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I shake my head. I can’t get distracted. I have to focus on surviving tonight.
“Are you still there?” Sarah’s voice echoes from the speaker.
“Yeah, sorry,” I say quickly. “We’ll do that. I’ll talk to you soon. Tell your kid I say hi.”
“Bye. Have fun tonight.”
I tuck my phone away and roll my shoulders back before pushing my helmet over my head. Tonight is full of possibilities, but I doubt having fun will be one of them.
I race home, my mood slightly improving while I ride my motorcycle. I drove the truck most days this week, and I missed being on my bike. The steady hum of the motorcycle is a welcoming noise drowning out my anxious thoughts from today. It’s late afternoon, but the sun is still beating down on the pavement relentlessly, my skin prickling with sweat.
When I arrive at my rental house, I feel slightly better than I did earlier. A newfound determination has me taking two steps at a time when I rush up the stairs.
I take a long shower, scrubbing every part of my body multiple times to make sure no grease is left. My skin is slightly pink when I step out of the shower, the mirror fogged up from the hazy bathroom air, and I have to wipe it with the palm of my hand so I can see myself.
I take my time shaving, aware that any stubble will be a personal offense to my father, and once I deem myself clean and presentable enough, I put on my suit.
While a suit isn’t something I packed for my trip back here, I thankfully purchased one when I found out about Darlene’s funeral. Although given the way we’ve been planning it, it doesn’t seem like the type of event that would require such a formal outfit.
When I’m all dressed and ready to go, I check the time and realize it’s already 6:50.
Shit.
I grab my keys and rush downstairs. I don’t care about getting to the gala on time, but I do care if Robin has to wait for me.
I drive as fast as I can and get stuck in a line of cars waiting for the valet. I impatiently drum my fingers on the steering wheel before deciding to park elsewhere. There’s plenty of parking in the neighborhood streets adjacent to the Weatherford, and I find a spot almost immediately. I check the time once more before I jump out of the car and curse under my breath. It’s 7:10.
I speed-walk to the hotel, bypassing fellow guests in their extravagant evening attire. I slow down once I get closer to the entrance, scanning the guests milling about, trying to locate Robin. Just when I’m about to pull out my phone to text her, I spot a familiar head of golden-blond hair only a few feet away.
I weave my way through the small crowd, and my steps falter slightly when she comes into full view.
She looks absolutely stunning. She’s wearing a deep red cocktail dress that reaches slightly past her knees and hugs her curves in all the right places. Her hair is perfectly curled, with half of it artfully pinned to the back of her head, a few strands framing her face. Her eyes light up when she notices me, the dark eye makeup making her green eyes pop more than usual.
I smile at her, my brain taking a few seconds too long to come up with anything to say, and she just gives me wide smile. Her lip color is perfectly matched to her dress.
“Hey,” I finally say, my voice sounding slightly deeper than usual. “You look stunning.”
“Thanks,” she says, her eyes roaming over my body. “You don’t look bad either. I had a hard time imaging you in a suit, to be honest, but you pull it off.”
“You sounded slightly annoyed at that last part.” I laugh, the tension leaving my body now that I’m with her.
“It’s just kind of unfair how you look good in everything,” she says.
Is she flirting with me?
“And you don’t?”
She waves me off, but she smiles. “Are you ready?”
“Absolutely not,” I say, exhaling loudly. “But come on.”
I take her hand and slowly lead her to the entrance, interlacing my fingers with hers. Her small hand in mine is a welcome anchor, and I try to enjoy the last few moments before I’m face to face with my family for the first time in a decade.
Chapter 21
Robin
We step through the massive double doors into the ballroom, accompanied by the gentle music filling the room, and pause on the threshold, taking it all in.
