Lexi laughed, a little too loud, almost on the verge of squeaky. “Stop. It’s not even my dress.”
Will came forward as Gwen dropped her arm. “Don’t do that. Don’t diminish how amazing you are. Not just in looks either.”
Maisie took Lexi’s spot, pulling Gwen into a side hug. “Our girl is growing up,” Maisie said with a sigh.
Everyone laughed, but Will kept his gaze laser-focused on Lexi. She pulled her lip between her teeth as he mouthed,Stunning.
“Let me take a couple pictures,” Maisie said, extricating herself from Gwen.
“It’s not actually prom,” Lexi moaned.
Still, they posed for photos and Lexi couldn’t help but think her mother looked happier than she had in a long, long while. Every day was still hard but there were little moments of progress. Things that might look like nothing to anyone else but meant something to Lexi. Two nights this week, when Lexi had needed to go to the second Side Tap location, Gwen had gone to bed instead of falling asleep in her chair. Yesterday, she’d offered to make Lexi a sandwich and jotted down a few items for Lexi to pick up at the store. She was taking an interest. She was coming back. She’d even pitched in with the pie. They’d made the filling together and used the premade crusts. It was delicious.
Maisie and her mother said goodbye at the door. It wasn’t until it was closed behind them that Lexi noticed the limo on the street.
“Seriously?” She looked up at Will.
He lowered his gaze and shrugged in such an adorable way Lexi’s heart expanded, grew bigger, right there in her driveway with the October moon shining down on them.
“It’s a company thing. Usually, we book one or two for the family for special events, but I wanted to be alone with you, so we have it all to ourselves.”
Lexi turned into Will’s front, grateful she’d splurged—thank you, Ethan, for the starting bonus—on a long, black wool dress jacket.
Putting her hands on his face, she held his gaze. “You are the sweetest man I’ve met. I feel like you’re not real and any minute now, I’m going to wake up back in my old life that was falling apart.”
His gripped her wrists, leaned in so their noses almost touched. “Not falling apart, just temporarily disrupted. But I promise you, you’re not sleeping.”
No, she wasn’t. She was very much awake and aware and she planned on taking advantage of every moment she had with Will. For once, she needed to take her own advice and stop waiting for the other shoe to smack her upside the head like a sledgehammer.
In the heels she wore, she didn’t need to go on her tiptoes, so she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ve never made out in a limo.”
Will bounced his eyebrows playfully. “Me neither. I’ll tell the driver to take the long way.”
It was like a fairy tale as she and Will entered The Grace, a historic and elegantly restored hotel in the heart of Seattle, overlooking the water. The lobby floor gleamed, light from the multiple chandeliers hanging on the regal tiled ceiling creating little bursts of light. High marble countertops lined the reception area. A sign to the right of the tall, gold-enameled doors pointed them in the direction of the ballroom where the gala was being held.
They checked their coats before entering the room. With every step, Lexi’s stomach swirled with a combination of excitement and nerves.
“Breathe,” Will whispered, patting her hand. It was gripping his biceps.
Loosening her fingers, she laughed. “Sorry. This is pretty swanky.”
“It is. But there’s an open bar and it’s a celebration, so it’ll be fun.”
The archway to the ballroom was decked out in gorgeous garlands of leaves in all the fall colors. Each of the round tables was dressed with a burnt-gold tablecloth. The centerpieces consisted of multicolored mini pumpkins, fat cream-colored candles, and beautifully dried flowers resting on dark-wood, cutting-board-style planks.
Will said hello and nodded to several people as they wove their way between the tables, heading for the front of the room near the stage, where they found Will’s family.
Kyra jumped up when she saw them and came around to give Lexi a hard, unexpected hug. “You look amazing! I’m so glad you found one that you liked.”
Still holding Lexi’s shoulders, she leaned back, looking down the length of her. “It suits you perfectly.”
Lexi smiled. “You’re too generous. I think Maisie and my mom will be trying them all on again while we’re out.”
“You look pretty good yourself, kid,” Will said, leaning down to kiss Kyra’s cheek. In a two-tone yellow dress with sparkly, Cinderella-like heels, Kyra was stunning.
The others stood. Lexi said hello to his sisters before Will introduced her to his sister-in-law Rachel, whose skin shimmered in her gold gown. She gave Lexi a quick, welcoming hug, easing the knots inside Lexi’s gut.
“I’m so happy to meet you. Try and breathe. Their parents aren’t as scary as they seem,” she whispered, squeezing Lexi’s shoulders.
