Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“You’ll be at the mansion?” Hannah asks.
I’ll be doing whatever job Patrick decides is the worst, most humiliating he can find. “Probably not, but I’ll be around.”
Hannah looks confused. “Well, how can you say that? What if he picks you?”
That is my biggest fear. If I ever see Luca again, I’ll have to let him know that getting picked by this dude totally outranks turning into my mom.
It’s not going to happen though. I’m going to walk out there, shake hands with that handsome king, and try not to make a fool of myself. I’m going to then stay away from him so he has the reasonable excuse of “I didn’t get good time with you, you glowing ball of sunshine. Good-bye.” Then we’ll part and Cinderella can go back to mucking the stables. Yes. That’s how the night is going to go. When this airs, Harper and Ivy are going to make so much fun of me, but I might look pathetic enough that Heath’s grandma makes me a lasagna all of my own, and I will not share that sucker. That can be my prize for getting through all of this. “He won’t.”
“You can’t know that,” Hannah says sagely, then frowns. “You know what? I like my hair down.”
I nod. “Then go for it.”
She seems to brace herself. “I am not their doll.”
“You are your own doll.” If I can impart a bit of feminist wisdom before I fade into the background, I’m going to do it. Tonight I’m a shiny fairy here to help those in need.
Her hands go to the back of her head and suddenly the neat bun tumbles around her shoulders, softening her face. Her dark hair is slightly wavy and the tiniest bit messy, and it makes all the difference.
“Are you in love with that jacket?” I ask. It’s a sparkly bolero, but it’s a little too long on her short frame and hides her waist. I have to wonder if production is trying to point a big old finger at who to kick off. If that man lets her go, I’ll take her straight back to my place and we will order Thai and talk about our narrow escape.
I won’t let her be alone because she seems to believe this is real. So I want to give her the best chance I can. I am Katniss, and the belt around my waist is my bow and arrow.
“I hate it,” she admits, “but the whole thing is a bit big on me so I thought it balanced the dress out.”
I slide the gold, glittery belt from around my waist. This dress doesn’t need a belt. It’s plastered to my body and not coming off anytime soon. On me that belt is a decoration. On her it’s going to change the whole shape of her outfit. I bring it around her waist and fluff it up so it shows off her hourglass figure. With her hair down and that fussy jacket off, she looks sexy and sweet. She only needs one more thing. I pull the necklace from around my neck. Christy had told me I needed some bling, but the dress itself is one big ball of bling. I have too much and Hannah not enough. Together, we can balance each other out and be better versions of ourselves.
“I can’t take your necklace. It’s beautiful.”
I shake my head. “Honey, this is not mine. If it was mine, it would turn your neck green. I could never afford this. If I’m right this in an actual emerald, and it’s going to look so good against your skin. It should draw his eyes exactly where we want them. You have nice breasts.”
She flushes but lets me clasp the necklace around her.
The door opens as I’m fixing her hair.
“Hannah.” Patrick frowns my way. I’m fairly certain he thinks I’m causing trouble. And then he smiles my friend’s way. “We’re ready for you. You look perfect.”
So he isn’t the worst. It appears to be only me he doesn’t like.
She takes a deep breath. “I’m so nervous.”
I give her my brightest smile. This is the part I’m good at. I’m an excellent wingman and will always have all the right words for my friends. “You have nothing to be nervous about. You look gorgeous, and he would be lucky to have you. Now go out there and show the world how amazing you are.”
Her shoulders are thrown back as she walks away with Patrick.
And I’m left alone.
I wish there was something beyond booze here because I could use one of those breaks the director apparently isn’t fond of. I walk over to the bar and sure enough, there is only expensive vodka and fairly cheap champagne, the two ingredients almost guaranteed to lead to someone crying in the bathroom or flipping the aforementioned table. Now that’s a tale as old as time. Put a group of women who don’t necessarily eat in an orderly way in a room with vodka and a man for them to fight over. Who wouldn’t want to watch that?