“Crystals.”
“Could you imagine, diamonds on a dress?” Maxine taps her elbow into mine.
“With this dress, I think simplicity is best for the jewelry. Diamonds.” Nicolette hands the dress over to me and starts digging through the jewelry cases.
“I don’t think I can do this,” I whisper.
“Oh, honey, I think we’re past the point of you being able to get out of this.” Maxine wraps one arm around my waist. “It’s dinner and some dancing. You can do that.”
“If you’re ready, let’s get started.” Nelle holds out a black robe for me. “I’m going to give you a little trim before we do your hair, and for that dress, definitely an updo.”
Marion runs between my legs, rubbing against my ankle mewling.
“Even she thinks you got this.” Maxine scoops her up into her arms. “Go on, sit down. I’m going to go through the rest of this stuff.”
“Okay.” I sink into my kitchen chair after letting Nelle shove my arms through the robe sleeves. “But don’t put anything away. I can’t accept all of this. He’s going to have to take it back.”
Nelle looks me dead in the eye with horror. “You’re going to tell Ivan Volkov to take back the entire wardrobe he had picked out for you?”
“It’s nothing personal, I’m sure it’s all great stuff, but I can’t take it from him.”
“She’s still in denial.” Max leans a hip against the counter.
“I’m not in denial.”
“You sure as hell are. You really think a guy just sends over a full wardrobe for a woman he’s not into?”
“Well, look at my clothes, Max. He probably realized I needed something to wear for tonight so I wouldn’t embarrass him.” I lean my head back as Nelle gets to work brushing out the day’s tangles.
“You’re right. She’s deep in denial.” Nell laughs.
My phone beeps from the coffee table, and then it goes off again.
“Can you hand that to me?” I hold out my hand for Max. “It’s probably Caroline, she’s stuck at work tonight.”
As my eyes sweep over the text message that came through, my stomach sours.
“What’s wrong? She doesn’t want you to take her shift, does she?” Max puts her hands on her hips.
“No. It’s nothing.” I turn off the ringer and slide it onto the table beside me.
“Well, ladies, and Adam…we have exactly one hour before Ivan knocks on that door.” Nicolette stands in front of me with a hopeful grin.
“One hour?” Nausea rolls through me. “That’s it? An hour?”
“You got this.” Max pats my knee. “It’s just dinner and dancing.”
She keeps saying that, but she doesn’t understand. It’s not just dinner and dancing. It’s dinner and dancing with Ivan Volkov.
And then the rest of the night.
My phone dances on the table as two more messages come through.
“You need to get that?” Nelle stops her work.
“No.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
Hold for five seconds.
