by Emily Bow
I reapplied my petal pink lipstick and fluffed my long loose curls. My dress was blush pink. All of ours would be our signature color, but in any fabric or style we liked. Mine was fitted to the floor and had a slit up the left side. Strapless with snowflake beading along the top of the straight bodice and edging the hem.
I left my room.
Bitsie stood up ahead in the hall, dressed in a floating blush pink chiffon dress.
“Bitsie. You didn’t tell me you had a date.” A happy relief eased through me. Her moving on was a very good idea under the circumstances.
Bitsie tilted her chin. “I don’t have a date.”
“Oh. Okay.” I blinked. No date and going anyway. That was no big deal. There was always plenty to do at these events. And she could circulate without worrying about a guy. Just her alone, going couple to couple, until she reached Tyler and Madison.
Okay, going stag was a super big deal and really weird under the current circumstances. Any of our sisters would have arranged for one of their date’s bros to go with her. Dateless was a poor choice.
Bitsie wore her chestnut hair in a chignon threaded with the blush pink ribbon we all used. Her dress had a wide black sash at the waist. Halter straps matched and showed off her cleavage.
I kept my doubts to myself. “You look gorgeous,” I said.
“You too. That’s so your color.”
I laughed, and my shoulders eased at the inside joke. “Thanks. Yours too.” I went into the ballroom, which the freshman had filled with our Christmas décor. Stockings for each sorority sister hung on one wall. Mistletoe hung from our ballroom’s center chandelier. Our Christmas fir tree and holly bundles gave the room green Christmas accents. I breathed in the Christmas fragrances mixed with hints of our perfumes. We were ready.
The lights dimmed, and we lined up at the end of the room. Meeting Chance before the event started would have been easier, but we had our traditions.
Classical music sounded through the speakers, and we strolled in the shape of an infinity symbol, the symbol of our sorority.
After one rotation, the music morphed into a beautiful modern duet, and our dates joined us one by one on the ballroom floor.
Chance met me. Tall and incredibly handsome in his tuxedo.
For a moment I forgot the next step of the dance, why we were here, and my name.
Chance held out his palm.
I placed my hand in his, and we promenaded in the shape of a second infinity symbol. This was such a good idea, I should have thought of a fake boyfriend sooner. I grinned at him.
Chance tilted his head and gave me a quick look, checking me out. “You look gorgeous.”
“You too.”
The song then morphed into a modern waltz. Chance pulled me into his arms, his left hand at my waist, his other hand taking mine. The night took on a dreamy quality.
We did a basic box step, straight back with my right foot, back with my left, slide together, forward with my left foot, right, slide together.
Chance turned our box steps, and we progressed across the room. He guided us forward until we landed under the oval leaves and white berries of the chandelier mistletoe. “Behold thousands of years of Norse and Celtic tradition.” He smiled a slow smile at me and winked. “Romantic enough?”
Chapter 12.
Chance was asking me if he could kiss me. Here in our ballroom at the winter formal. The music, the Christmas glee, and the sheer vitality of him made me want to say yes.
My heart thumped in time with the waltz. I wanted his lips on mine. Would they be soft or hard? Would he taste of cinnamon cider?
I stepped forward, disobeying the box step rules, and my left hand went from his shoulder to behind his neck. I rose to my tiptoes, leaned forward against the hard warmth of his chest, put my lips to his ear, and whispered, “ Candles. Twinkle lights. Mistletoe. You’re so close, Chance…but…you’re not there yet.”
Chance straightened, threw his head back, and laughed. “You’re such a challenge. The worst girlfriend ever.”
I grinned my own slow smile to tease him. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Madison and Tyler spun to the center of the room. “Hey bro,” Tyler said. “Good to see you laughing.”
Madison looked between the two of us. She wore a one-shouldered Grecian gown. At first, Madison frowned, slashing her dark eyebrows together. Then she pasted on her social smile. “I hate breaking up the merriment.” She stared hard at me and lost her pleasant expression in favor of beetling her brows again. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re dating Chance?”
