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Elle gives me the once-over and smiles. “He’s just the more traditional type. Let’s go get the others and head out.”
I pocket my keys and wallet, waiting for them to go first.
We meet Miles, Bryce, Damon, and Adeline at the bottom of the stairs by the limo we rented. The girls are gushing over how good they all look, while Damon and Miles give Bradley hell about his suit. Although Damon’s is magenta velvet, so I don’t know why he’s giving anyone grief.
I speak to the driver and give him the address of where we need to stop on the way to the event, and he nods.
There’s alcohol and champagne in the back of the limo, and Bradley is the first to help himself to it. I sit back, happy to have gotten a spot by the door.
Soon, the limo slows, and everyone looks around.
“I’ll be right back,” I say, filing out.
“Why are we stopping? I can’t be late, Coop,” Ellery says.
I peek my head back in. “I’m just picking up Maya.”
“Maya?” She blinks in surprise.
I turn on the walkway of the four-flat apartment building and make my way over to the building.
I didn’t mention to Ellery that I was bringing Maya because I didn’t decide until the last minute. And then I wasn’t sure how to tell Ellery, though I don’t know why it feels awkward. She has her own date for tonight.
Maya opens her door before I reach the stairs, and she comes out.
I met Maya at the grocery store, where we kept running into one another in the aisles and then at checkout. She lifted a magazine and saw my ad on the back cover, then looked at me. She said she didn’t know who I was, and I’m a sucker for that, so I asked her to meet me after the game the other day. We haven’t officially dated, but I needed a date tonight, so I asked her. I’m not sure it’s heading anywhere though.
She’s wearing a red dress that shows off her cute figure. As much as I wish the closed-throat feeling would wash over me like it did with Ellery moments ago, it doesn’t. I’m fully capable of taking a full breath.
She walks down the stairs in her heels like a pro, and I offer her my arm.
“You look beautiful,” I say.
“You look good too. I’m so nervous.” She bites her bottom lip.
“Don’t be. You’ve already met my friends.”
I open the car door for her and have her file into the limo first. As I climb in after her, all my friends say hello, and the girls compliment her dress.
So far, so good.
We arrive at the venue holding the event. The hospital did an amazing job with the decorations, and we get our pictures taken on the red carpet. Once inside, we scope out where we’re going to sit. Bryce and Miles are acting weird and disappear shortly after they grab their table assignment.
“I don’t want to know,” I say.
“Let’s remember they have history at these kinds of events,” Ellery says, and I remember the story of how they first got together back in San Francisco.
I’m about to head to the bar with Maya when I hear my name called across the room. I turn to see Ellery’s mom coming our way.
“You look handsome as always.” She places her hand on my cheek and smiles at me.
“Hi, Mrs. Wallace,” I say, hugging her. “You look gorgeous yourself.”
“Well, it takes a lot longer than it used to to look like this.” She looks at Maya, and her smile diminishes a bit. “And who do we have here?”
I place my hand on the small of Maya’s back. “This is my date, Maya.”
She puts her hand out, and they shake, but Mrs. Wallace isn’t nearly as welcoming as she usually is. Of course, usually her daughter is my date.
