Cali and I walked back to her place to get the kids and so she could quickly shower and pack a bag. Her daughter, Loreli, inherited her red curls just a bit lighter in color. Emmett and Loreli had become so close, it was such a relief to me.
Not just to feel better about leaving him when I went to work, but also that he already had a friend so close to his age. His first real friend.
“I brought a little blow-up mattress for Loreli, she can sleep in Emmett’s room,” Cali walked off to set it up as soon as we got to my place. She hasn’t been here since she picked me up the first day for work but she walked around like she owned the place. I admired her confidence and the ease she seemed to live her life. I knew better than to assume it wasn’t a mask, but it was one she wore d.amn well if it was.
“Pizza party, movies, wait you don’t have a TV,” She put her hands on her hips and surveyed my living room that opened to the kitchen.
“Still getting settled,” We didn’t have a TV at the cabin either, I just got used to it.
“Hmm, well I have my laptop we can use that,” She turned to me with a wicked smile, “Now, let’s get you ready.”
“I don’t even know where we’re going,”
She shrugged and tugged me to the bathroom, “Shower,” She pushed me in, “Make sure to wash all your lady bits,” She closed the door before I could respond.
Showered and mostly dry she came in and helped me blow dry my hair, making my waves stand out and turn slightly curlier than normal.
The sight made my heart clench, it used to be my childhood friend Lola and occasionally my mom helping me with this. Even having a new mate and a life that I was genuinely enjoying, didn’t detract from the dull pain of what I lost and the life that I could have had.
“You good?” Cali asked, I didn’t realize she turned off the blowdryer.
“Just thinking, my best friend Lola used to help me do this and it made me miss her.”
“When was the last time you’ve seen her?”
I had to think about it, it was a while. She did come out to the cabin once and we met in town a few times. She went off to college and despite our frequent letters and occasional calls, I didn’t really see her in person since I left.
“It’s over a year at this point.”
“What happened?” she asked, rummaging around a makeup bag she brought.
“We’re still close, but life I guess,” I gave her a small smile and she mirrored that.
“I understand that more than anything, I had to cut a few people off and it sucks. I’m not saying you should cut off Lola of course,” She gave me a half smile, “But paths change and people change, and it f.ucking sucks.”
“That it does,” I sighed.
“Close your eyes,” She came at me with a makeup brush and I tried to sit still.
“Not too much please,”
A knock came at the door and I jumped.
Cali frowned, checking her phone, “It’s only six, stay here,” She walked out of the bathroom.
I tried to listen but it didn’t sound like him, the door shut and I ventured out behind her.
Cali was trying to balance six massive pizza boxes and two bags in her hands.
“Let me help,” I grabbed some of the boxes from her and set them on the table, “This is so much for the three of you, did you forget two of them were kids?” I laughed.
“I thought you ordered this,” She set the bags on the table rummaging through them. She pulled out some garlic bread, and two bottles of champagne before handing me a card, “It’s from prince charming,” She smirked turning to grab glasses from the kitchen.
I opened the card
A small gesture for your snarky “best” friend
Remind her the beast gets the girl in the end
-Caspien
I laughed and she frowned grabbing it from my hand. She rolled her eyes after reading it but was smiling.
“I never said he wouldn’t get the girl I’m just saying that he’s a bit broody. But I don’t appreciate that he put ‘best’ in quotation marks” She scoffed, popping a bottle, “Your glass selection is dismal by the way,”
I had mostly coffee mugs, a few plastic cups for Emmett, and some random mismatched glasses my mom found somewhere.
“Let’s finish getting you ready,” She pushed me back towards the bathroom, “We have about five minutes before the kids smell the pizza,” She whispered the last part as we walked past Emmett’s bedroom where they were playing.
I let her do her thing and what I saw in the mirror was someone I didn’t recognize. Well, I recognized her as the future Luna of Blue Ridge. The girl that wore confidence even if it was fake, the one that dressed up for every dinner and party that she herself helped plan. I saw a doll, a beautiful one, but it reminded me of when I was nothing more than an accessory. A glorified party planner with a fancy title.
“You don’t like it?” Cali frowned, “Is it too much? I thought a soft smokey eye and just a little glitter would bring out your eyes, I think you look absolutely stunning.”
“No, it’s not that,” I came back to the present, trying to give her a smile, “I just haven’t been this done up in ages and it brought back some memories that I didn’t think it would,” I admitted.
Her lips went in a thin line but she didn’t ask anything else. I liked that about her. I knew she would always be there but she didn’t push it. She seemed to know when to ask questions like about Lola, and when I wasn’t ready to open up.
“Well, let’s make you some new memories then,” She helped pull me up from the kitchen table we dragged in here.
“Thank you, for helping with Emmett and me,” I gestured to my face and she grabbed my hand.
“Don’t thank me, that’s what friends are for, right?”
“Right,” I agreed.
I asked Caspien what the dress code was and he just said ‘come as you are’ so that was no help. I didn’t want to be underdressed or overdressed and I couldn’t decide which would be worse.
“Simple but elegant,” Cali leaned on my bedroom door frame reading my thoughts, “A long black dress maybe? Something comfortable so it doesn’t look like you’re going to a wedding.”
“Or a funeral,” I added turning to my closet. I hadn’t updated it in years and I left behind anything nice. Even though Nolan had my things packed up, I didn’t want the reminder of the clothes he purchased for me, not like a ballgown would have worked well in the cabin anyways.
“I should have brought you something,” Cali crossed her arms coming up next to me, frowning at the sweaters, flannels, and jeans.
“I don’t even know where we’re going,” I went to lie on my bed.
“Probably somewhere fancy,” Cali responded, that I already could have guessed.
She went rummaging through a box of things that I still hadn’t unpacked. I added that to my mental list of things I needed to do.
“This could work,” She pulled out something dark green, a dress I hadn’t seen since high school.
“I doubt that will fit me,” I propped up on my elbows.
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