But is it real?
Or another mindfuck?
Chapter Twenty-Nine
I stare at my reflection in the full-length mirror with a critical eye before twisting one way and then the other. The blue sleeveless halter dress falls to my knees. Even though there’s nothing wrong with the dress, it irritates me that I don’t have a choice about wearing it. I’m eighteen years old, I can decide for myself what’s appropriate for an adult party.
A small, stubborn part of me is tempted to change into the short pink tulle dress, but I would never go through with it. The stress of moving to this rinky-dink town, taking over a multi-million-dollar company, and hosting this ill-fated party has pushed my parents over the edge of their sanity.
So, if Mom wants me to wear this dress in a bizarre attempt to impress the small-minded town folk, then I guess I’ll do it, but that doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it.
As soon as I finished my bath, I styled my hair in a sleek ballerina bun at the top of my head.
Mom wants sweet and innocent?
This should do the trick.
Eyeshadow and light pink lip gloss are added to complete the look. I glance at the clock on my nightstand and realize it’s half past seven. Already the doorbell has chimed at least a dozen times. As much as I’d like to delay the inevitable, I can’t put it off any longer. From my closet, I find a pair of matching blue heels and slip them on before leaving the room and knocking on my brother’s door.
Since Austin is dreading this party as much as I am, I’m confident that he’s still hiding out. When he doesn’t respond, I crack open the door and peek my head inside, only to find him sitting on the edge of the bed with his hands tightly clasped in his lap.
“Hey.”
He glances up and gives me a tight smile before rising to his feet. “You look nice.”
“Thanks.” I do a little twirl before stacking my hands under my chin and batting my lashes. “Mom requested that I look as pure as the freshly driven snow.”
He snorts out a disbelieving laugh before shaking his head. “What the fuck is that about?”
“Language,” I sing-song with a wide grin and his lips twitch.
Austin plows a hand through his short dark hair. “I can’t believe we have to do this. It’s such a waste of time.”
“I know,” I huff, dropping my hands. “But it’s only for a couple of hours. Maybe we can sneak a few drinks to dull the pain.”
He sticks his fingers beneath the collar of his starched white shirt and yanks it away from his neck. “This damn thing is choking me,” he mutters before popping the first two buttons. “Fuck it, I’m not wearing a tie.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” My gaze skims over the length of him. Austin has grown into a handsome guy. Maybe the girls at Hawthorne aren’t falling all over him like they used to at our old school, but I’ve seen enough of them eye fuck him in the hallway during passing periods and at lunch to know that they want to. The navy suit only accentuates his tall, muscular build.
“You ready?” I ask, only wanting to get this farce over with.
“Nope.”
One side of my mouth hitches. “Well, I guess you’re shit out of luck then.”
His dimples flash as a slow smile moves across his face. “It might have taken awhile, but it’s nice to see I’ve finally corrupted you.”
I roll my eyes and nod toward the door. “Let’s go.”
We’re midway down the staircase when the doorbell chimes and more guests arrive. My mother hired a full staff this evening to make sure everything ran smoothly. There is a valet to park the cars on the road, a man in formal wear to greet guests at the door with a silver tray of champagne, and servers to circulate through the party with drinks and appetizers.
As my gaze roams over the crowd, I notice most people already have a beverage in their hands. Mom’s plan to get the town trashed looks to be a success. Who knows, maybe she’ll pull off the impossible and by the end of the evening, the Hawthornes will once again be in everyone’s good graces.
A couple who look to be around my parent’s age step into the foyer. A moment later, a younger couple trails behind them. Wait a minute…is that Jasper?
Ugh.
What the hell is he doing here?
My hand tightens around the wrought-iron railing as I give my brother a bit of side eye. By the way his jaw clenches, I’m guessing that his rival’s presence has not gone unnoticed. I hope he keeps it together. The last thing Mom and Dad need is him getting into a fight when they’re trying to prove how wonderful we are.