"You never wear dresses," Carter says, turning over into a plank. I reach over and adjust his hips slightly.
"Sometimes I do," Bree replies. "You've been away for a while."
"Why don't we get ready together, Bree?" I suggest. I've been thinking that I need to expand my friend circle to include people that don't go to clubs on Wednesday nights, and I like Bree.
"Aw, look at you two, bonding," Jack says.
"Shut up," I tell him playfully.
"First of all, yes, and also, Carter told me you're going to go back to college?" Bree asks brightly.
I glance at Carter and raise my eyebrows. "Maybe. I said maybe," he says. "Thanks, Bree."
"Sorry! I didn't know it was supposed to be a secret."
"Well, just keep it under wraps for a little while. I want to have all my ducks in a row before I tell my dad what I'm thinking."
"He'll love the idea," Jack assures me.
"Maybe," I reply. Jack has always had an easier relationship with my dad than I have, so I'm not sure he's seen how manipulative my dad can be. Jack's always ready to believe the best in him, and I'm always ready to believe the worst. "Is your boyfriend going to come to the gala?" I ask Bree to avoid more of a conversation about my father.
"No, he can't. Out of town."
"I want to meet him," Carter says, picking up an exercise band.
"No, you want to interrogate him," Bree replies with a smile. "Mom met him, and she liked him."
"Is it serious?" I ask.
"Um...I think so," she says with a blush.
"Ooo," Jack says teasingly. "Sounds like love to me."
"Is it?" Carter asks, frowning.
"Hey, both of you back off! Let the girl have her privacy," I intercede, seeing how Bree is squirming.
"Thank you," she says, shooting the men in the room a withering glance. "I'm glad to see someone has my back."
* * *
"Gorgeous," I say, running my fingers over her low-cut satin gown. "I can't wear things with this kind of bodice or I look like I'm in a porno."
"Well, on the upside, you have big boobs," Bree says with a grin, and I burst out laughing.
"I guess I shouldn't complain," I reply, cupping my full Cs and admiring them in the mirror.
"This is still really sexy," Bree says, pointing to the deep purple lace dress hanging in the garment bag on the back of her bathroom door. I don't disagree with her. It's a column dress with a long slit running right up the front. The lace extends all the way to the halter neckline, but it's sheer so you can still see a line of cleavage through it.
"Thanks. It's pretty old, but it still fits. You don't own very much makeup," I observe, looking at the small bag of makeup on her sink, compared to the giant bag I brought over from the boat house.
"No, and I don't really know how to put on what I have. My mom was too busy working to show me when I was younger," she says with a shrug.
"I learned at boarding school from the other girls," I tell her, then hold up a black eye pencil. "Want me to give you a smoky eye?"
"Oh, sure. I've never done that, but I like how it looks in magazines." She sits on the toilet, and I bend over, carefully applying a line across her upper lashes, then a thinner one across her lower lashes.
"Now I'm going to smudge it with the other end, and put some black eyeshadow over," I tell her, showing her the products I'm using. "I feel like one of those women at department stores," I say with a smile. "But if you ever want to use any of my makeup, just go in my bathroom in the boat house."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I have a ton. OK, look," I say, leaning back and nodding to the mirror.
"Hey, look at me," she says, turning her face back and forth. "I mean, thanks."
"It was easy. You're gorgeous," I tell her, unzipping my garment bag.
"Sometimes I feel pretty," she says thoughtfully. "Like when I'm with my boyfriend. You know what's funny?" she adds, turning to me. "You're just the kind of person I always thought would be good for Carter. More outgoing, fun...someone to draw him out a little."
I try to look nonplussed. "That is funny. Too bad we're going to be family."
She nods. "Not by blood, though. But you're right, of course."
I take my dress from the back of the door and step into her bedroom to change. In the bathroom, she does the same. I wonder if she meant anything by her comment about Carter and me, or if she was just thinking out loud. She does seem to say most of what's on her mind.
Chapter Nineteen
We walk down the stairs together. Our brothers are already waiting in the foyer. I watch them for a second before they turn around. They're not talking, but boys are different...that doesn’t necessarily mean there's tension between them. I hope Jack's not holding any ill will toward Carter due to the nature of their first meeting. Carter's holding a white hat under his arm, but I don't realize why until he turns around.