Izzie did not want to cause a scene in the middle of EC’s coffee shop/bakery/wine bar, but she couldn’t take it anymore. She covered her face with her hands and screamed.
Savannah shot her a look of contempt from the seat across from her. “Was that really necessary?” she snapped in a thick drawl.
The phrase seemed to be a favorite of Savannah’s lately. Savannah had used it when Izzie got mad at her because she kept putting off their meeting to discuss Founders Day. She’d used it again when Izzie snapped at her for changing their “absolute, definite” meeting time that Saturday morning to four thirty in the afternoon because of “prior engagements.” And she used it a third time when Izzie obviously embarrassed her by screaming because it was five thirty on Valentine’s Day and she was going to be late for her date with Brayden. But Izzie had had it. Every time she suggested an idea, Savannah shot it down.
“I’m done,” Izzie said. The coffee shop was clearing out. The smoothie machine wasn’t whirring, and the constant stream of people coming in and out for the past hour had slowed to a trickle. People were getting ready to go out for Valentine’s Day, and Izzie wanted to be one of them.
“Something wrong?” Savannah sipped her second frozen mocha of the afternoon. Wearing a black tube dress with a bright pink tulle skirt, Savannah looked like she had someplace much more exciting to be. Strangely, she was in no hurry to get moving.
“You obviously hate any suggestion I make, so we might as well call things quits.” Izzie rose from her seat. “Have a good Valentine’s Day.”
“Come on. Don’t be like that,” Savannah begged. “I’m sorry.”
Pretend Nice Savannah was even more grating than Mean Girl Savannah. Izzie had a feeling she was up to something. The question was: What?
“I want to like your ideas, but none of them have anything to do with our town history. This is Founders Day!” she reminded her. “We need some culture. Some town lore! Didn’t you read the books I gave you?”
Izzie didn’t want to admit it, but she’d been studying Emerald Cove’s past the way she memorized facts for a biology exam. “A little.”
“Good!” Savannah said, as if she were praising a dog for finally learning how to roll over. “What have you learned?”
“This isn’t a quiz at EP, Savannah. I’m using what I learned to give you these ideas.” She pointed to the long list in her notebook. Only two ideas weren’t crossed out yet. “And you’ve hated all of them.”
Savannah rolled her eyes to the ceiling, which was decorated with hanging hearts, just like every other shop in town. “It would be easier if you just let me do this myself.”
Izzie picked up her drink and took a sip. “Not in a million years.”
“Fine.” Savannah opened her Vera Bradley notebook to the page with the sticky note on top. She took out the matching pen and smiled patronizingly at Izzie. “Then let’s get back to brainstorming. Where were we? Float ideas?”
Izzie sat down and looked at her notebook again. “Okay, what if we tie the parade and booth idea together? Nicole had this idea of creating a ‘Mr. Emerald’ character.” She laughed to herself just thinking about it. “You know, someone who dresses up as a giant emerald and tosses fake emeralds into the crowd at the parade.”
Savannah looked horrified. “Social Butterflies don’t throw things. And certainly not jewelry.”
Izzie gripped the sides of the table and squeezed. “I give up. What do you have?”
“Is it finally my turn?” Savannah glanced at her short list. “My idea is to cover the float in green crystals and then we would dress up as characters from The Wizard of Oz. I would be Glinda, you could be the Wicked Witch, and Mira the Cowardly Lion.” Izzie glared at her, but Savannah didn’t notice. “The float would have a sign that says The Emerald City, but in this case the Emerald City is Emerald Cove.”
Izzie frowned. She had suggested something similar the other day and Savannah had shot it down for being too much like the Butterflies’ float from a few years back. “I thought you said we can’t copy old ideas.”
Savannah took a quick glance at her watch. It was almost six o’clock. “I did say that, didn’t I?” She crossed it out. “Guess I forgot!”
Izzie’s eyes narrowed. Savannah would never forget Butterflies history. It all made sense now. She had purposefully pushed the meeting till Valentine’s Day, then switched the time till it would be dangerously close to someone going out on a date, and now she was stalling. There was only one reason Savannah would do that. “You’re trying to make me late for my date with Brayden, aren’t you?”
“What? Why would I do that?” Savannah asked innocently. Izzie continued to stare at her. “You mean because it’s Valentine’s Day?” She gave a little laugh. “Get over yourself. If you must know, I have a date tonight with a guy at St. Barnard’s Prep who is so perfect, he might possibly be the future president of the United States.” She adjusted her long, gold necklace. “Or have a career as a model. I’m not sure which, but the point is, I could care less about you and Brayden.”
