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Emily
Ginger showing up on Wednesday was a great surprise, something we both needed was a bit of time together before we had to be seen in public. Only drawback of having here around all the time for the past few days is her never ending hounding of me to call Miguel. What happened to my friend who never believed in happy every after? She’s always been a night or at most week kind of girl, she doesn’t date swears love is only for fools and she’s never going to be one for anyone. Yet, she’s wanting me to jump back into the love market with a male version of her.
As we’re getting ready for the Winter Formal there are a million emotions going through my mind and body, not one is a good one. I’ve not attended anything not even a lunching, since Blake passed away. What will the world think when I step out of the car tonight, will I be criticized or praised for moving on with my life? The one thing I’ve never strived for was approval of anyone, being myself has gotten me this far. Pushing the last pin into my hair that has been curled, I pulled up on the sides to make it fall into flowing curls down the middle of my back. Looking at my gown of choice gives me a slight tingle of excitement, the soft blue color with the lace bodice and the hollow back. The dress doesn’t scream look at me or anything like my previous dresses did, it’s not over the top fancy or anything it’s simply just me. Swiping the last of my lipstick on, seeing Ginger standing in the doorway of the bathroom has me frozen for a moment. The woman loves getting a reaction out of everyone and tonight will be no different. Turning to look at the beautiful red lace dress that’s barely holding her girls in, leaves me speechless for a moment.
“Gee, lord I love you dearly, but can’t you ever wear something that hides your assets better?”
The gown is beautiful, but it’s pretty much see through everywhere and the deep neckline has her cleavage out for everyone to see and add the slit up her left leg that goes to the top of her thigh. She’ll be giving out heart attacks all night along with a few other things.
“Lighten up Em you’re the one who wanted to join the world again. Guess what, it’s a tad more daring out there now. Plus, if you have a body like this you don’t hide it from the world you show it.”
“One of these days someone is going to catch you and I’m going to laugh so hard when it happens. Everything is fun and games with you unless it’s work, but Gee everyone has a soulmate that will be the downfall of the best player in the world.”
“That’s my point I’ve tried to make to you for days now. Maybe you just think you met your soulmate, but your true soulmate may be hiding behind a mask of a player. You’ll never know the truth if you don’t give him the chance. Now about your dress you still look all prim and proper there’s no way around it Em, you were born to be a lady.”
As she leans in to hug me a silent tear runs down my cheek, no matter what Ginger will always be my best friend in life.
Pulling up to the venue for this year’s party has me squeezing Ginger’s hand as I watch everyone before us get out of their cars and walk up the steps with the flash of photographers from all angels. Watching as one limo after another pulls away from the carpet I realize no matter what it’s now or never on re-entering the world. Feeling Ginger squeeze my hand back gives me all the confidence I need as my door is opened and I slowly slip from the backseat to onset of flashes and questions. Turning back as Ginger emerges from the car has me grinning, she just stole all of the attention from me for the time being. Walking through the huge front doors of the ballroom I take a deep calming breath the media wasn’t anywhere as bad as it used to be. Seems I’m just another pretty woman on the carpet now, Ginger didn’t get to slip by as easily, but that dress she has on could stop traffic. As we slowly make our way around the room a few people stop us to say hello, but most just let us be. As Ginger looks over all the items up for silent auction this year I stand by her side and people watch the room. I’ll drop a bid on something before we find our seats, but at the moment I’m more interested in the people who are in the room. No matter what is going on in the Shaw family someone always appears at these events and I’m curious who is here tonight. Finding our seats and looking at the other names at the table has me pulling back a little. How the hell did Miguel and myself get seated at the same table? This may turn into the most uncomfortable dinner of my life. Ginger leans in, “it’ll be fine just let me lead conversations if we are engaged.” Nodding my head as we sit down the lights flicker a few times signaling dinner is about to be served. Throughout dinner there is polite small talk, but Miguel doesn’t show up at the table.
With dinner over there’s the few speeches that accompany all of these events, like the company president who donated the most money to the cause, the person who put the event together for the year, and the one who donated the biggest item for bidding. That’s when I sit up a bit straighter and turn my full attention to the front of the room as Miguel is asked to say a few words. Hearing Ginger lightly laugh I turn my attention to her.
“Emily, didn’t you even look at the items when we came in? He is giving a month in his personal beach house in the Bahamas.”
Shaking my head, I turn back to the front of the room and everyone is looking around for the man I dread to see but want to see so badly. He’s nowhere to be found so the host blubbers through a few more announcements before the music starts.
