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The vendor reappeared with the seamstress. It took her all of ten minutes to set up her needles.
“I can have it ready for you in two hours,” she said.
“We can be back for it in two and a half,” Grace said, making me wonder what else she and Landon had planned for me.
We shopped till we dropped. I bought two pairs of shoes and a bag, as well as a number of tops and jeans. While I was trying on my last pair of shoes, I caught Grace looking wistfully at the racks of merchandise.
“What?” I asked.
“Landon said I should buy something for myself too, but I feel like I’d be taking advantage.”
My heart soared. He’d even thought of Grace.
“Well, the joke’s on you, little sis. You’re not leaving here without a pair of shoes.”
Manicures and pedicures were on the list too. I’d asked Grace if they were a gift from Landon too, and she’d replied, “No! That’s my gift, because you’re the best sister ever.”
By the time we returned to my bungalow, I wanted to take a nap, but I still had work to do. I had to wash my hair and style it, and apply makeup. We popped open a small bottle of champagne while we did each other’s makeup.
We took a cab to the location, and I was so excited, it was ridiculous. We drove into West Hollywood and pulled in front of a white building lined with wood poles at regular intervals. The simplicity was chic and elegant. The rooftop was glass-encased, and I could see people milling around. The name of the restaurant, Sinful, made me smile.
Landon came out the front door the next second, giving Grace and me a wide smile.
“Here is the birthday girl,” my sister announced unnecessarily.
“Happy birthday, Maddie,” said Landon.
“Thank you for today.” I did a full turn so he could admire me. My blonde hair was styled in a chic updo, with a few curled strands falling from it to reach my shoulders. The dark blue dress didn’t have a plunging neckline, but it did show enough cleavage to spark someone’s imagination. The ribbons on the back were my favorite part. The skirt reached down to my toes. I moved my leg through the thigh-high gap, showcasing the shoes—black, sky-high heels, and a thin strap I’d wrapped around each of my ankles. Landon might not know shoes, but he recognized hot as hell when he saw it. His eyes turned molten.
Grace cleared her throat. “Shall we go upstairs, lovebirds?”
I smiled sheepishly, taking Landon’s arm as Grace led the way through the building. We went up a narrow spiral staircase. I held my dress up in my free hand, afraid I’d step on it.
“Who is here?” I a
sked when we reached the upper floor, tapping my foot to the rhythm of the music blaring through the loudspeakers. The room was dimly lit, with an inviting atmosphere. The glass wall at the other side of the room showed a beautiful view of LA at night.
“You’ll see,” Landon said, kissing the side of my head.
Grace beamed. “Landon and Lori asked me to make a list of the friends you’d like to see.”
I’d been expecting Dylan and Alena, and even Emma and Robbie, who’d driven over from Desert Hot Springs. But I definitely wasn’t expecting my best friends from college, Jenny and Wilma, and even Sarah and Lydia, with whom I’d shared an apartment back in Miami.
The Connor clan was sitting at a round table, near the glass wall. Val still had the cast on her leg, but her ribs had healed, at least. Lori strode straight to us, flinging her arms around me.
“Happy birthday,” she chanted. “What do you think?”
“This is incredible. Thank you.”
“Now, I don’t want to take all the credit, Grace and Landon helped. But it was mostly me,” she said with sass.
“Well, this is great. Where is Milo?”
“I arranged a sleepover with one of his friends so I didn’t have to leave too soon.”
I went on to say hi to everyone, smiling from ear to ear the entire time.
Jenny monopolized me right after I made the rounds, dragging me to the bar. The menu was full of cinematic-themed cocktails. I ordered a Casablanca, and Jenny a Cleopatra. She was rocking a little black dress, not looking one day older than in our college days.
