“Yeah,” he finally says. “Anyway, will you come with me on Friday? It’s some fancy gala QuestBridge is hosting to raise money for academic scholarships.”
“Okay,” I agree. “I’ll go with you.”
He breathes out. “Thanks.”
“On one condition,” I supply with a grin. He eyes me, suspicious, and I glance up at his mop of unruly hair. “Let me give you a haircut,” I tell him. “You cannot go to a gala looking like that.”
“Wow, thanks,” he replies sarcastically. “I didn’t know you cut hair.”
“It’s not like I can open a salon without having some skills of my own.” I shrug, glancing at his face. “When’s the last time you shaved, also?”
“I get it,” he retorts. “Friday before the gala, you can do it.”
I nod in agreement, excited to get a chance to cut hair again. I don’t get to do it often, but I always enjoy it.
“Not a date?” I confirm.
“Not a date,” he agrees.
But somehow… I’m not convinced.
22
WHITNEY
The past week has been a whirlwind. I put in the paperwork for the rental space in Williamsburg, and Sharon agreed to come on board as my CFO. Turns out she hated working for a bunch of tech bros as much as I did, and she’s been looking for a new job for a while. It’s overwhelming. There’s so much to do, and I feel like it’s all happening so fast. It’s exciting, but scary.
Speaking of scary, it’s the day of my not-date with Liam when I realize I have nothing to wear. I figured I had something in my closet that would work, but all I have are cocktail dresses and miniskirts, and I’ve got the sneaking suspicion that the event is more of a gown sort of thing.
I don’t own a gown. I am gownless.
I text Abbi.
Whitney: SOS. Going to a fancy gala with Liam and have nothing to wear.
It’s a few minutes before she responds.
Abbi: A fancy gala? What happened to ‘pretending it never happened’?
Whitney: It’s not a date.
She sends me back the eye-roll emoji.
Abbi: I’m at work late today, but Saks is having a sale. Good luck!
Guess I’m on my own for a shopping spree.
I take the subway to Soho and go through a few different stores, not finding anything that really appeals to me. I decide that I’m being too picky, so I get my fix of caffeine and then go to a few more stores with a better attitude. Eventually, while trying on a few different dresses at Reformation, I find it. An open-backed V-neck red satin dress with a slit up the side. It hugs me in all the right places, accentuating my soft curves and making me feel beautiful in a way I haven’t since…
Since I was in Liam’s arms.
After I check-out, I head back home. I only have a couple of hours to do Liam’s hair and get myself ready.
“Liam?” I call out as I let myself into the apartment.
“In here,” he calls from his room. I find him bent over his laptop, his scruffy beard even longer than the last time I saw him.
“I swear that thing grows an inch an hour.”
