"She's got a purse. It's right there on the bed."
"That's a day purse," Cassandra snapped.
"What, do they expire when the sun goes down?"
Elena pushed him out of the room. "Okay, do we still have time for someone to run out and buy something?"
"No!" Clay called back through the closed door. "Car comes in fifteen minutes."
"I'll have to skip the purse," I said. "I can slip my lipstick into Lucas's pocket. He's got his cell phone. That'll have to do."
Jaime opened the door and announced me with due fanfare. I accepted the obligatory gracious compliments from Jeremy and Aaron. Lucas smiled, walked over, and offered his compliments privately into my ear.
&n
bsp; "Lucas!" Savannah cried. "Where's your costume?"
"I'm wearing it."
"That's not a costume, that's a suit! The same thing you wear almost every day."
"It's a tux," I said. "And a very nice one."
"But what are you supposed to be?" Cassandra said. "A cocktail waiter?"
"I was going to say James Bond," Jaime said.
"Don't look at me," Aaron said. "I was pushing for a knight costume, but these two"--he gestured at Lucas and Clay--"shut me down."
"And I wisely decided to keep my mouth shut," Jeremy said.
"If he doesn't want to wear a costume, he doesn't have to wear a costume," Clay said. "Hell, he's got a mask. Good enough."
Lucas held up a plain black eye-mask.
"They don't come in colors?" Savannah sighed. "At least you put in your contacts." She looked out the balcony window. "So do you get a limo?"
Lucas shook his head. "A chauffeured car, but not a limousine. My father finds them too ostentatious, even for formal occasions."
"Limos are for high school graduations," Cassandra said.
"And weddings," Jaime said.
"Not good ones," Cassandra said.
"I like limos," Savannah said.
"So do I," I said, sneaking a grin at Lucas. "Lots of room to...stretch out."
He paused, then the corners of his mouth twitched and he reached for his cell phone. "I believe we still have time to request a change of vehicle."
"Uh-uh," Jaime said. "I just spent an hour doing Paige's hair. No limos. Tell you what, though. You guys finish this and I'll rent you a limo for the whole trip back to Portland."
"Cool," Savannah said.
"Uh, right," Jaime said. "Okay, scrap that idea. How about a shorter limo ride and free baby-sitting?"
"Car's here," Clay said from his spot at the window.