Tempted

“Bailey. Oh my god, I’m so proud of you! What are you going to do?”

“Whoa, slow down.” I laugh at her enthusiasm.

“I’m just so excited. You seem to really be getting your stuff together.” I see tears in her eyes, and I move toward her.

“Harper, is everything okay?”

“Everything is great. I just really miss you, and I mean it, Bae, I’m so proud.” Her words melt my iced-over heart. We may not have grown up close, but she has more than proven that there is nothing better than a sister.

“Don’t give me too much credit. I’m starting undeclared because I’m not sure what I want to do yet.”

She wipes her eyes. “You have time for that. What are you interested in?”

I contemplate her question. “I’m really enjoying helping Drew with the business side of the restaurant, so I’m thinking business, but we’ll see.”

She nods in agreement. “Whatever you do, I know you’ll be great. Is that why you wanted to meet?”

“Drew invited me to a fundraiser.” I pretend to rummage through my purse so she doesn’t see my eyes.

“Drew Lawson invited you to the Night of Hope Gala?” Her eyes widen with disbelief.

“And I met his mother.” My words are fast.

“You met his mother?”

I swear she could catch a fly in her mouth. It’s hanging so far open I’m afraid she might hurt herself.

“Yeah, why?”

“Bailey, no one meets his mother. This is huge!”

No one meets his mother. The notion makes me giddy inside. He did say he loved me.

“Wow, you met his mother,” she repeats, and I nod.

“So, can you help me find an outfit to wear?”

“For tonight? Oh god, Bailey. There’s no way anything will be fancy enough here.”

“I-I have nothing to wear.” My mouth tightens, spreading into a thin line.

Harper lets out a sigh, and I peek up at her as her eyes soften.

“Let’s go find you the perfect dress. I know just the place—my treat.” She winks.

“I don’t expect—”

She waves a hand, cutting me off. “I know, sweetie.” And with that, she grabs my hand and pulls me down the street.

We walk about fifteen blocks before Harper slows her pace. As we stand at the corner of Fifth and Forty-Ninth, I allow my gaze to skate across the distance. A truck stopped at the light obscures my line of sight as I try to figure out just where Harper is taking me. She steps forward and, as the traffic clears, I can see where she is pointing.

“Saks, Harper? I can’t afford a pair of socks there, let alone a dress.”

“Will you let me worry about that?”

With a soft nudge of the shoulder, she walks by me and begins to cross the street. I quickly follow, not wanting to be left behind.

“Bailey, what are you doing in these parts?” A familiar voice says from behind me. I whirl around to see Carter, who, before I can figure out what’s happening, has me wrapped in his arms.

“Carter!” I squeal.

“Hi, Carter,” my sister says from beside us.

In true Carter Cass fashion, he lets me go and moves on to my sister, where he forgoes the handshake and crushes Harper into a hug. “Nice to see you again.”

She laughs. “You too.”

He smiles. “What are you two ladies doing?” he questions.

“Bailey has been invited to a gala and needs a dress. Oh, and she met Drew’s mother.”

Carter’s eyes flip to mine. His are wide.

I giggle.

“That’s amazing! We need to catch up and talk. I would love to stick around, but I’m meeting a friend down the street.” He waggles his eyes suggestively. I smirk.

“Well, we wouldn’t want you to be late, Casanova.”

He grins.

I wave goodbye to him and then grab Harper’s hand to continue our shopping adventure. When we arrive at the department store, Harper steps forward and opens the door. The door must be heavy as the muscles in her arms flex with the exertion.

The first thing I see is money. Not actual money, but you can just tell right off the bat that I don’t belong here. This place is dripping with fancy designers and expensive pieces. This place is more Harper’s scene. Harper was always more into this stuff than me.

“This way,” Harper says as she pulls me through the cosmetic section and toward the ornate gold elevators along the back wall of the room. It’s shocking how chaotic the space is. I’m not sure how so many people have the time or the inclination to go shopping. I can think of a million things I would rather be doing right now. The truth be told, I’m so nervous about this gala that I would rather have a root canal than be shopping for a dress.

I look over to see Harper rummaging through a rack of dresses. She’s definitely on a mission. The first dress she pulls out is god-awful. It’s pink and frilly, and I think it might even have rhinestones on it. I shake my head adamantly at her, then mouth the words, “HELL NO.”