Tall mirrors with bright white lights lined the walls. There were clothing racks everywhere. All we needed to do was put on our dresses.
Hayden stood off to the side scrolling through his phone, looking as striking as ever. From the charcoal colored pants that hugged his thighs like a second skin, to the rich onyx shirt with the top two buttons left undone that gave way to a glimpse of his firm chest, he wore an impish grin that shouldn't have gotten me tangled inside. He was cool and breezy chatting with Avery about the Florida Gators, the school he'd hoped to earn a gymnastics scholarship from.
"Damn, girl, don't you look hot," Avery said when Holly stepped out of the bathroom.
To me, she looked a little unsure. Wide eyes scanned the room for her brother. The dress she wore was made for her body. A silver sequin spaghetti strap top with waves of bubblegum satin sat high on her lean legs. Pin-straight hair and natural makeup completed the look.
She bit her lip. "Do I look okay, Hayden?" she asked her brother, anxiety spiking her voice. "It's not too much?"
Hayden nodded with gentle eyes. "You look great, sis. Beautiful."
"Not too much skin?"
Avery expressed amusement and said, "You can't be serious. You walk around in a onesie all day, so what's the difference?"
An airy laugh escaped Holly. "I guess you have a point, but I'm just not used to this kind of dressing up. I feel like my boobs are on display, and if the wind blows my dress, my butt will show."
"Your boobs look fantastic," Avery offered. "Not too much, not too little. I'd ask Hayden to back me up, but that's just a little weird."
He put up his hands. "That's where I draw the line."
Two knocks sounded on the door, and Mom waltzed in looking as flawless as ever, while I was still in my robe. At least I had my hair and makeup complete.
"Holly, darling"—her eyes scanned the length of her body—"that dress fits you perfectly. Spin around for me."
Holly's cheeks flamed, and she shot me a fleeting look before spinning around with her arms out. I knew what my mom was doing, she'd done it to me numerous times, and I hated it.
Mom clicked her tongue. "Magnificent. That cocktail dress was designed for you, it doesn't fit Ana that way. Keep it. It looks much better on you than it ever did her."
My lips parted as the room grew silent. I sat stone-still, staggered by her comment. I wasn't upset my mom gave the dress to Holly—she could have it—it was the fact she had the gall to insult me in front of my friends without concern for my feelings.
I glanced at Holly and suppressed the pain Mommie Dearest dealt me. Holly’s eyes were wide, and her jaw bobbed like she lost her voice. Her gaze shifted back and forth from me to my mom. Not everyone could handle Joy Rossi.
Nodding, with an artificial smile in place, I cleared my throat. "She's right. It looks amazing on you, I was going to tell you to keep it anyway."
She shook her head frantically. "Oh, no. I couldn't do that. Really."
"Nonsense," Mom butted in. "It's yours. End of discussion."
She shifted in her four-inch heels until her dissecting eyes landed on me. She glared, and my shoulders wilted like a deflating balloon. I guess her kindness toward me when I arrived was short lived.
"When do you plan to dress, Ana? After guests have arrived? Or do you plan to greet our visitors in a…a housecoat?" She snapped her gaze toward Avery. "And what about you?"
I straightened my back and answered for the both of us. No Victoria's Secret silk robe could ever be defined as a housecoat.
"Holly just stepped out of the bathroom, Mom, I was going in next, and then Avery."
She blinked. "Make sure to pat your face with finishing powder so you don't look oily. I don't want to see my reflection on your forehead. I expect to see you downstairs soon." She walked out, closing the door behind her.
Avery snapped a murderous gaze at me. Two seconds ago she was America's next top southern belle. "Can I put eye drops in her vodka so she can shit everywhere tonight?" Her face contorted with fury. She knew how my mom was, yet every time something happened, she was more appalled than the last. "I honestly don't know how you deal with her?"