chapter nine

I slowly untied the silk ribbon and lifted the lid of the massive box. Resting inside was a breathtaking dinner dress, paired with a matching designer purse and a pair of elegant heels.

Tucked into the folds of the fabric was another note.

“It’s for a gala this evening, love. Please be my date. And before you even think about saying no, Cole will be there alongside your school’s hockey team. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to miss that. I’ll pick you up at seven. Ethan, your sweet boy.”

I practically rolled my eyes at his parting words, but as I lifted the dress to examine it, my breath caught. It was exactly my style. More shocking, though, was the label,it was my exact dress size, and the shoes were a fit for my feet. How on earth did he find out?

I picked up my phone and speed dialed Janice. It rang for a few seconds before she finally picked up, sounding completely breathless.

"Hey, girl," she gasped into the line.

I rolled my eyes, instantly knowing what she had been up to. "Where exactly are you, Janice?"

"I'm home, babes," she whispered quickly.

Then, a deep, masculine voice groaned in the background. "Come back to bed, babe."

"Shhhh!" Janice hissed with lightning speed, trying to cover the speaker.

"I thought Brandon wasn't coming back until this weekend," I said, a knowing chuckle slipping past my lips. I didn’t need a detective to tell me that wasn't Brandon in her bed.

"You know it isn't him, girl," she laughed, completely unbothered.

"Well, as much as I would love to sit here and condemn your reckless bedroom activities, I won't do that right now. I actually need your help," I told her.

"Oh, so now you need me, even after basically calling me a whore?" She laughed loudly. "What’s up?"

"I’m attending a gala tonight with Ethan, and I...."

Before I could even finish the sentence, a piercing scream erupted from the other end of the line. "Girl!!! I knew you and that man were going to go places!"

"Can you please let me talk?" I pleaded, laughing at her intensity.

"Okay, okay. Talk. I’m listening."

"Yes. I need your help with my makeup. You know I am absolutely terrible at it, and I really..."

"Bestie to the rescue!" she screamed, cutting me off yet again. "I am going to be there in thirty minutes, I promise."

In the background, the male voice muttered again, sounding thoroughly disappointed. "But you said we were going to go another round..."

"Ehh... no, my girl needs me. See you in a bit!" she said to me before abruptly hanging up.

I set my phone down, shaking my head with a laugh. Janice was truly a wild card. At eighteen, she was far more experienced with men than I could ever dream of being. She flew through flings effortlessly, and Brandon was just the guy she claimed to love because every single time she left him, she inevitably ended up crawling back to beg for his forgiveness.

A sharp knock on my bedroom door interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in," I called out.

The door swung open, and both of my parents walked in, wearing identical, sheepish smiles. My dad wandered over and took a seat on my small sofa, while my mom marched straight toward me, taking my hands in hers.

"What is with all the weirdness today?" I asked, looking between them.

The moment my mom’s eyes landed on the bed, she let out a dramatic gasp. "Oh, sweetie! It is absolutely beautiful!" She immediately scooped up the dress, holding it up to show my dad. "Look at it, honey!"

"It’s stunning," he replied, and right on cue, the two of them giggled together like a pair of high school teenagers.

"Oh, my little girl is growing up," my mom cooed, wiping away a completely imaginary tear.

I twisted my face in pure disgust. "Can you both please stop acting like this is the first time you’ve ever seen me receive a gift from a guy?"

"Well, Cole never sent big, beautiful boxes like this," my mom retorted, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "And he certainly never reached out to us to ask for your exact sizes."

A sudden realization hit me like a wave. "Oh," I murmured, my eyes widening. "Ethan asked you guys for my sizes?"

They both nodded, practically beaming with pride.

"But how? We were together this afternoon and he didn't say a single word about a gala, let alone ask for my sizes," I said, genuinely shocked by how calculated he had been.

"A proper gentleman loves to surprise his girl," my dad said warmly. "I really like this young man, Kat. He clearly knows exactly how to make a woman feel special. I’m so proud of you. You chose a good one this time."

"Yes, sweetie. You chose the absolute best," my mom backed him up.

I forced a tight smile and nodded along, a heavy knot forming in my stomach. If only they knew it was all a fake arrangement.

"Can you guys please leave for a bit? I’d like to start getting ready," I told them gently.

"Sure, honey. But who is going to help you with your hair and makeup?" my mom asked, suddenly looking concerned.

"Janice is coming over."

"That’s good to know," she said, visibly relieved as the two of them finally filed out of my room.

My father’s words continued to echo loudly in my head, sending a sharp pang of guilt straight through me. But I couldn't tell them the truth. It was better for everyone if they believed the lie.

I changed out of my stiff school uniform into comfortable loungewear and lay back on the bed, waiting for Janice. To pass the time, I opened my phone and scrolled through social media. My jaw nearly dropped. My follower count had skyrocketed drastically overnight. The likes and comments on my old pictures were pouring in by the second.

Suddenly, a new message banner flashed across the top of my screen. It was Ethan.

“Do you like the dress, love?”

A small smile tugged at my lips as I typed out my response. “Yes, thank you. But why didn't you tell me about the gala earlier?”

His reply was instantaneous. “Surprise!”

I chuckled softly at my screen.

“I’ll see you later,” his final text read.

Right on cue, my bedroom door burst open, and Janice walked in with a massive grin. "Hi, girl!" she cheered as I stood up to greet her.

"Hi, babes."

Janice’s eyes locked onto the bed, and her jaw literally dropped. "Oh my god... is that the dress? It is gorgeous!"

"I know," I admitted, a proud smile taking over my face.

"Alright, enough staring. Let's get to work on this face," Janice said, swiftly pulling my makeup bag out of the vanity cupboard. "Sit."

The moment I sat down and she began applying the primer, a sudden wave of intense anxiety washed over me.

"Come on, girl, it's just a gala," Janice reassured me, noticing my rigid posture. "Relax. Besides, we both know Ethan is going to take amazing care of you tonight."

I smiled faintly, letting her words soothe my nerves.

In no time at all, she was putting the finishing touches on my look and helping me slide into the heavy, luxurious fabric of the dress. Janice stepped back, her eyes shining like a proud mother. "You look absolutely beautiful, Kat."

"Thank you, Mom," I teased, and we both burst into a fit of laughter.

But our laughter was instantly cut short by a heavy, echoing knock on the front door downstairs.

My heart skipped multiple beats, hammering violently against my ribs. He was here.