Izzie started to rise again. “Great. Then I guess you have to be going, too.”
“Nope! My date isn’t until eight, I’m already dressed, and he’s meeting me here, so I have plenty of time.” Savannah stared at the sweats Izzie had put on after an early afternoon swim at the sports complex. “You, on the other hand, didn’t plan ahead. I’ll let you go if you let me pick the idea for our float on my own.”
“No!” Izzie’s voice competed with the smoothie machine that had started up again. “I am not Mira. You cannot bribe me into going with whatever lame idea you’ve come up with.” Savannah pursed her lips. “I have some great ideas here, which you probably killed just so no one would know I came up with them. But you’re missing out.” She waved her notebook in the air and a line that wasn’t crossed out caught her eye. It was one of two ideas she hadn’t mentioned yet. “This one is good. It involves putting a DJ on the float who would play songs that feature the word green. You know, for the town color.” Savannah didn’t automatically shoot her down so she went on. “Like ‘A Little Bit of Green’ by Elvis Presley, ‘Green Light’ by Beyoncé, ‘Green Eyes’ by Coldplay, ‘This Green City’ by the Cure…”
“Now, that’s not a bad idea,” Savannah admitted, “especially if we turned the float into a moving dance party. Have you ever seen one of those at Disney World?” Savannah waved her off. “Of course not. When would you have gone to Disney World?”
“Okay, I’m going to go now,” Izzie said, and Savannah grabbed her arm.
“I’m sorry! Just listen. They have these moving dance parties that stop at different areas on the parade route.” She leaned forward excitedly. “The characters jump off and dance with people and then get back on and move the party to the next stop. We could do the same thing.”
“I actually like that. Then we’re not just on a float, we’re interacting with the crowd.” Izzie sat down again. She couldn’t believe she actually agreed with Savannah. “I have a list of fifteen songs that have the word green in the title alone. There must be others.”
Savannah nodded. “We could put the music on a loop and all wear green and hop off at different corners….”
They had so many suggestions they talked for another half hour without arguing even once. It wasn’t until Izzie went to scratch her arm that she noticed the time. “It’s six fifteen! I have to go.” Brayden was meeting her on Main Street in a half hour!
“You’re meeting him at seven?” Savannah couldn’t hide her glee. “Wow. You’re not going to have time to go home to change.” She looked Izzie’s messy appearance up and down. “That might be a problem if you’re going to Buona Terra for their Valentine’s Day seating. That’s where he took me and I know they have a strict dress code that doesn’t include sweats.”
Izzie was too mad at herself to respond. One minute she could see why Mira had been so captivated with Savannah. When Savannah was passionate, she had a lot of smart things to say. But when she pulled the diva debutante routine, Izzie wanted to smack her over the head with her notebook. Instead, Izzie left without saying good-bye and walked outside to call Brayden.
“Hey!” Brayden picked up on the first ring, sounding happy but out of breath. “Are you on Main Street? I had a rip in my pants and I had to run home and change.”
She bit her lip. Just be honest, she told herself. “No. I got held up by Savannah and I haven’t even gone home from swim practice to change yet.” She cringed when he didn’t say anything. “I’m so sorry. If I’m late, am I going to ruin our plans?” Here a boy was doing something nice for her and she was blowing it.
“No, but how soon can you be ready?” Brayden asked.
She had to go home and get a ride back. This was not good. “An hour?”
“Okay.” Izzie could tell he wasn’t thrilled. “I’ll see what I can do,” he said. “Text me when you’re on your way.”
She hung up, closed her eyes, and banged her head on the coffee shop window.
“Isabelle?”
Izzie turned around. Zoe was carrying several shopping bags and a large iced coffee that looked so creamy it could have been a glass of milk. She hoped Zoe hadn’t heard her whole conversation. “Hi.”
“I thought you’d be on a hot Valentine’s Day date by now,” Zoe said with a smile. “Those who have dates have fun dressing up. The rest of us shop!” She held up her bags.
She sounded like Mira. “I’m supposed to be ready for my date.” Izzie realized the time was only getting later and she still had no plan. “But I got held up, and I haven’t even had time to go home and change yet.” Now was Zoe’s chance to make things up to her. “Is there any way you could drive me home, wait for me to get ready, then bring me back to Main Street to meet Brayden?”
