Page 65 of Faking the Pass
My mom had been a single mother, and while we’d had enough to eat and a roof over our heads, there was not money for much else. The clothes I’d worn back then had been purchased either at Savers or from a big box discount store with the money I’d earned from my after school and weekend jobs.
And now here I was, sipping champagne with one of the world’s most famous singer-songwriters as a team of store employees brought out one gorgeous dress after another for me to inspect.
“I love that one,” Jessica said. “I think that neckline would look amazing on you.”
“It’s beautiful,” I agreed. “How much is that one?”
“Don’t tell her,” Jessica ordered then giggled before taking a sip from her own glass, which was filled with non-alcoholic sparkling cider.
“Sorry, Just doing my job,” she said. “Presley told me to make sure you didn’t just pick out the least expensive one.”
She put on an imitation of a deep male voice. “Mywife isn’t going to wear anything less than the best.”
I shook my head in bewilderment.
Presley had also apparently arranged to have the store shut down for our appointment so Jessica and I could shop in peace.
In addition to the champagne, there was a selection of finger foods including a gorgeous charcuterie board, fresh fruit, nuts, and some tiny gourmet cupcakes—chocolate ones.
It all felt unreal. And I didn’t understand a bit of it.
Even Randy, with all his focus on showing off, hadn’t gone to these lengths. I’d been told what time to show up and be fitted for the dresshe’dselected.
And told whatsizeto be so I’d fit into it.
Therecertainlyhadn’t been a lavish spread of tasty food.
That experience had made me feel like a generic dress-up doll. This one made me feel… special.
“I wouldn’t have thought Presley would be so concerned with appearances,” I said to Jessica.
“Oh he’s not. That’s the weird thing about all this. The whole family’s talking about it.”
She looked me over, as if I was some exotic new animal species she’d never seen before.
“Wilder says you and Pres dated in high school. Was it serious?”
“Oh no. We only went out for a few weeks.”
Browsing the food tray, I picked out a ripe strawberry. “Then he dumped me and moved on to someone else.”
Forcing a laugh, I took a bite, chewing and swallowing.
“I’m surprised Wilder or anyone else in the Lowe family even remembered me. He was so nice to me, by the way, when that wedding was going all sideways. Please tell him again how grateful I was.”
“He was happy to help,” Jessica said. “And he was glad you decided to get out of there—hereallyhated how Randy was talking to you. I’d say it’s just his nature since he became a bodyguard and started a security company, but honestly, all the Lowe brothers aresoprotective.”
I got an involuntary flashback of watching Presley step in front of the cameras and trash-talk Randy at the press conference—then the feel of his hand slipping around mine as he’d warned my ex-fiancé away, “claiming” me for himself.
Doing a little involuntary shimmy, I pressed my hand against my abdomen to quell the flurry of sensation that memory produced in me.
“I can see that.”
“And they definitely remember you,” Jessica said. “I guess his family’s been under the impression you were different from the other girls he dated back then.”
I shook my head emphatically. “No. I meant nothing to him. We literally never even spoke again after he told me he wasn’t interested in seeing me anymore.”
And after I’d overheard him telling his friends I was too flaky and freakish for them to consider dating, I didn’twantto speak to him again. Ever.
