Chapter 23
Callie
The firm’s New Year’s Eve party is in full swing.
Mom knocked Dad’s vision out of the park with glittering golds, midnight blacks, and mirrored surfaces covering every inch of the Aspen Point Grand Ballroom.
Sparkling golden tablecloths shimmer under the low lights, diamond centerpieces dripping in crystals that flow gracefully onto the nearly one hundred tables.
Candles glow on every tabletop, highlighting the glasses of champagne abandoned for the onyx pool of a very full dance floor.
The flower choice is a little odd for the occasion, but if Mom decided red roses were the flower of the party, then no one was going to tell her otherwise.
A full buffet lines the back wall, filled with all kinds of amazing hors d’oeuvres, finger sandwiches, and sweets.
Every beverage from soft drinks, to champagne, to hot chocolate wait to be served, with an entire wall of greenery bringing a serene levity to the glitz and glamour of the rest of the room.
But I have to admit, the hot chocolate fountain may be the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. I’ve already taken three pictures on my phone and sent them to Oliver.
He returned the favor by sending back pictures of the cutest dog named after concession stand food.
Since he thought it’d be best if he stayed away for a bit longer, I am officially dateless for New Year’s Eve.
I think the only time Oliver was actually sorry for missing tonight’s shindig was when he saw the outfit Connie and Imogene put me in.
One look at the simple long-sleeve black blouse and shimmering gold miniskirt featuring a diamond pattern, and I could tell he was thinking about all the ways we could celebrate the new year when I returned.
Imogene added her own level of glamour by zipping me into thigh-high black suede boots, and finishing me off with minimal makeup and small gold hoops.
Connie did manage to hold me down long enough to pull my hair into some kind of fancy bun, which was only accomplished by Imogene handing me a third cup of hot cocoa.
I added the final touch of Oliver’s necklace.
Having left Aaron by the buffet, I wander back toward the crowded dance floor.
As I watch everyone mingle and laugh and dance the night away, I can’t help but revel in the lightness in my chest. I’ve been in this ballroom a thousand times for a thousand different occasions.
Every time, I spent the entire event worried about what my brothers or dad would say about me in front of others, and how well I would be able to temper my reaction.
I spent so many years tirelessly monitoring my every expression, my every word.
It was truly exhausting.
Our family still has a long way to go. But I know we’re headed in the right direction. If anything, having all four of my siblings in my tiny apartment without ripping each other’s heads off is a great starting point.
And with Oliver’s support, I have no doubt the journey will be worth it.
Maybe one day, we’ll even have a family of our own.
Taking a seat at the closest empty table, I nibble on a chocolate chip cookie I picked up on my last trip to the dessert bar.
“What do you think?” Connie asks, taking a sip of champagne.
My sister shimmies her way into the chair beside me.
She looks absolutely stunning in a fitted black dress that accentuates full curves with raven pumps to match.
The long sleeves and plunging neckline have definitely kept her date’s attention all evening.
And Aaron’s.
My sister swishes her fiery hair that kisses her collarbones in soft waves, drawing the eye to a simple gold choker and matching earrings.
I frown. “About what?”
The woman lifts a brow, her answer obvious. She makes an exasperated gesture to the rest of the largest ballroom known to man. The same room we’ve spent every New Year’s in our entire lives.
“It’s beautiful,” I answer, “but Mom always kills it with the decor. Why should this year be any different?”
Connie rolls her eyes. “Because it’s absolutely gorgeous. Besides, I figured you’d like all the plants and flowers and everything.”
Snorting, it’s my turn to roll my eyes. “I do. If I’d been asked to help plan this shindig, it’s basically what I would’ve picked. But what does that matter?”
“What does what matter?” Imogene makes her way to our group, placing delicate hands on the backs of our chairs.
“Calloway’s being difficult.”
Rolling in my lips, I puff out my cheeks in response to that insane accusation.
“Surely not.” Imogene grins down at me. Long hair forming perfect retro waves, her sleek copper silk gown glistens under the lights.
I can’t help but smile up at my oldest sister. “You look beautiful,” I tell her.
Under the atmospheric lighting, Imogene is positively radiant. “Thank you, Calloway. So do you.”
My smile breaks out into a full-blown grin. “Well, I had help.”
Chris ambles up to our table, plopping into the seat next to his sister, threatening to wrinkle his black designer suit. “Are we having our own separate party over here?”
“How’d you know?” Connie smirks at him.
