they never win. The bad guys always get theirs in the end.” Pushing a long strand behind my ear, my mother’s face softens. “Now, it is time to try on your gorgeous dress and get ready for the gala. Put all of this behind you and just focus on how incredible the night is going to be.”
“Yeah, okay,” I mutter, staring at the blue chiffon fabric sprawled out. I start to relax a little as my mother smiles at me. Maybe she’s right. Maybe I am overreacting. If my mother can be so calm about all of this, I should be, too. She has had to deal with this type of shit for years. Is that why she really started self-medicating? I don’t fucking blame her. This shit is all so damn overwhelming and stressful as hell.
“The hair stylist and makeup artists will be here at three o’clock sharp,” she explains.
“I’ll be ready.”
She kisses my forehead quickly. “I can’t wait to see you in that gorgeous gown.”
After the stylist worked her magic, putting my hair into a perfect up do, and the makeup artist made me look about ten years older with a smoky eye that would make Avril Lavigne jealous, I finally put on my Prada gown.
The flowing fabric draped perfectly as I stared at myself in the full-length mirror in the corner of my room.
“You’re stunning,” my father mutters as he walks in with my mother on his arm, both with huge smiles plastered on their faces.
It was weird having Charles Hawthorne in my suite. I couldn’t remember the last time my father ventured into my wing of the house. I always had to go to him. Well, usually I did. I guess things are really starting to change around here.
“Thanks,” I reply, doing a little twirl for my parents as they beam at me from the doorway.
“We’re going to leave now. Have to check on a few last-minute things before all of the guests start to arrive. We will send a car to pick you up in about an hour.” My mother’s smile is captivating as she stands looking overly regal in her gold and black gown.
“Xander is going to pick me up. If that is all right?” I needed to keep my parents on board with the whole Xander thing. Asking their permission was a small olive branch that I hoped they would accept willingly.
My father nods as his lips purse a little. “Very good. We’ll see you there, Lottie.”
Rushing over to my parents, I throw an arm around each of them, pulling my folks into me quickly. I am so overwhelmed with how far we have come in such a short amount of time, I needed to express it.
“I am really looking forward to tonight,” I stammer out as they both join in on the embrace.
“So are we, Lottie.” My father’s hot breath lands on my neck before I take a step back.
“Thank you for the dress, I really do love it.” I smooth out the fabric as I start to choke up a little bit.
“It was our pleasure. Only the best for you, sweetheart.” My mother gives my hand a quick squeeze. “See you soon.”
As they exit my room, I sigh with relief. Finally. Finally, it is all coming together. For the first time ever, I feel like we’re the family that I had always hoped we would become. I want to cherish that moment. As fleeting as it was, it was just what I need to get all of the crap out of my head.
I watch from my balcony as my parents’ limo drives out of the gates.
Rattling off a text to Xander, I ask him if he is on his way.
Sinking down into the armchair, I hold my phone in my hand waiting for his reply. Finally, my phone lights up. I swipe on the message: Be there soon, babe.
Instantly, my cheeks perk up and my lips rake into an ear-to-ear grin. This is really happening. Butterflies crash around in my stomach as excitement for the evening settles in quickly. It’s all happening.
Grabbing my French book and a notepad, I make my way to the large family room just off the foyer. Maybe a change of scenery will help get me in the studying mood. Not even two pages later, a sharp tone barks at me, startling me as I jump to my feet.
“Why didn’t you invite me to go with you tonight?” Blaine is huffing as he storms into the room.
“What