“It’s new,” Chance said, saving me from an evasion.
A Christmas pop song came on, forcing us all apart and into fun dance moves, flossing, shooting, and the reverse Nae Nae. The song changed to the triangle dance, which wouldn’t work for four people. Tyler pointed toward the punch bar area, and we headed there.
“The signature drink tonight.” Madison held up a pink Martini glass full of vodka and pink lemonade.
We each took one and went outside to the fire pit. The cold chill was lovely after the dancing, and the music was more muted. A number of gazes followed us, but none of the girls had challenged me for messing with their matchmaking scheme. Yet.
Tyler held up his glass. “To tonight.”
Madison squared her body toward Tyler. “To us.”
“To mistletoe.” Chance said. He was teasing me.
“To December. May the holiday season bring us all we wish for.” I clinked my glass against theirs. I drank the sweet, tart drink and thought about what I was wishing for, medical school…and Chance’s smile. Heat flushed through my chest and up my neck.
“This is such a girl drink.” Tyler swirled the liquid around. “We’re not having pink drinks at the wedding.”
“Uh, yeah, we are,” Madison said. “Bride’s choice, and it’s not like we have time to make changes with the caterers.”
Tyler shrugged one shoulder and took a larger swallow. “Ah vodka, made of the humble potato.”
Madison glared. “Vodka is made from other stuff too.”
Tyler chuckled. “Tastes like chicken.”
“I cannot believe you’re moving to Europe,” I said to change the subject. “It’s hard to imagine the house without you.” Then the idea hit me. Spring semester really would be without Madison’s influence. I resisted the urge to smile hard. I never thought we’d get so lucky.
“Oh yes, living in Ireland I’ll have easy access to shopping in London and Paris. Can you imagine?” Madison said with a hint of gloat in her voice.
“Nope.” I hoped she knew those cities were in separate countries, neither of which were Ireland.
Tyler faced his brother and made a gesture as if he were holding down a steering wheel. “Bro, slot me down for May. When we hit Monaco.” He switched imaginary gears on his invisible automobile. “Before the cars race through the streets, city workers weld down the manhole covers.”
I tilted my head and sipped the drink, which I found lovely, and mulled over the reason for that. Wouldn’t a locking mechanism be more practical? “Interesting. Air. Friction. Their speed creates that much of a vacuum?”
“It could.” Tyler bent his elbow and jerked his arm up in a fair impression of a manhole cover popping off. “And for more manhole trivia, some Irish manhole covers have uisge written on them, the Irish word for water. Pronounced ish’ka’. Which morphed into the word whiskey.”
“Which you should serve at the wedding,” I said, bringing the conversation full circle.
“Slainte,” Chance said, the Irish equivalent of cheers. We tapped glasses.
“Now as to why they’re called manhole covers…” Tyler’s fair cheeks flushed with enthusiasm.
Madison shook her head and grimaced. “Tyler. Enough with the trivia.”
Chance put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “You’re right about this froufrou drink. Let’s switch these out.”
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“Wait, guys.” Madison waved a come over here hand toward Valentina on the patio. “Valentina.”
Valentina was speaking quietly with her date in front of the picture windows. She said something to him and joined us. Her dress was tea length with dainty jeweled ribbon straps, which made her look like a tall gliding ballet dancer.
Madison pointed her ring finger at the guys. “My fiancé and his brother would like a whiskey.”
“Oh, hey,” Tyler said. “We can get those.”
“It’s what freshman are for,” Madison said.
Chance lifted his eyebrows, but he said nothing as he took in the dynamics of Madison’s presidency.
“No bother,” Valentina said. She pointed behind her to her date. “He’s cute enough, but he didn’t know what stealing home meant. I can’t date a guy who’s not a baseball fan. Imagine the complications.”
“Right you are,” Tyler said. Valentina strode off on the errand, and Tyler nodded toward me. “And where will you be next year?”
“I’m not sure.” Every day that passed made that fact clear to me. I hadn’t gotten into Baylor medical school. Stupid overconfidence. I should have applied to several schools. “I may have to take a gap year to get into my dream med school.” I winced. “Or, its backup.”
