“Thanks, I think?”

“It’s a compliment. One look at you and he will be fighting to get your attention.”

“Why would he have to fight?” I ask her, studying my stunning Lela Rose gown in the mirror.

It’s a fire engine red, off-the-shoulders fitted gown with a slight ruffled train. It shows all my curves. I feel beautiful in this gown. It gives me the confidence I will need seeing Jax tonight.

“Because every man in the room is going to want every second you’re willing to give them. Besides, you’re going to make that asshole work for it. I mean really work for it, I don’t care how hot he looks, either!”

I mock salute her. “Yes, General.”

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Harper rummages into her clutch. “I saw this the other day and just had to get it. It’s the perfect accessory to complete the look.”

“Thank you! It’s beautiful!”

Harper helps me clasp the diamond choker around my neck. It’s perfect! Three rubies gleam in the center and diamonds encrust the rest of the choker. No wonder she insisted on me styling my hair in an up-do. She really does think of everything.

Her dress is bold enough to forgo accessories. I wish I was comfortable enough to wear something like her Jason Wu black see-through lace dress. It’s a form-fitting number as well, with a tulle train. Only Harper can pull off a dress that is both provocative and conservative at the same time.

“You’re welcome. Ready to go?”

“Yeah, I guess,” I mumble.

“Hey, none of that. I won’t have you being sad because your lover is an idiot.”

“How many times do I have to tell you Jax isn’t my lover?”

Harper shrugs. “As many times until you prove me wrong.”

I groan. There really isn’t getting through to her. She’s stubborn. No wonder why we get along so well. I can’t wait to tell her my surprise. I instantly cheer up.

“You look sexy, you know this, right?”

“All thanks to you!”

“No, that,” I say, sweeping my hand in the direction of her body, “is all you.”

“Thanks . . . wait why are you in such a good mood? I know you don’t swing the other way so it can’t just be my good looks.”

I slap my hand over my face as if I just remembered something. “I forgot, I have a surprise for you, too!”

Her entire face lights up. It almost makes me not want to go through with it. Almost is the key word. I link our arms and drag her towards my bedroom door.

“You’re not my date for tonight.” I turn the knob.

“Huh? I thought Kohen wasn’t coming?”

I open it and let her through first. Connor leans against the wall opposite my bedroom door.

“Oh no, he’s still not coming, but you were never my date.”

Harper stops and turns her head in my direction. “Who is then?”

“I am,” Connor says huskily.

“Sure you are, stud,” Harper says with a small laugh.

Harper yanks my arm, stopping my plan to flee to my brother. Logan stands in the middle of the hallway with his arms crossed over his chest. When I say grab, I mean she latches onto my arm with surprising force, not allowing me to move another step without her.

“What?” I ask in an innocent voice.

We all stare at Harper. It’s easy to see the wheels turning in her head as she realizes I’m not joking. Her sweet smile makes me a little nervous. It’s the kind that you just know means trouble. I’m hoping trouble for Connor and not me, but I don’t think I’m that lucky. I know the fiery little redhead will have her payback on me soon enough. Letting go of my arm, Harper saunters over to Conner and wraps her hand around his offered arm.

“Well, let’s go already, my date and I hate being late,” Harper says as she leads the way to my front door.

“I’ll hate whatever you tell me to hate,” Connor responds as he opens the door.

She gives him a patient smile, one that a mother uses on a misbehaving child. “With lines like that, I wonder how I’m the lucky lady on your arm instead of your usual whores.”

Logan manages to cover his chuckle with a cough. I don’t even attempt to hide my laugh which earns me a glare from Connor.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that! It was funny!” I say.

“And true, man,” Logan pipes in.

Connor rides the elevator in silence as the rest of us make fun of him. Luckily Connor doesn’t take anything personally, he even lets out a few chuckles as we leave the building and approach the waiting limo. I’m surprised the driver doesn’t open the door for us; instead it opens from the inside. Shoot me now.

I want to imagine that my brother is bringing a date, but I know it’s not a woman. The frown that Harper sends my way confirms what I’m thinking. Once I get inside the limo, I will have to face him. I’m not ready. I thought I would see him at the fundraiser. I was prepared for that. Almost.

I scan the area in hope that there might be another limo coming just for me. It isn’t a real possibility, but fantasy is better than reality right now. I bend and pretend to fix my heel. Not a big deal. Nonchalant. Easy. Too bad pretending to fix a heel without an actual problem can’t take all night. Without anything else to stall the inevitable, I straighten up, and walk the last steps to the black limo.

“I’m guessing by the fantastic performance of stalling, you never talked to Jax?” Logan asks quietly in my ear.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Harper gets in first, followed by Connor. I look longingly at my apartment building before climbing in. Logan sits next to me and gives me a small grin.

I keep my eyes away from the far end of the limo, where Jax is. Instead, I pin my attention on the amazing view outside. I pretend that it is the most fascinating thing in the world, that I’ve never seen the lights of the city before. I tilt my head as we drive through Times Square. Tourists roam the streets, bundled up on this cold New York night. I block out everything. I no longer care that I can feel Jax in here with me. All I care about is the world outside this window. That’s the world I want to be in right now.

“Hello, earth to Adalynn,” Connor says slowly enough that he almost spells out hello.

I nod in his direction so he know’s I’m listening, but I refuse to turn away from the window. I will have to look away eventually, but eventually isn’t this exact moment.

I sigh before facing Connor. He and Harper occupy the bench across from the bar, which takes up the entire right side of the limo. Jax is the furthest away from me, he’s in the seat in front of the privacy mirror, but it seems as if he’s the closest because he’s directly across from me. I can feel his eyes on me, waiting for me to acknowledge him. I don’t.

“Champagne?” Connor asks.

I swing my hand out, more than ready to get drunk. “Oh god yes!”

“Cheers!” Harper says too brightly.

Her presence makes the pain a little better. I’m glad that she is here, and is telling me she’s here for me without words.

“To an amazing night!” Logan says beside me.

Connor slides his arm around Harper’s shoulders. “An unforgettable night!”

I tune out her response and face the window again. As the limo makes a left turn onto an almost empty street, I wish that I was anywhere else. With autumn near, the leaves are changing into vibrant reds and oranges. Soon they will fall and people will forget how beautiful the leaves used to be as they collect dirt on the sidewalk.

“It’s a good thing there isn’t any water for Harper to throw at your ugly mug.” Jax speaks up for the first time.

I can’t help the way my entire body tenses from the sound of his voice. I ignore the rest of the conversation and sink back into myself again. I replay every moment I’ve ever had with Jax. The first time I saw him when I was seven, I knew that I would never be the same. I see every secret smile, every caress, every time he would sneak into my bedroom window when we were teenagers, and all the times he would fly back from NYU to visit me for the weekend.