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“Precisely what Ms. Goodwin instructed.” Without warning, the driver hit the gas and sped off into the night, swerving around another car that was waiting to turn right out of the hospital entrance.
I buckled my seatbelt as quickly as I could, hoping Ellie had vetted the limo company before she’d booked it. Surely, she wouldn’t throw tons of money away without checking to make sure it was a legit organization with a safe driving record.
Okay, maybe shewoulddo that. At least, with the speeds the limo was driving, I wouldn’t be late to my roommate’s birthday bash. Technically she was also my landlady, though it was hard to remember that when I was two years older and felt more like a big sister than a tenant. For her twenty-fifth birthday, she was renting the top floor of a local restaurant and flying in the same chef that had catered Beyoncé’s wedding, as well as a DJ from LA.
The ride was luxurious: buttery leather seats, a bottle of champagne, crystal glasses, and a bucket of ice. Soft classical music played from speakers. I sank deeper into the seat, feeling like a movie star or a wealthy socialite, even in hospital scrubs. This vehicle was probably worth more than my entire annual salary.
As we raced up I-76 to my home in Manayunk, I ran through a list of all the things I had to do to get ready: wrestle on the dress, tame my hair and throw on some makeup. I could still make it to the party before dinner started if I stayed focused.
Ten minutes from home, I got a text. I checked my phone, expecting to see something from Ellie making sure I was on the way. Instead, a message from my mom displayed on the screen.I think I found your plus one! Remember Justin Rogers?
I gasped in shock. Not even my hopelessly optimistic mom would expect me to attend my only sister’s wedding with someone who blew up a portable toilet during our first—and only—date in the eighth grade.
I started to type back some variation of “no, no way, nada, never” but thought better of it. A negative reply would prompt a call, then Mom would want to make sure I wasn’t mad at her about the suggestion, and then I’d end up reassuring her that I wasn’t angry and probably agree to go with Justin to make her feel better.
I didn’t have the bandwidth or the time for all that tonight. Mom would have to wait.
The limo driver deposited me in front of our pink row house, rolling down the passenger side window for instructions. “Should I park and wait for you?”
“No, thank you; I’ll walk to the party once I’m ready,” I told him. It would probably take him longer to find a parking spot for the limo in these crowded, hilly streets than it would for me to change and dash the couple of blocks to Manayunk’s tiny downtown.
I threw on my dress, a pale pink satin and tulle number with bows for sleeves better suited for the bridesmaid of a ballerina than a guest at a chic birthday party. But there was no way I was going to show up in something else after Ellie had gone to all the trouble and expense of getting it tailored for me. At least I wouldn’t look out of place next to the birthday girl. Her gown was electric pink, twice as full, and covered in three-dimensional silk roses, an Oscar de la Renta that cost nearly seven thousand dollars.
I probably just didn’t understand rich-people taste.
After touching up my hair and swiping on some makeup, I slid on comfortable shoes, threw the impossibly high heels Ellie expected me to wear into my purse, and booked it to the party. As I approached downtown, faint booms transformed into music that crashed over me like a tidal wave. It sounded like Ellie’s LA DJ came with speakers loud enough to be heard by her father in New York City.
After I swapped shoes outside the restaurant’s front door, I climbed a flight of stairs to the party room. I hadn’t been inside since Ellie started scouting locations six months ago, and I gasped when I saw the transformation of the space, even though Ellie had described every detail of the décor while she was planning the event.
The walls were covered in larger-than-life portraits of Ellie, and a giant fountain with a statue of a young woman who looked a lot like my roommate gurgled in the center of the room. There were enough pink flowers everywhere to make it seem like a street full of florist shops had been hit by a hurricane. The entire effect was intense and so thoroughly Ellie that I could only smile, and I hurried forward to find her.
Despite the enormity of the room, there were only twelve other guests—Davis Hardcastle, a friend of Ellie’s from childhood; his girlfriend, Cassie Croft; and ten of Ellie’s sorority sisters. The way Ellie described it, she’d gone to a college in the middle of nowhere, yet one with surprisingly amazing amenities and a thriving Greek life. A school for rich children who couldn’t get into a junior Ivy League, if I had to guess.
Davis and Cassie were sitting by themselves at the table closest to the door, Davis murmuring something in his date’s ear. They waved as I walked by.
“Jenna, have you met my girlfriend, Dr. Cassie Croft?” Davis said her name and title as proudly as if he were introducing me to the president of the United States.
“I’ve seen you around Beaufort a few times.” I shook Cassie’s offered hand. “And at the hospital gala, though we didn’t speak.”
Cassie smiled warmly. “It’s lovely to officially meet you. And your gown—wow.” She gestured at my over-the-top tulle creation.
I smiled self-consciously. “It was Ellie’s choice.” Cassie wore a floral printed wrap dress, exactly the kind of thing I would have chosen if it was really a garden party as the invitation said.
“It’s stunning,” Davis said gravely. He had the kind of movie star good looks that made most people tongue tied.
Including me, apparently. “Th-thanks,” I stammered. If Davis liked the dress, maybe I did too. What did I know about fashion anyway? “How are you enjoying the party?” I recovered enough to ask.
“Having the time of our lives.” Davis gave me a million-watt smile, and my mind went blank in the brilliance of his handsomeness and white teeth.
Cassie patted Davis on the arm. “You should ask Jenna about beta testing the app.”
“Great idea.” Davis turned the smile on Cassie, allowing me to catch my breath.
Before he could continue, Ellie spotted me. “Jenna!” she called across the room.
“I’d better go say hi to Ellie; excuse me.”
Davis made a motion for me to go on. “We can talk later.”
