Page 59 of A Smooth Operator

"I don't have anything to wear," I said sullenly.

Remi laughed, and I moved so I could look at him. "What's so funny?"

"That's the most girlie thing I've ever heard you say. How about I take you shopping?"

"Why didn't you ask me earlier? Did you just decide? Did your date cancel at the last—"

"Because then you'd have too much time to think about it. You're the only woman I have asked out to this party."

I leaned into him because it felt good. "What are we doing, Remi?" I asked wearily.

"We're learning to be in a relationship, Doll."

"Damn, that's what I was afraid for," I confessed.

Chapter 22

Remi

If getting her to say yes to the party where there would be another fifty-nine people was this hard, I wasn't sure how Echo would react when I asked her to spend Thanksgiving with the Drakes.

She told me she was thinking of going to Europe for the long Thanksgiving weekend. She'd never been and wanted to explore. She was thinking of London. I would've loved to go with her, show her London where I'd spent a couple of summers with my uncle Austin when I was in high school, and he was working with a band there—but I had to be home for the holidays. I wanted to be with my family, and I wanted Echo to be there as well because she was my family.

She hadn't bought tickets yet, so that was the good news, and now that she'd agreed to come to a party at my parents' place as my date, I felt there was hope.

"You didn't pick her up?" Dad asked me as I stood in a tux, smiling at guests who were going into our home.

"She wouldn't let me. Said she'd Uber." That had pissed me off. But the girl had gumption when she made up her mind; you had to give her that.

"And you think it's wise to spring her as your date on your mother and sister?" he asked after he shook hands with the Mayor and his wife, and a hostess ushered them in.

I had thought about telling Mama and Lani that I was now officially dating Echo but decided that doing it when there were guests around would mean less of a blowout. After, it would be too late.

"I don't know if it's wise, per se," I admitted. "It's me hoping it'll go better. If I told Mama now, she'd probably shut the party down."

My father chuckled. "The Mayor is here, so she won't be doing that."

I knew he didn't like keeping things from Mama, and he hadn't liked keeping what was going on between Echo and me from his wife—but he agreed that I had to do this at my own pace and in my own way. That was the good news. The bad news was that I had no idea what I was doing.

"Dallas, come inside." My mother grabbed Dad's hand and smiled at me. "You look very nice, Remington."

"Thanks, Mama. And you look like a vision." She did, too, in a beautiful black and white dress that had some expensive designer label on it. Mama was always well put together, as was Lani, who was still with Tommy. I think they'd decided that since both of them had cheated on one another, they were good to go. Talk about a marriage not made in heaven.

Most of the guests had arrived, and according to my watch, Echo was late by fifteen minutes. My texts had gone unanswered, though she had read them. Had she decided not to come? That thought made me nervous as hell.

"I think everyone is here, except maybe some stragglers." Mama leaned into Dad. He put his arm around her. They were doing better as a couple, but I still noticed some tension between them.

"We both can't be here. One of us needs to take care of the guests," Mama protested.

Before Dad could say anything, a car stopped, and Echo stepped out. She was in a red and pink chiffon dress that made her look like a Disney princess, an X-rated one cause those curves were fucking delicious.

"What is she doing here?" my mother straightened.

Before I could speak, Echo looked at Dad, a plea in her eyes. "Thank you so much, Dallas, for inviting me."

My father smiled. "You're always welcome here, Echo." He looked at me as if asking what he should do next.

"Mama, Echo is—"

---