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“Genie?”
It was Sue. My shoulders sagged in relief as I smiled. “How did you get my number?”
“Hudson.” There was another woman talking in the background. “Listen. We’ll be there to pick you up in about an hour, so get dressed.”
“We?”
“Hudson’s mom, Kelly, and me are going to pick you up.”
I frowned. “What for?”
“To shop for your dress.”
“Why do I need a dress?”
“Our family company hosts a small Valentine’s Day event for the single folk and couples. You know, so you can mingle and find partners if you don’t have someone special.”
“I don’t want a partner, so I better not go,” I uttered.
“Nonsense. The food is worth the trouble. Besides, when are you going to have another chance to dress like a princess?”
“I’m terrible in heels and not really the princess type.”
Sue laughed. “Be ready, child.”
The second she hung up; I dialed Hudson to tattle on his grandma. Although I didn’t expect him to answer while working, he did. “Everything okay?”
“Your mom and Sue are on their way over!” My voice cracked near the end.
I could hear the hesitation and confusion in his voice when he asked, “What for?”
“Apparently you guys host a Valentine’s Day event?” I questioned.
“Oh, yeah, we do. I forgot. I don’t have anything to do with the family business now.”
“Sue’s making me buy a dress,” I whined.
“Make sure to buy a nice one—maybe black or red. Stop by the restaurant and grab my card if you need it.”
My cheeks heated. “I’m not a charity case, Hudson.”
“I know, but this might be fun. We can go together.”
My heart skipped a beat, and I swallowed nervously. Together? That sounded a lot better. “I swear… If I go to this stupid thing, you better stick with me and not leave me alone. My armpits are getting sweaty thinking about it. There won’t be any dancing?”
He laughed. “Yes, people dance there, but you don’t have to. Besides, I won’t leave you, Red. I would never leave you to fend for yourself.”
I huffed. Despite my jitters, I was oddly pleased. “I need to get ready.”
“Have fun.”
???
“Try this long-sleeve dress. Oh, and this blue strapless is gorgeous!” Kelly yelled before lifting two more dresses over the stall I was in. “Let us see that green one before you try on the next one.”
I felt like I was in another dimension. Gran never took us shopping. I hadn’t tried on clothes in dressing rooms until I was an adult shopping with Holly. Gran gave us whatever she could afford. Most of the time, our clothes were way too big so we could grow into them.
So, I felt weird every time Sue and Kelly gushed over a dress I tried on. I knew they meant well, but I felt like a three-headed lion on display at a circus. It was bad enough that they brought me to a freaking shop that looked like a bridal store. The price tags made me cringe. Just how fancy was the event? I assumed Hudson was fancy—I called him that, but I was beginning to seewhy.His family must be rich. The cars, the clothes, and everything they owned seemed so nice—like Hudson’s belongings and his home.
