Her eyes widen. “Has he sent you dick pics?”
“No, you freak.” I laugh as I wave a hand at her. “Everyone sees you as the prim and proper one, but I know you’re really the deviant.”
“I’m in public relations, so I can’t exactly let my kink flag fly.” She blows me a kiss, and I laugh.
“Your secret is safe with me.”
We reach for wine glasses and clink before taking a drink.
I should slow down. I don’t want to get trashed before I attend the Waller party. Part of me is irritated I didn’t get an invite until this week, but the other part is tickled pink I get to wear my new dress.
“Will Nathan be there?” she asks as she takes another swath of my hair and pins it up.
“Yes.” I set my glass on the back of the toilet seat. “I heard him and Angela talking about it earlier this week.”
Odd. When I saw her blatantly flirting with him the other day, it didn’t bother me one bit.
“What time is the car coming for you?” Kendall asks as she resumes torturing me.
“We have an hour.”
“Perfect.”
When she’s done beautifying me, she helps me slip into the dress and then turns me toward the mirror. My eyes bug out of my head, and Kendall squeals like a fashion-obsessed teenager.
Clasping her hands, she gushes, “You look so hot right now, I’m willing to switch teams.” I giggle-snort and cover my mouth. “I wish Mr. Dick Blogger could see you tonight.”
Um. I lean into the mirror to avoid looking at her. I hate lying to my best friend, but I can’t tell her Josh is attending the party. Knowing that he’ll be there hits too close to home. I promised him anonymity, and I won’t break my promise.
“Evie.”
“Hmm?”
“Look at me.”
Turning toward her, I reach for my wine so I can shove it in my face before I make eye contact with her.
“He’s going to be there tonight, isn’t he?” Her perfectly plucked eyebrow lifts slowly.
“Hmm?”
“Don’t give me that ‘hmm?’ bullshit right now. I’ve known you since before you had boobs.” She shoves a pointy finger into my shoulder. “The dick guy is going?!”
I cringe when that last part comes out a shriek, and then my shoulders drop in defeat.
“I must be a suck-ass lawyer if it’s written all over my face.”
A huge grin splits her face. “No, you’re an amazing attorney. I’ve seen you in action. It’s just that you froze and then your nose did that thing.”
I rub my nose. “What thing?”
“You know, it’s like a half-crinkle. But don’t worry. If I hadn’t known you most of my life, I’d never notice it, especially when you give me that lawyer glare.”
I need to work on that wiggle. Crap, I must look like a rabbit.
She grabs both of my shoulders. “Holy hell. He’s really going to be there?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“I already know.”
“No, you don’t.”
Reaching into my makeup bag, I dab a little more powder on my nose, the one that apparently wiggles like Bugs Bunny.
“You’re right. I don’t know.” She gives me an exaggerated wink. “But let’s just say that he was going. Hypothetically. Would you be excited?”
“Like you wouldn’t believe,” I sigh.
She snaps her fingers. “You’re wearing the sexy lingerie. You’re all set for a night of seduction. Just don’t get too hammered, so you can… get hammered.”
She laughs at her joke, and I can’t help but laugh along with her.
“Ken, he sent me a whole box of books to help me renovate my house. Holy shit, right?”
“He wants to nail it. Get it?” She snickers. “I bet you’re not bummed anymore about your firm turning him down.”
“It’s a blessing and a curse. I need some heavy-hitting clients, but I have to admit I’m excited to see if we really have chemistry and I wasn’t imagining it last weekend.” I chew on my bottom lip. “It’s kinda fast to be getting naked with him, though.”
“He gets naked online daily. I’m pretty sure your idea of fast and his are different.”
I drop my shiny ass on the toilet seat, feeling a little bummed at the prospect that thousands of women ogle Josh online. Including my best friend. Weird. So weird. Of course, if I told her to stop looking at the blog, she would. But there’s more to my unease. “I don’t want to be a booty call. You know I’m not wired that way. You know I can’t handle the stress of the morning after. Do I slink away? Do I act all nonchalant and cool? Do I pretend it was no biggie and play it off? But then I’ll freak over whether or not he calls me. Ugh, the pressure!”
“First of all, I’ve seen the goods here and can safely say it’s a ‘biggie.’” She winks, and I roll my eyes. “Second of all, don’t be too quick to dismiss him. What kind of booty call sends you books about renovating your historic home? And washes your dog and fixes you lunch? Maybe he wants more than a quickie. But if you actually do the deed, I say play it cool. Most guys fear commitment more than a prostate exam. I don’t care if Ryan Reynolds is rolling out of my bed, I’m not going to fangirl. Because you can’t dial back that shit. Once he knows you’re really into him, you can’t go, ‘Whoops, just kidding! I only kinda like you.’”
I nod, still nibbling on my lip. Kendall would know. She always has guys falling at her feet.
She grabs the wine bottle off the window ledge and refills our glasses. “And hey, maybe you’re getting all worked up over nothing because he sucks in bed.”
We look at each other and crack up. Because come on. The guy definitely wields his package online like he knows what the hell he’s doing.
“Evie, play it by ear. Have fun tonight and see where things go. Stop trying to map out your life in five year increments.”
“Says the perfectionist.”
She shrugs. “Worst-case scenario, you can pounce on Nathan. That man is gorgeous too, and you’ve known him for ages.”
I’m about to tell her I’m not sure Nathan does it for me anymore when my Uber driver honks outside.
Kendall jumps around like she just threw a touchdown. “It’s showtime, baby. You got this.”
I hope she’s right.
The car stops in front of the Portland Art Museum, and I pay my driver and slowly step out, clutching my silk shawl. It might be the middle of May, but it’s cold enough to see my breath. It’s only seven. Although the sun hasn’t set yet, the thick cloud cover makes it seem later. I suppose I should be grateful it isn’t raining.
Unfortunately, the shawl doesn’t do a damn thing to keep me warm, but tonight I’m a slave to fashion, much to Kendall’s delight. She insisted there was no way I could wear a coat over my dress.
Car doors shut behind me, and I roll my eyes when I see another couple emerge from their vehicle in their raincoats. Freaking Kendall.