say, See! Bad. Ass.
A collection of women in iridescent white bodysuits twisted themselves into knots on glass pedestals above the crowd.
Kate straightened abruptly, dropping her hands to her sides. “I can do this.”
“Yes,” Tessa agreed. “You absolutely can. And we’re right here if you need us.”
“It’s been a tough couple of weeks,” Kate said, accepting a flute of something bubbly and pink from a passing tray. The little tag on the glass’s stem held two words. Drink Me. And she did. In one graceful motion, she threw back her head, and the contents disappeared, swallowed like a shot.
“Wow. Okay.” Tessa took two glasses from another passing tray.
One glass for herself. The other she passed to Kate.
“Thanks,” Kate said. She sipped her second drink.
“I’ve been thinking about my job more than ever since we decided to be our own heroines, and I realized I’ve wanted to make big changes for almost as long as I’ve been doing this.
I never expected the whole wealthy Southern charm to take off, but it did, and it’s been grueling to keep up.
All that perfection just isn’t me. And I kind of hate portraying it online.
The expectation is unreal and unfair. It’s a completely false narrative and likely damaging to young girls.
I don’t want that.” She took another sip.
“I want to encourage everyone to be themselves, even if there’s no polish and whatever they’re into seems a little weird. ”
Hallie hiked her eyebrow. “Weird is the best kind of awesome.”
“It’s also a far cry from anything I’ve put out there before,” Kate said. “And I’m terrified my new content is going to flop. I can’t make a living doing this thing I love with a modest following. It’s go big or find another source of income.”
“Breathe,” Tessa said. “For now, just concentrate on this moment. You waited a long time for it. Absorb every detail. Tomorrow you can go back to worrying.”
Kate released a shaky breath. “Right.” She wiggled her body slightly, as if she could somehow shake off the fear and worry. “Carpe diem and all that. God, I make a terrible main character.”
Hallie lifted a small cutout caterpillar from a nearby table and placed it beneath her nose like a mustache. “You used to be much muchier.”
Kate barked a laugh. Her weary expression turned to humor as she made a swipe at the mustache. “I will shove that caterpillar right up your—”
The bass dropped on a song from their UVA days. Hallie cackled, and Tessa couldn’t stop herself from joining in.
Kate finished her drink and scanned the room. “All right. Let’s go make some memories and remind people I’m worth following, no matter what I wear.”
Hallie hooted, threw her hands in the air, and headed for the dance floor.