Zoe frowned. “Oh! I wish I could, but I have plans right now. I’m meeting old friends for dinner and then we’re going to this jazz club. I was just going to stash my shopping bags in my car.”
So much for making things up to me. “Okay,” Izzie said flatly. “I better go.”
“Wait!” Izzie turned around. “I may not have time to get you home, but I might have the next best thing.” Zoe held up her shopping bags. “I just bought these cute dresses at Prepsters, which is probably way too young for me to be shopping at anyway. Why don’t you try them on in the bathroom and if one fits, you can wear it tonight.”
Izzie wasn’t sure what to say. This wasn’t what she had in mind, but if she took Zoe up on her offer, it would save her a lot of time.
Zoe rummaged around in her oversize slouchy shoulder bag. “I even have hairspray, bobby pins, makeup, and body glitter with me.” Izzie looked at her strangely. “I’m a photographer. I have to be ready for anything!”
This actually might work. Izzie couldn’t help but smile. “Okay. Let’s try it.” They headed back inside to find the restroom. Savannah, Izzie noted, was long gone.
With the right tools, it didn’t take Izzie long to get ready. Zoe was even able to turn Izzie’s waves into curls with just a little water, her finger as a curler, and some spray gel. The body glitter gave her skin a nice shimmer, and the black tank dress Zoe had bought was surprisingly Izzie’s taste. It looked great with a chunky silver necklace that Zoe lent her, too. They managed to have her ready in under twenty-five minutes.
Zoe spun her around to see the effect at all angles. “You are the best-looking Scott yet! Your guy is going to flip when he sees you. What is his name again?”
“Brayden.” She’d only said his name a thousand times in the last half hour.
Zoe put her makeup back into her bag. “Well, go wow him! I have to get going, too. My friends got a reservation at Mumon, that new sushi place, and they only hold your table for fifteen minutes.”
Izzie wasn’t sure how to thank her for all she’d done. “I’ll take your dress to the dry cleaner and have it back to you by the time you move into the pool house.”
“Keep it.” Zoe smiled. “It looks better on you than it did on me anyway. Besides, Michael Kors’s people are supposed to send me a huge box of stuff from their new line. I’d rather wear their clothes than some local shop’s off-the-rack knockoffs.”
Mira made Izzie watch enough E! that she knew who Michael Kors was, but beyond that she had no idea how to respond. “Well, thanks. I guess I’ll see you soon.”
“Soon,” Zoe agreed.
Izzie dashed out carrying only a small handbag Zoe had purchased that day. Thankfully her school flats had been in her messenger bag, so she had something to wear other than sneakers, and Zoe said she’d drop off Izzie’s other clothes and messenger bag tomorrow. She’d already texted Brayden, who’d said to meet outside La Parma, the other Italian restaurant in town. (Take that, Savannah and Buona Terra!) “Hi!” she said, arriving out of breath. “Did I make it?”
“No, but you look so good it makes up for us missing our reservation.” Brayden kissed her.
Izzie pulled away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to screw things up.”
He didn’t look so bad himself in a blue button-down shirt with a navy tie and navy khakis. “As soon as you said you were with Savannah, I knew.” Brayden gave her a wry smile. “That’s why I made alternative arrangements for dinner.” He held up a brown bag. “I made us sandwiches.”
She laughed. “Oh no! Now I feel terrible.”
“Are you kidding? This is better.” Brayden had a glint in his eyes. “Follow me if you don’t want to be late again.”
Izzie was confused. “I thought you said we lost our reservation?”
“Our dinner reservation. Not the important one.” Brayden led her to the North Church, which had been in town since the late eighteen hundreds. A horse and carriage were waiting. “You’ve been trying so hard to study up on the history of Emerald Cove, but I thought it might be time for a tutor.” The driver of the carriage jumped out and tipped his hat to Izzie. “These carriage rides aren’t just a tour of the town; they also give you a history lesson with all these cool, little-known facts.” She noticed Brayden had also brought a thermos and a warm blanket. He gave her a determined look. “Next time you see Savannah, you can knock her dead with your expertise on the history of the North Church. She’ll be speechless.”
Izzie kissed him again. “This is the best Valentine’s Day present I’ve ever had.”
It was also the only Valentine’s Day present she’d ever had, but he didn’t need to know that. Or that thanks to Zoe, she hadn’t missed it.