“Med school? Damn,” Tyler said. “We’ll have to introduce her to Logan.”
“Hey.” Chance dropped his arm around me, and I didn’t mind moving closer.
“I met Logan,” I said.
They all three stared at me. “You said he doesn’t leave the lab.” Madison had a sharp note in her voice. “How has Holly met him when I’ve seen him exactly once at the ceremony honoring Chance?”
Uh oh. “I have a class in the central lab building.”
“You went into his lab? He’s like this multi-patented genius. Disturbing him at work’s not cool,” Madison said.
I hated being on her radar. The one positive about my relationship with Chance being fake was that Madison would not be my future sister-in-law. Revulsion shuddered through me at the thought. “He called me in.”
“Let it go,” Tyler said to Madison.
Madison rolled her eyes and pinched her lips together, which were pretty much devoid of lipstick. I itched to point out her need to refresh.
A group of laughing sophomores broke our tension. They ran from the house to the round oak, circling the base, before racing back to the ballroom. A sophomore rite of passage. Freshman weren’t allowed near the infinity oak. Silly maybe, but the fact symbolized that more awaited those who strove beyond. The sophomores did the oak run each month at random times when they were all together. We had an unofficial custom that whoever returned first got a pancake breakfast.
I’d only won one month. But the victory had been glorious. There were a lot of greats within the sorority, such as sisterhood.
But there were drawbacks too.
I settled closer to Chance, enjoying his warmth, and breathing in his cologne, which was masculine with multiple notes. I couldn’t name the fragrance, but there were hints of citrus. His arm tightened, and I felt comfortable there, companionable, but with an energy his presence stirred up inside me.
Valentina returned carrying two crystal tumblers of whisky. The guys thanked her. I noticed her date was no longer by the window.
Tyler started a story about the Grand Prix.
Valentina went to my side and lowered her voice. “My date was pissed I got those drinks and he left. Can you believe that?” She sounded embarrassed. “Not that we were getting along anyway.”
I squeezed her arm. “Better to know now.”
Valentina wobbled her head. “I know, I know. He was auditioning for husband and failed epically.” She crooked her finger so I’d lean closer. “I could have handled that he thought I was being a wuss, but he was mad because he wanted to meet the guys and carry the drinks over himself. How whack is that?”
I grimaced. “Totally.”
Bitsie leaned out the door, and called out, “Secret Santa is starting.”
“Why is she yelling?” Madison said. “I can’t imagine how this place is going to fall apart when I’m gone.”
Chance stiffened at her tone, but Tyler seemed oblivious.
We went inside and each took down the pink velvet stocking that had our name embroidered on the front. Inside would be a slip of paper naming the sorority sister for whom we’d play secret Santa. I’d be happy with anyone besides Madison.
I kept a loose grip on my stocking. Not Madison. Not Madison. Not Madison. And not Bitsie. I knew what Bitsie wanted for Christmas. I couldn’t get her Tyler. I turned to Chance with my stocking between my palms and tilted the white faux fur top toward him. “You do the honors.”
Chance reached in, examined the slip of paper, and put it back. He adjusted his body so he faced me, and his back was to the crowd. “Madison,” he mouthed.
My face crumpled. Of freaking course. I may as well have asked the universe for Madison by mentally chanting her name. At least the gift would be easy to pick out. “Something old, new, borrowed, or blue.” I pulled up a smile. “Got it.”
Chance watched me thoughtfully, and then he leaned forward to whisper in my ear. “Valentina, actually.”
What? I frowned. He’d been testing me? I dug into the stocking and took a peek. Valentina. He’d tricked me. I didn’t look at Chance as I strode forward and tossed my slip into the glass vase holding the cranberry pink candle fire.
Madison caught up to me with a big-eyed, arched-eyebrowed Bitsie in tow.
What now?
Bitsie moved to my side. I gave her a questioning look, and she slightly shrugged her shoulders, indicating she was clueless.
