“And he’s proceeded to follow her around like a puppy to all her events in the city,” Denise adds, interrupting my mooning.
Cory laughs out loud then, and I’m struck by how hot he is. He and all his brothers are very easy on the eyes. Their parents must be stunning.
“Thank you, ladies. You have no idea how hard I’m going to bust Damon’s balls for what you just told me,” he says with a grin.
Denise giggles and then stands to inspect the dress. She circles me, angling my arms this way and that until she’s happy with what she sees. Then she takes a picture with her phone and hands it to me. After all these weeks, I’m still struck by the gesture. No designer before her has bothered to explain their vision to me; I’m but a lowly model in their eyes. I barely recognize the woman staring back at me from the phone. I lookfantastic.
The dress is double-lined, forest green satin, dotted with metallic gold leaves like the freckles on my nose. Intricate gold stitching around the bust and waist makes my boobs look amazing and brings out the amber in my eyes. I look down at myself, twirling left and right to make the leaves sparkle in the light, to feel the smooth slip of the fabric against my skin.
“Denise. You are a magician.”
I move towards the mirror next to her drafting table to admire myself more thoroughly, and Denise trails behind me.
“It looks even better than I thought it would,” she says wistfully.
“What about Mom & Dad’s Fourth of July party?” Cory says, snapping us out of our perusal of the gorgeous garment. We both turn to look at him.
“What about it?” Denise asks. She goes to sit next to him on the couch, automatically draping her legs across his lap. I opt for the armchair instead.
“Damon will be there. He’ll have no excuse to run off, and if he’s dumb enough not to shoot his shot then, there will also be a ton of our friends there to choose from.”
“Oh my God, it’s perfect. With so many people there, there’ll be no pressure. You’re practically guaranteed to end your dry spell that night.”
“Won’t it be weird, my just showing up at a family event?” I ask, though the party is sounding better and better by the second. I’m not a big party girl—I’ve seen the club scene destroy too many models over the years—but a house party is always a win. And Cory’s right; if Damon’s still got his head up his ass, I’ll just choose some other lucky guy to hang with.
Denise snorts.
“Weird? No way. Mama Park’s philosophy is ‘the more the merrier’. She’ll probably be thrilled to have more people there. And she hasthebest refreshments at every party. It’s like she’s trying to be Brooklyn’s answer to Martha Stewart.”
I ponder for a few more seconds, then nod my head.Fuck it.
“Yeah, OK. Why not? Give me the details and I’ll bring some plates and napkins.”
“Henry?” I gasp, spotting my attorney as soon as I walk through the door of the stylish Clinton Hill brownstone. He’s standing next to a thick Latina sporting a rock so big, it could sprain her finger if she’s not careful.
Henry’s eyes widen in shock, and he makes his way through the crowd to stand next to me, his fiancée close behind.
“Ms. Gray? What are you doing here?”
I wave him off and lean forward for a light hug, which he awkwardly returns.
“Please. We’re not at BBS&P. You can call me Kendra. I’m here because my friend Denise invited me. Why areyouhere?”
He’s still gaping at me.
“Uh, I’m here because this is my parents’ house.”
“What?” I balk, still trying to put the pieces together.
This is his parents’ house, which means Henry Park, attorney, is related to Cory and Damon…He’s the missing brother who couldn’t make it to the Bailey Maxwell show!
“What are the fucking odds?!” he says with wonder, shaking his head slightly.
“I’m Camila,” the Latina chimes in, her hand outstretched. She looks at me warily, and I return her handshake with my public smile in place.
“I’m Kendra Gray. Henry represented me in my divorce from Andre Gibbs.”
It takes her a minute, but I can tell by her eyes exactly when it clicks.
