Page 16 of Loving Whiskey

I raise my glass of wine to her. “Amen to that.”

“What time are we meeting Cat?” Tessa asks.

“I think Jonathan is picking her up and then us. In the limo,” I exaggerate the O and raise my glass like we are all fancy. “I never could get used to the lifestyle those men live. I’m so glad I’m done with all of it.”

Tessa rolls her eyes. “Oh yes, being a billionaire’s girlfriend was so hard.”

I tilt my head in annoyance. “It certainly wasn’t a walk in the park.”

“I’m still not convinced that you won’t end up with a billionaire. A certain blue-eyed one that always seems to come to your rescue, perhaps.” Tessa bites her lip as she smiles at me. Wiseass.

“Jonathan and I are friends. That’s it. Nothing more.”

She smiles. “Yeah, I’m just not buying it.”

Biting my lip, I reply, “Actually, I saw something between Cat and Jay the other day. I kinda wonder about them.”

Tessa frowns. “Really?”

“Yeah, I can’t really explain it. Just a feeling. The way she looked at him, it’s obvious she has something for him. But he’s such a playboy I don’t know why she would bother. But then they touched hands and I don’t know. I just…it was strange.”

I can’t put my finger on it. That is just about the best way I can describe it.It was strange. And Cat’s already been on a few dates since then, and I haven’t seen her react to any of the men in the way she reacts to Jonathan. I don’t know. There is something there. I just don’t know what it is.

Tessa looks to the ceiling in deep thought as I hold up another dress. It’s red, which I never wear, but Cat sent over dresses she said were from her magazine’s fashion closet. I have no idea why she would ever want to be in the family business when she has such a cool job. I told her I wouldn’t fit into any dresses worn by models, but she told me the models in her magazine weren’t what I thought. To be fair, I had never taken the time to even see what magazine she worked for. I’ll give her credit, it’s a women’s magazine.For all women. Women who are over the age of thirty, maybe even more like forty, with real issues and careers and hips. I’m impressed.

Once again I have a pang over the relationship we could have had if she had just given me a chance. I wonder if it would have made a difference with Cash and me. Would we have made it?

I raise my eyes to the ceiling to stop the inevitable tears. Tessa catches my watery eyes immediately and leaps off the bed and into my arms. “No, no, babe, don’t cry. If you cry, I’ll cry, and my makeup is already done.”

I laugh at my beautiful little firecracker. She is the Kit to my Vivian. I love her to death. I sigh into her shoulder. “Okay, I can do this.”

Tessa points to the dress in my hand. It’s a deep red silk. “This dress is incredible. You have to wear it.”

“I don’t know if I have the right undergarments for this.”

Tessa doubles over in laughter. “I’m sorry, Ethel, the 1950s would like their underwear back.”

I roll my eyes. “Seriously. What am I supposed to wear under this? My ass is going to be all jiggly.”

She raises her brows. “That’s kinda the point.”

“Fine. But if Cat says I look like an old lady with cellulite or gives me one of her up down stares, I swear I am going to blame you.”

“She sent the dress over for a reason, Grace. She works for a fashion magazine, for God’s sake. And she dresses like a runway model. The woman knows what works. You are gonna rock the shit out of this dress.”

Resigned to losing the battle, I take the dress and my undergarments to the bathroom, muttering the entire time under my breath about how absurd I am going to look.

When I come out of the bathroom with my makeup done and the dress on, Cat is standing in my room with a smirk on her face. Her eyes run up and down my body. “I am so fucking good it’s amazing.” She walks over with a pink bag in her hand. “You can’t wear a silk dress with just any panties. They’reLa Perla. Turn back around and put them on.”

My eyes grow and I shake my head. “Cat, I can’t let you give me underwear. This is beyond…well, it’s just beyond. It’s crazy.”

She laughs. “Please let me do this. I owe you a hell of a lot more than some pretty panties.”

I bite back a smile and turn around because, secretly, I am really excited. I’ve never worn expensive underwear. I always thought it was kind of a waste. Steven never took the time to enjoy them. Naked was always his preference. For some reason I think Cash would have enjoyed lingerie. I suppose I’ll never know.

Fingering the smooth fabric in my hands, I practically salivate over how gorgeous they are. The dress goes around the neck and then flows to my thighs. I have on a strapless bra, and the panties are a rich cream color that feel like Moroccan oil against my skin. When I walk out of the bathroom, Cat and Tessa both clap.

“Hair up,” Cat instructs, walking over and taking my hair into her hands before folding it into a fancy updo that is really just a ponytail but so much more at the same time.

When I look at myself in the mirror, I’m shocked. Tessa did my eyes smokey, so the purple irises almost look black, and the red dress hugs my neck like a choker. I’m only wearing a clear gloss on my lips, and when Jonathan walks in he smiles so wide I feel like a million bucks. “You look fucking gorgeous, Gracie.”

Tessa smiles widely at all of us and screeches. “Group hug!”

I groan, but before I know it, all three of them are coming close to me, and I open my arms in defeat. Laughing against Jonathan’s chest, I finally succumb to this new life I find myself in. Surrounded by three people I never would have imagined would be in my room together, divorced, and going out with my ass cheeks hanging—hello, thirty-six, I’m ready for you.

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