“See, I told you she’d be up here.” Zach shakes his head in disappointment. “It’s not even eight, and you’re in your pajamas.”

“They are comfortable.” Why am I defensive? They are the ones who barged into my apartment. They are lucky I wasn’t laying around naked. Not that I do that or anything, but still, I’m supposed to have privacy.

Zach is carrying a dress, Dylan has a plate of food because he’s constantly feeding me, and Ryan and Sean just follow them in and sit at my small table. The only person not with them is Christian, but his band is playing tonight, so he probably already left.

“What are you doing?” I finally ask.

“Well, first you are going to eat something.” Dylan sets the plate of spaghetti with a side of garlic bread on the table. “Then you are going to get ready to go out.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I argue.

“Yes, you are, darling,” Ryan insists. “It’s New Year’s Eve, and we are not about to let you be by yourself.”

“I like being by myself.” Though in truth, I’m kind of sick of myself. But, I don’t really feel like going out either.

Sean snorts. “You’ve got to get out of your own head.”

“I’m not in my own head.”

“Yes, you are,” Ryan asks. “For almost a week you’ve been up here going over the fight you had with Alex, then questioning yourself and not making any decisions.”

“And, not eating enough.” Dylan nods to the plate of food.

“Is Alex going to be there?” Part of me hopes he is and part of me doesn’t. Do I really want to find out what is going to happen with us on New Year’s Eve?

“Mia said he didn’t plan on leaving the shop until after the first of the year.”

I glance at the spaghetti. It looks and smells wonderful, so I take a seat and then a bite. If Dylan ever decides to give up writing, he really should open a restaurant. I’d probably be a daily customer.

“Well?” Zach asks.

It would be good to get out. They are right. I’m stuck too much in my head and that is never a good thing. Too much overthinking. “Fine.”

They all relax.

“Well, eat up Buttercup and we’ll get you all prettied up for tonight,” announces Zach.

He is dressed to the nines and is gorgeous, as usual. “You look good as a blonde,” I say before taking another bite of spaghetti, chew and swallow. “How hard is it to put on false eyelashes?”

“It’s an art, darling.” He bats them at me. “One you don’t need to learn. But, I will be doing your makeup and hair.”

“That’s not necessary.” I really don’t wear much makeup. I’ve never liked how it felt on my face, especially foundation.

“I’ve been dying to play, and if not on a night like this one, then when?”

I just shake my head. “This is crazy, but fine. Do with me what you will.”

Within an hour and a half, my unmanageable hair has been curled in a way I’ve never gotten it to do. Zach has pulled it back from my face and let the rest fall down my back. The makeup is perfection, and he didn’t use all that much. It doesn’t even feel like there is anything on my face. The last, the dress he picked up for me. A short, red dress. Shorter than anything I’ve ever worn, but I like it. In fact, once he’s done with me, I’m feeling better than I have in days.

“Thanks, guys,” I say before we enter the club. “I did need to get out.”

“Just make sure you have fun too. No sulking in the corner, but dancing.”

“I’m wearing three inch heels. Not sure I’m going to be doing much of that.”

“Sure you will.” Zach grins. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Ryan lifts his camera and Zach pulls me close as Dylan and Sean crowd around me.

“Smile.”

I automatically respond and he clicks. Tonight I will have fun. I need this, and tomorrow, I’ll contact Alex. We can’t remain in limbo like this. If he doesn’t want to see me anymore, I’ll figure out a way to move on. But for tonight, I’m going to let go and pretend all is right.