Her twin shrugs, clearly bored. Slouching back into the chair, he looks around the immediate area.
Connie spins back to me. “Wanna go dance?”
Shaking my head, I try to ignore how much I’d rather be at home with Oliver and Nacho than stuck here without him.
Connie sets down her champagne glass. “You do know it’s okay to have fun without Oliver here, right?”
“Of course,” I chuckle. “It’s important for couples to still cultivate individual interests. But that doesn’t mean I can’t miss him when we’re apart.”
Heavy hands fall on my shoulders and I know who it is before I even turn around.
Connie sighs in relief. “Ian, thank goodness. Get this girl up and make her go dance.” My sister waves at me in false annoyance.
Potentially false.
“Why?” I challenge her.
Chris sits up in his chair. “You know what, Connie’s right. It might be a fun story for the future if we were all out on the dance floor at midnight on the year our family started a new chapter.”
“You hate dancing.” Narrowing my eyes, I peer across the table at my brother. “Are you actually Chris Rutherford? Or are you an alien who just looks like him?”
He smiles, which just further confirms my alien theory. Connie must pinch him under the table, because he jumps a couple inches off his chair. “Ouch! What was that for?”
Connie gives him a hard stare in lieu of a response.
They must be doing that twin communication thing because understanding immediately floods Chris’s features. “Right,” he nods. Chris turns back to me. “I danced with you that last time Aaron’s band played at Theo’s,” he points out.
Laughter tumbles from my lips. “And you hated every moment of it.”
Chris wiggles his nose around like he’s suddenly dealing with some serious sinus pressure. “Hey, I’m all for some family bonding.”
“Sounds great.” Ian squeezes my shoulders before pulling out my chair and dragging me to my feet.
I spin around to face him. “You’re not even in this family.”
“Come on, Cal. Connie’s orders.” My best friend grins, guiding me toward the dance floor.
“And you’re not even the Fairchild who’s in love with her,” I grumble, too low for anyone other than Ian to hear.
He doesn’t disappoint, bursting into laughter as we move away from the table.
My siblings follow, watching us with a little too much interest for my liking.
“What’s wrong?” Ian asks above the pulsing music.
Frowning, I nod back in the direction of my family. While certainly still trailing along behind us, they whisper among themselves like scientists on the verge of some kind of breakthrough. “They’re being really weird.”
He laughs. “Aren’t they always?”
“Yeah, but not like this.” Grimacing, I nearly run right into my dad and the other partners, with Prescott nowhere in sight. “Oh, sorry Dad.”
My father chuckles, champagne nearly sloshing onto his tie. Clearly, he’s a few glasses deep. “I guess the others enlisted your help?” he asks Ian.
Raising my brows, I glance between them.
Ian lifts a shoulder. “Just doing my part to make sure Callie enjoys tonight, is all.” Mr. MacCallum and Mr. de Luksa look plenty amused as my friend steers us away and into the heart of the crowd.
“I’m a little surprised Prescott wasn’t with them,” I muse. “Being a partner is so important to him that, anytime Dad and the others are together, Prescott’s somewhere close by.”
Ian hmms. “Maybe Goldie needed to go to the bathroom or something.”
“Maybe. But she normally asks Mom or one of us.”
“Well, I doubt Prescott’s career is in any danger. So I wouldn’t worry about it.”
Just as we’re nearly to the center of the dance floor, a brilliant flash of blonde catches my eye and I bring us to a crashing halt.
Literally.
Ian definitely crushes my toes in the process, cursing under his breath.
“Sorry, I just … did you see that?” Craning my neck, I try to see through the dense crowd. “I thought I just saw Blythe. Did she come with you?”
Ian’s dark brows knit together, lower lip jutting out. “Nope. It was just the parents, me and Aaron McGee in the car.”
I snort, grinning up at my friend. “He really hates it when you call him that.”
“I know,” he grins right back. “That’s what makes it fun.”
“Where is he, anyway?”
Ian juts his chin off to our right. “Over there dancing with some paralegal who’s been flirting with him all night.”
I wince. “How’s he doing with the whole, um … ”
“Connie dating someone else thing?” he finishes.
Nodding, I roll my lips together. “Yeah. That.”
Ian sighs, finally dropping his hands from my shoulders. “I think he’s in denial. He says he’s fine and that they’ve always been just friends, so that’s how it’ll stay.”
“Wow,” I snort, “how convincing."