She went on and on about the best service to use to get me the stationery in a timely fashion after lecturing me about waiting till the last minute to send out invites and such. She had no idea that that was part of my plan. The fact that some people had cried off going to Susie’s party for one reason or the other, but will drop everything to attend my last-minute get-together, is sure to rub a certain someone the wrong way.
This way, I can kill two birds with one stone. I can play it off as a surprise thank you party since I’m not supposed to know that Susie’s planning a party of her own or that most of the people on my guest list have already voiced their wish not to attend.
Add the over-the-top element, and it’s sure to be a win. The fact that a soiree is more formal than your usual party is not a problem since these women all have closets stuffed full of designer wear, and who doesn’t like an excuse to get dolled up after going weeks in jeans and tees?
I’d spent the time since pledging getting to know the sisters as best I could in that short space of time. Their likes, dislikes, and what makes them tick. When you’ve spent most of your life looking in from the outside, you learn a few tricks, like how to read the people around you, even the ones who are good at subterfuge.
So far, the only hitch I foresee is maybe some of the sisters declining because they hadn’t had time to get themselves together. I’m very well versed in this area. I grew up with a mother who wouldn’t go into the garden to weed without full makeup regalia lest the mailman should see her in her natural form.
I’m not sure dad has seen mom’s bare face since the day they met, not even when she was admitted to the very posh delivery room to have me. I’m not kidding. There’s a story that used to float around about that very thing. But dad loves her to bits, so I know for a fact there are some exceptionally good qualities about her. As her daughter, the one she tried valiantly to turn into another version of herself, I am now learning to see those things myself.
Anyhow, I say all that to say that in preparation for any last-minute issues, I’d already asked the stylist mom had hired for us the last time to be on standby with her staff in case she was needed. My plan was to invite some of the sisters to have their hair and makeup done the morning of the soiree, which I’m one hundred percent sure mom would be taking over the planning of. If push comes to shove and no one accepts, which I doubt, they’d still have Jess, Alexis, and I to take care of.
Also, thanks to mom, the queen of organization, I’d planned out everything on paper, including anything and everything that could possibly go wrong. The place I’d chosen to have the soiree is one I’d heard people whispering about, a glamorous old hotel about twenty minutes from campus. Since the big C had pretty much decimated the hospitality industry, I’d gotten the event room for a steal, just a measly twelve grand for the night when those numbers would’ve been tripled before.
The food and drinks menu had already been taken care of, and like I said, mom was about to go do her thing there, if I’m not mistaken.
I saw and heard Cody’s clunker coming down the street; it was getting worst, but no matter. My other deed for the day was just about to take place. He had no idea that the new car was being delivered in the next hour or that I had set things up so that Susie was sure to be among the many spectators who would be there.
I’d asked Steve and Chad to gather the others for the surprise without letting Cody know and had let slip among a few that something was going on, knowing that it would get back to Susie. Her absence from the meeting could very well have something to do with that. She does seem to disintegrate at the slightest mention of anything having to do with Cody and me.
Last I heard, she was still grumbling about the kiss in the dining hall, which is laughable because we’ve done much worst since then. “Good evening, sir!” He lifted me into the truck and strapped me in. “Thank you, kind sir.” My Elizabeth Bennet was on point.
“Uh-oh, what’s with you?”
“Why, whatever do you mean?” I feigned innocence, and he shook his head and walked around to his side.
“Were you drinking?” So stern, so manly. I fluttered my lashes and shook my head at him; for some reason, that made him mumble beneath his breath before driving off.