Page 33 of Finding My Forever

Yes, ballroom. In a house. On Manhattan.

Wealth, as I’ve never before experienced, surrounded us.

I smoothed my black cocktail dress, feeling incredibly unworthy of being here.

“Stop. You look great.” Sophia’s whisper brought my attention to the host.

“If you’ll all take your seats.” She waved a delicate arm in the direction of four round tables. I was sure this room could handle ten times that many. Our event must be one of the smallest they hosted.

I followed Sophia to the closest table then realized there were name cards on each plate. Crap.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Sophia whispered over her shoulder to me. I almost laughed but caught myself. This room didn’t feel like it allowed laughter. It was beautiful but stuffy. The home felt like a museum—well it technically was—and I hated feeling like we were all walking on eggshells. Heaven forbid I touched anything I wasn’t supposed to.

“I’ll check the other tables.”

“I can help you, ma’am,” a passing waiter helped her find her name quickly then directed me to my seat.

Of course, we couldn’t sit where we wanted to. Of course, this couldn’t be a comfortable environment. I almost questioned whether or not it was worth it until I remembered I was in New York, for free, and I met Liam. Yes, I could survive one awkward, formal night in exchange for everything else.

After taking my seat, Greg, the guide, found his next to me and struck up small talk with the other people at our table. My performance face clicked into place and I spent all of dinner silently smiling like I was enjoying myself. I’ve found over the years it’s easier to get away with being quiet if you’re smiling. People feel less inclined to pull you into the conversation if you seem happy listening. So, I sat and fought the itching desire to give up all pretenses and take out my phone that I stuffed into the small clutch I brought.

Our host, Larissa, took the stage after dinner had been cleared and gave a short speech about how the Montgomery Foundation was proud of us, and how they believed the future was in good hands. Then, she called each of us up to the stage, read the title of our submissions, handed us an award in a black frame, and shook our hands. All in all, it only took twenty minutes or so.

I made eye contact with Sophia, who blew a breath and lifted her eyes to the ceiling after the last person had their turn.

Greg joined Larissa on the stage and announced the van would take us back to the hotel, but we had the rest of the night to explore.

I reached for my clutch and cracked it open in an attempt to discreetly check the time. It was already after nine. I was fine watching a movie and calling it a night at this point.

I was eighteen going on eighty.

Sophia met me in the middle of the room as we joined the others to leave. “That wasn’t as painful as I was expecting.”

“We have a small group, so it wasn’t too bad. Imagine if they did that with a hundred of us.”

“No thank you. I don’t want to even think of that.”

“So, do you want to go out when we get back or…” I faded off, hoping she’d jump in.

“I was actually thinking of getting a shake from across the street again and watching a movie or something.”

I wrapped my arm around her as we walked and gave her a side hug. “A girl after my own heart. That sounds perfect!”

Sophia slid past the guys in the first row, and I followed to the empty seat next to her. “I’m glad we’re on the same page. It’s the worst when you’re with people that always want to do the opposite of you, especially when you’re traveling.”

“I know! When I go to cheer competitions, the girls always want to go out and see the area and stay out late, but I’m the boring one that wants to stay in and rest.”

“And who performs better at the competitions?”

I laughed. “Me and my best friend, the captain. She begs the girls each time to not go out or at least be back by ten, but they never listen.”

“Why doesn’t the coach stop them?”

“She’s the one that takes them out! Since Katie, my friend, takes charge of everything she’s pretty lax on things.”

“No thank you. I like sleeping too much.”

“I know!” I giggled.