Page 52 of Up All Night

I was over all of that, though, so I could laugh at it now, but it hadn’t stopped me from making him sweat a little waiting for my answer.

I’d debated for a few seconds about what I should say to him, but in the end, it wasn’t a big deal for me to help him out. I didn’t have anything going on Saturday night, and eating yummy food at some fancy-schmancy gala sounded better than eating cereal on the couch while watching a random show I found to watch on Netflix.

And then when he had handed me his credit card and said there was no budget, I had about keeled over. My whole life had been living on a budget, shopping at discount stores, and making whatever you could find work. I’d never stepped foot in the ritzy shops I’d gone into today, let alone tried on beautiful and outrageously priced dresses.

It had been fun at first, but now I just wanted to find the dress and not stress about it anymore. West hadn’t given me a lot of time to find a dress for such an important event. I’d had to ask Ben to cover my clients today at the gym so I could go shopping. Between my two jobs, I didn’t have time to shop during the week, and with the gala being only three days away, I didn’t have many options but to take work off. The thought alone made me nervous, but losing one day’s pay at the gym would be okay. At least, that was what I kept telling myself.

So despite being West’s only date option and him having given me short notice, I was grateful he’d been willing to pay for my dress. And although this wasn’t a date, I was excited to get all dressed up.

Okay, and maybe spending an evening with West didn’t sound terrible. I had no doubt he would look amazing in a tuxedo, and who didn’t enjoy a little eye candy?

The next dress I would be trying on was stunning. I ran my hand along the dark red satin fabric. It looked and felt expensive, so much that I worried I might ruin it somehow by trying it on. It was a sleeveless one shoulder dress with a side slit and a skinny attached fabric belt for decoration. The voluminous skirt of the ball gown would billow around my legs.

Once I slipped the dress on, I grabbed the fabric of the skirt to lift it so I could walk out to show Kate.

She looked up from her phone and exaggeratedly dropped her jaw. “Halle!” Her voice was a high-pitched squeal. “That’s the one! Oh, my gosh, that dress looks so incredible on you.”

I stood in front of the mirror again, taking in my reflection. “Really? Are you sure?” I smoothed down the satin fabric and admired the way the dress cinched in my waist with its crisscrossed laces in the back.

She stood, placing her hands on her hips. “How can you even ask me that question? Look at you!”

I did love the dress, and I had to admit it did look great on me.

I smiled at Kate through the mirror. “West’s heart is definitely going to be pumping.”

We giggled like a pair of teenagers, and then I hurried to get changed before anything disastrous could happen to the dress.

I put on the final touches of lipstick and looked over my makeup and hair one more time. West would be here any minute to pick me up for the gala, and I wanted to make sure I was ready on time.

I’d done my hair in a soft curly updo, with loose waves and tendrils that fell around my face and neck.

I grabbed the nude strappy heels I’d bought to go with the dress and hurried to put them on.

“Halle, you look beautiful,” Kate said when I walked out of my bedroom and into the living room.

“Thanks,” I said, feeling nervous.

I wasn’t nervous about going out with West or about what he would think when he saw me. My nerves had more to do with going to a formal event. I had never been to something like this before. What silverware was I supposed to use? Did I know proper etiquette? The little knowledge I did have was mainly from movies and TV shows I’d watched.

How was I supposed to introduce myself to West’s parents and coworkers? Was I just his neighbor, was I his friend, was I pretending to be someone he would actually be interested in dating? Should I stay quiet and let West do all the talking, or should I be outgoing and friendly?

Ugh. This was too much to think about.

“What’s wrong?” Kate sighed, noticing what I assumed was a strained look on my face.

I twisted the tube of lipstick I had in my hands. “I don’t know what to do in a situation like tonight. How do I act? What should I say? How many pieces of silverware are going to be on the table and how will I know which one to use?” My voice rose an octave with each question.

Kate stood up off the couch. “Okay, slow down there.” She walked over and put her hands on my arms, looking me in the eyes. “You’re going to be fine. These people might be mega-rich, but you weren’t raised in a barn.”

“I don’t know if being raised by my mom was much better than a barn,” I cut in.

She seemed to think about that for a moment before shaking her head. “That doesn’t matter. You’re going to follow West’s lead and just enjoy yourself tonight. Have fun being all dolled up and eating a plate of food that costs thousands of dollars.”

I let out a breath, relaxing at her words. She was right. It was one night of being someone’s stand-in date. I’d never see these people again, and it’s not like anyone would remember me.

“You’re right.” She let her hands drop, and I pushed my shoulders back, my nerves floating away. “Tonight is about helping West and having a good time.”

A knock at the door sounded. And just as quickly as my nerves had left, they were right back. But now they did have to do with West. I really hoped he liked the dress I had bought with his money.

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