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Class is over, and I walk to the far wall to get my water and then my bag. I’m looking through my bag for my phone, yet I can’t find it. “Where the heck did I put my phone?”
“Here you go.” Tara hands it over to me with a mischievous, shit-eating grin on her face.
“What did you do?” My tone is one I use when Ainsley is caught doing something wrong.
“Something you’re too chickenshit to do yourself. I asked Eric to go to Melissa and Will’s engagement party with you. You’re welcome.”
“Tara!” I reprimand.
Even Melissa’s jaw is practically on the floor with Tara’s horrible invasion of my privacy.
“You can’t just break into her phone and set up dates for her,” Melissa yells at her like a parent scolding a child.
“You’re acting like that’s the worst thing I’ve ever done. Last week, I pranked Tyler by sending a guitar-playing cowboy, who only wears a thong and a Stetson, to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to him at his office because he refused to let you have the kids the weekend of Will’s mom’s birthday party. I recall you snickering pretty loudly about that one.”
“That was mildly funny.” Melissa places a hand on her hip and tries to fight her smile, then morphs into her stone-cold mom demeanor. “This is different. Jillian is far more private than I am.”
My phone pings the text message alert sound. I look down with bated breath and cringe when I see Eric’s name. I open the message.
I’d love to attend. Looking forward to meeting your friends.
My shoulders fall half in relief and a little bit of dread.
“Looks like I have a date to the engagement party.” I show the girls the message, and their smiles are huge.
“That’s awesome. And he wants to meet us so that’s bonus points.” Melissa beams.
“I have to cancel. Ainsley will be there.”
“So will eighty other people. What’s the big deal? It’s not like you’re going to hump the guy on the dance floor. He’s just coming to be adult conversation. Let loose, Jillian. It’s great!” Tara says way too enthusiastically. “Just keep your promise and be sure to name your firstborn child together after me,” Tara kids, and we both hit her playfully in the arms.
I grab my gym bag and bid the girls good-bye as I head to my car. Today, I’m working from the office while Melissa heads to a new venue to take some pictures as she begins the design process.
At my desk, I open my laptop and start working on an itinerary for a wedding in a few months. I’m deep in the throes of reviewing invoices and contracts when the phone rings on the line to the front door buzzer.
“Lavish Events.”
“It’s Mother, dear. Let me up.”
I cringe slightly as I buzz her up because I’m not in my usual uniform of business attire. Workout clothes and still smelling like a gym rat do not bode well in my mother’s presence.
I smooth out my ponytail and look for a cardigan, but to no avail. When my mother appears at the door, she looks like the pristine picture of a high-society member of Greenwood Village—perfectly blown-out hair, navy pants, white silk blouse, silver-and-navy blazer, and Tory Burch flats. Around her neck is her signature Van Cleef diamond clover, and she has three bracelets on, including two Cartier cuffs.
“Heard good news from Jenny Hollenford!” she states like she’s about to break out the champagne. “She said you and her son, Eric, have been cozying up quite nicely.”
“Hi, Mom. How are you?” I kiss her sweetly and take a step back. “What brings you here?”
Instead of answering my question, she looks down at my outfit with a twist of her face. At least the parts of it that still twist. Her Botox isn’t as subtle as it should be.
“You don’t dress for the office anymore? Where are your clothes?”
“I came from the gym. I take morning classes twice a week. I don’t get a chance to shower unless I have an appointment.”
“Smart casual is the only attire acceptable for this office.”
“Lululemon leggings don’t count as smart?” I joke as I take a seat at the conference table in the main room. “Maybe I should throw on a tie.”
She waves a hand in the air at me to ignore my comment. “Smart casual allows you to get funky with your business attire, but this is beyond unacceptable. Next time, change at the gym or run home first. You live close enough.”
