“Okay, spill. What the hell is going on with you and Logan?”
She shakes her head. “It’s complicated, like our ‘friendship’ has always been,” she says, gesturing in quotes around the word friendship. Then, pretending to be busy, she wipes down the granite countertop that’s already spotless before throwing the cloth back in the sink. “Anyway, we’re not here to talk about me. You need to fill me in on the latest with Drew.”
I place the bottle of Moet I brought home with me on the countertop between us. “Okay. You pour the bubbles while we wait for Dana. She was just finishing a call as I was leaving the office, so she should be here soon. I’m going to change into something more comfortable really quick.” I look down at the red silk pajama pants covered in snowmen and candy canes that Allie is wearing. “Though not something like those,” I tell her, laughing. “Seriously, it’s hard to understand how you can be part of the fashion industry when you’re wearing those.”
“Hey, don’t throw shade on my snowmen,” she says, glancing down with a huge smile on her face. “Wait till you see the green elf pair I’m saving for Christmas Day. They’re even cuter.”
“Whatever you say. You’re the expert.” Laughing loudly, I wander down the hall to the spare bedroom to change.
By the time I’ve pulled on black leggings and my super-soft, striped cashmere sweater, I’m all set for our girls’ night in. Dana has arrived, and both of my friends are sitting on the sofa, discussing food options. Personally, I don’t care what they order, as long as it comes quickly. I’m not a fussy eater, and I missed lunch today. My stomach growls, emphasizing the fact that I need food.
Allie hands me a glass of champagne, and I curl my feet under me as I sit in the single chair opposite them. Dana finishes placing the order, and my stomach rumbles louder at the prospect of all that deliciousness coming my way soon.
“Food should be here in fifteen minutes,” Dana announces, throwing her cell on the cushion beside her before picking up her glass and raising it up. “Cheers, girls. To another year of kicking career goals, ditching crap boyfriends, and the best friends a girl can have.”
“Oh, hun, that is so sweet.” We all clink our glasses together, then take a sip. The fizz and pop of the cold bubbles are perfect for our catch-up. And Dana wastes no time in getting us started.
“Katie, I’ve been dying to find out what the latest with Drew is. Obviously something has happened based on the meeting this morning.”
I tap my hand to my head, groaning. “Please don’t remind me. I guess I didn’t do a very good job of hiding my horror at finding out Drew was invited to the gala. It’s even worse than that though because I called my promotions manager right after and she told me he accepted.”
“Whoa, wait. I have no idea what you girls are talking about,” Allie complains, looking between Dana and me. “Can you start at the beginning, please? This sounds juicy.”
I take another fortifying sip of champagne, then begin. “Okay, but I’ll go back to last week when he showed up unexpectedly in the office. I’d heard nothing from him for months—not a call or a text, absolutely nothing—then he just showed up asking to see me.”
Allie interrupts me with a hissed “Bastard.”
“Asshole,” Dana concurs.
“Absolutely,” I agree wholeheartedly, then continue to fill them in on the meeting I had with Drew only five days ago. I still can’t believe he didn’t mention the invitation once during the meeting. I end my story with a recap for Allie of how I found out he’d been invited to the gala at this morning’s executive meeting.
“Damn, so he’s going to be there,” Allie confirms. I nod, feeling the weight of her words pulling my shoulders down. I was worried about seeing him for the book signing in January, but now I’m going to have to see him in three days instead of next month. And I can’t avoid it. The family-sponsored Christmas charity gala is a big deal, and attendance by the family is expected.
Allie jumps up from the sofa, a splash of champagne from the glass in her hand landing on the coffee table. “There’s only one thing you can do!” she announces, almost bouncing on her feet with excitement. I’m surprised more champagne isn’t spilling over. Not that I’d care if she spilled the whole glass at this point, because I’m more worried about what she’s about to say.
Over the years, I’ve learned that when Allie gets this excited about something, trouble soon follows. Like the time she decided we should go skinny-dipping at midnight in the ocean at the beach house and my three brothers discovered us. Or the time she decided we should sneak some of her parents’ vodka before going to Logan’s sixteenth birthday party, and I ended up throwing up in the bathroom, missing the party completely.
Reluctantly, I ask, “What do you have in mind?”
“Revenge,” she announces while rubbing her hands together.
My brows draw down in confusion. “Revenge for what?”
“For him not realizing how totally awesome you are when he had the chance. And for seducing you with his dick sorcery.”
I laugh. “Thanks, girlfriend. Not that I know what dick sorcery even is … and maybe we can dial back a little on the revenge idea.”
Allie shrugs her shoulders, then flops back onto the sofa. Luckily, this time her glass is safely on the coffee table. “Fine, but I’m still going to get you the most stunning dress that will have him choking on his canapes. I have the perfect dress for you. It’s by a new designer, and I wore it at her runway show last week.”
Allie has the best contacts in the fashion industry and excellent taste when it comes to choosing outfits for me, Christmas pajamas being the only obvious exception.
“Now that’s the kind of idea I can get on board with.”
“Will she have something for me too?” Dana asks sheepishly. “I haven’t had time to go shopping for my dress either.”
Allie reaches out to tap Dana’s hand. “Absolutely. I’ll text her now and see if we can drop into her studio tomorrow. Is that okay? Jules, the designer, only has two seamstresses, so they’ll need a day or two for minor alterations.” Then, shaking her head, she reprimands us. “Why do you girls always leave things to the last minute?”
Dana laughs. “Because our lives don’t revolve around what we wear. A wardrobe of classic basics is generally all I need.” Dana offers up as an excuse, and Allie’s response is to scrunch her face in horror. Even pulling a face, she still manages to look as beautiful as she does on the covers of the glossy magazines.
