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“I swear she thinks every man with a pulse is a potential suitor,” I say.

“Tell me about it,” Mary says.

“Didn’t you have a date with a doctor?” Lil asks.

“You mean the one who psychoanalyzed me? Yes, amazing date. I don’t know what it is about modern dating, but it feels so disconnected sometimes. It’s rare to find someone you like.”

“It is.” I nod along.

“We should celebrate with cocktails later,” Mary says.

“Oh, let’s order from the Thai place around the corner from which we ordered last week,” Lil says.

“Sure,” Mary says.

After we finish eating, we go into the city to find some dresses and spend the rest of the day getting ready before finally getting to the luxurious hotel where the charity gala takes place.

As we approach, the heavy doors to the enormous ballroom open. Crystal chandeliers drip from the ceiling like inverted icicles and the walls are adorned with intricate gold and paintings. Waiters in crisp white uniforms weave between rounds of polite laughter and tinkling champagne glasses while a string quartet serenades in the background. Round tables draped in ivory tablecloths fill the space, surrounded by elegant guests dressed to the nines.

My gaze sweeps over the extravagant gowns and tailored suits.

That emerald gown on the statuesque blonde must be silk satin, judging by how it drapes and moves fluidly with each step. I’ll bet my favorite pair of scissors it’s imported Italian silk.

The sweetheart neckline and intricate beading along the bodice require a lot of skill, though the hem appears uneven at one point. I could integrate such a beading, with pearls added, on one of my designs.

My gaze falls on a man’s tuxedo, likely Italian wool, judging by the richness of the fabric. Too thick for lingerie. Although it could be a special piece, the form inspired by the form of a tuxedo.

Pitty, I don’t have my sketchbook with me.

I smooth my hands over my dress and glance at my best friends, who are stunning in their floor-length gowns.

Mary leans in, looping her arms through mine and Lil’s. “You both look gorgeous. Now chin up, we didn’t spend three hours getting ready for nothing.”

I squeeze her arm in thanks as we stride further into the room.

She’s right, we didn’t.

“Can you believe this place? My mom really outdid herself.” Mary scans the room with her eyes.

The hotel we’re in belongs to Mary’s family. They have several around the globe, and Mary’s mother organizes an annual charity gala at the headquarters. Right here.

“It’s incredible,” I say.

“Let’s grab a drink and find our table.” Lil points at the bar. As we navigate through the crowd, I notice men stealing glances at her.

The emerald silk of her gown shimmers under the crystal chandeliers, draping over her petite frame like liquid jade. The deep hue complements her olive skin tone and brings out those mesmerizing amber eyes, which at times seem to be lost in another world.

She carries herself with an almost regal grace, back straight, chin lifted ever so slightly. Yet there’s something so soft, so vulnerable about the way her long, dark hair cascades over her bare shoulders.

I’ve always envied how effortlessly beautiful she is, both inside and out. That quiet strength, that thoughtful intelligence. Lil has this way of making you feel truly seen and understood without uttering a single word.

As we pause at the bar, she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, long lashes lowering briefly. It’s in these fleeting moments I glimpse that tender, almost melancholic quality she tries so hard to mask.

What did Bash do to you, Lil? My protective instincts kick in the way they always do with Lil. I want to pull her into a hug and reassure her that whatever weighs on her mind, she doesn’t have to shoulder it alone.

But I know better than to push. With Lil, you have to be patient and let her come to you in her own time. Trying to pry only makes her retreat further into that beautiful, complicated mind of hers.

“Chardonnay?” The bartender in a vest and bow tie greets us, and we nod in response. He serves us each a glass.

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