Madison shook her head in a pitying fashion. “Oh girls.” There was something Grinch-like and self-satisfied in her voice. “The girls were telling me Valentina took the lead on decorations. Even to the point of tying down the yard reindeer.”
“Absolutely,” Bitsie said. “Kudos to Valentina.”
“I’d assigned that to you two. You know, to smooth over the whole champagne girl incident. Anyway.” Madison glanced over at Tyler, who was talking to Chance. “That freshman level chore was supposed to clear your demerit. Which is how you were allowed to come to winter formal. Wasn’t it?”
Uh oh.
“If the decision were up to me, I’d let you stay at the dance. But I have to be fair.” Madison waved her hand at the other dancing, laughing coeds and held out her palms like, what can I do? “Fair to all the girls here who followed the rules.” She looked at me specifically. “Girls who didn’t get to meet Chance yet. But who will be happy to take care of him? Like we all agreed at our meeting.” Madison raised her left hand showing off her diamond engagement ring.
Tyler and Chance joined us.
Bitsie gaped. “You’re kicking Holly and me out?” Her voice pierced the Christmas music.
Chapter 13.
Madison rolled her eyes at Bitsie and included me in the look as if I’d agree with our power mad actions. “Out of the dance, not the house, your life’s not over,” Madison said. “Calm down.”
Our sorority’s main tenet was stronger together. How had I let Madison get elected? I’d run with the vague thought of how good the presidency would look on my med school application. Now, I realized I’d drawn votes from other candidates who would have been better for our house.
Tyler arched his fair eyebrows at Madison. “Babe?”
“The decision is not in my hands,” Madison said. “I’m simply the messenger. Sorority rules. You know how these things go. Holly and Bitsie broke a rule.”
Chance dropped his arm around my shoulder. “You’re saying we’re out of here?” He didn’t sound reluctant.
My fists were clenched, and I eased one open to put my fingers on his back. The contact strengthened me. “Looks like it.”
Tyler took a step away from Madison. “You’re kic
king my brother out of your winter formal?” His voice hardened in a tone I hadn’t heard from him. He wasn’t gently amused at her machinations or understanding of the hardline sorority rules.
“It’s sorority business, Tyler,” Madison said. “Calm down.”
Tyler squared off with her to a point that was uncomfortable. “Chance is my brother.”
I was pretty confident Chance could defend himself, but from his watching green eyes, he wanted to see how this played out.
Madison pinched her lips. “You’re not understanding.” She flattened her fingers and waved them through the air. “Of course, Chance can stay and hang out with you. I’m just saying Holly and Bitsie have to go. They didn’t finish their decorating, which was their duty, and they were champagne girls. We have a very complex system. But the guidelines are for the betterment of our house.”
“I see the situation as fairly black-and-white,” Tyler said, and I heard the lawyer in his voice for the first time. “My brother goes, I go.”
Chance held up his palm. “Hey, we’re cool, no need to get in a fight with your fiancée over this.”
Other girls were looking at us now. Making up a scene was one of our no-no policies. Madison should get a demerit; however, the punishment would likely land on Bitsie and me. Again.
Madison gave a quick look around and crossed her arms over her chest. “I guess I can make an exception. This once. For Holly. We can delay consequences until another time. But that’s just Holly. Not you, Bitsie.”
Bitsie cringed.
Madison shrugged her bare shoulder. “You have to go. Because of the circumstances, you know, with Holly having a date. And you showing up at a formal without having a date.”
Tyler looked at Madison like he’d never seen her before.
She seemed like typical old Madison to me. She must have done a solid job of hiding her true self from him. But like all deluded lovesick fools before him, eventually the hearts fell from their eyes, and they saw the truth. They’d either hooked up with someone worth loving, or not.
I wouldn’t let Bitsie slink out alone and the thought of Madison holding this over my head didn’t sit well with me. My muscles tightened. “I’ll take the consequences now. Chance, you’re welcome to stay if you like.” Having my date stay behind as I was thrown out would have been the embarrassing icing on the shame cupcake I was about to eat. I gave him a look that told him if he stayed, he was dead to me forever.