“Oh, nothing,” I said with a smile of my own. “Nothing at all.”
Harleigh grabbed my hand under the table and squeezed gently.
She was here.
And for the first time in weeks, I felt like things were finally going to be okay.
* * *
“Celeste, you have visitors,” Max bellowed from downstairs.
It was Friday night. Winter Formal.
Nate had offered to go as my date, but I’d politely declined. I didn’t want to go and watch from the sidelines while everyone else had the time of their lives with their dates and friends. Besides, I felt better about things after our impromptu dinner with Dad and Harleigh last night. It was nice—we’d never done that before. The four of us together, a family. There was still a lot to sort through with Mom, but we’d all decided to shelve that for another day.
She’d hurt me, really hurt me, and I wouldn’t be ready to forgive her anytime soon.
Before I could get to my bedroom door, footsteps sounded out in the hall accompanied by laughter. Lots and lots of laughter.
“Max, what is— Harleigh? Clo?” My brows furrowed. “What are you guys doing here?”
“Surprise!” Chloe grinned. “We’re taking you to Winter Formal.”
“You are, but why?”
“Because, Cinderella”—she breezed past me and threw her bag down on my bed—“it’s junior year and you shall go to the ball.”
“Clo.” Harleigh chuckled. “Maybe tone it down a little bit.”
“What? Can’t a girl be excited? I’ve never been to a rich people dance before. I bet it’s a damn sight better than our poor excuse for a school dance.”
“You don’t have to do this,” I said to Harleigh. “You hated it at DA.”
“But I love you.” She smiled, “And Clo’s right, you deserve this. So let’s get dressed up and do this.”
Harleigh and Chloe steered me toward my closet, rifling through the few dresses I had. “Hmm, I don’t know. The green or the black?”
“Black,” Harleigh said, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Definitely black.”
“I think you’re right. Hair up with a sexy choker and some red lipstick.” Chloe grinned with excitement. “You’ll look killer.”
“We don’t have to go over the top. It’s not like I’m out to impress anyone.”
“Babe, you never know when you might meet your prince. A girl can never be too prepared.” Chloe winked at me, and I rolled my eyes at her ridiculousness.
“Thank you,” I said, wrapping my arms around them both. “Thank you for doing this.”
“Of course. But if we don’t hurry, we’re going to be late. And we don’t want you turning into a pumpkin on your big night.”
* * *
The Darling Academy gymnasium had been transformed into a winter wonderland complete with dry ice sculptures, fake snow, and metallic blue and silver streamers.
“Wow, now this is what I’m talking about.” Chloe let out a low whistle, taking it all in.
“Everyone’s staring,” I whispered, noticing the way everyone seemed to stop to watch me and Harleigh enter the room together.
“Let them stare,” she said with a dismissive shrug. “Drinks or dancing?”