“Yes,” Hannah said with what appeared to be a knowing smile. “Yes, I like them a lot. Which is why I invited them. But that hardly tells me what you think of them, Aiden. Do you not like them?”
“I do not know them well enough to say one way or the other whether I like them or not,” Aiden said in a dismissive tone. “And surely it doesn’t matter. It’s not as though I’m going to interact with the two on a daily basis.”
“Right.” She headed back into her dressing room. “Well, I’m going to get the dress.” Even though she was changing, she continued to speak as to not interrupt the flow of their conversation. “You know, I’m really looking forward to the party. I love Stephen’s parties. They always specialize in something, you know? I’ve always loved costume parties since before I can remember.”
“Yes, I know,” Aiden drawled. “I am your older brother, after all. You would enlist me to play dress-up with you when Mum and Dad were out or wouldn’t throw you a costume party.”
“I remember that,” Hannah said with a fond smile as she threw on her jeans. “Luckily, Stephen and I are alike in that respect. Oh, I wonder what Taylor and Ronnie are going to come as.”
“Flappers is my guess,” Aiden retorted.
Hannah rolled her eyes as she grabbed the dress. She gave her brother a look after she left the changing room. “Must you always be so droll?” she asked. “And as far as I’m concerned, Ronnie might dress up as a gangster rather than a flapper. I think she has a thing for some infamous bank robber.”
“She would,” Aiden said in the same dry voice. He stood up once he saw that his sister was ready to leave.
“I thought you did not know her well enough to have an opinion about her,” Hannah said. Her lips broke out into a triumphant smirk and she giggled as she slid her free hand through her brother’s arm. “Oh, don’t you think Stephen and Taylor would make the cutest couple? I can just see them together. She’s too beautiful for words and he’s handsome in his own adorable way. They fit, you know?”
“You’re too romantic for your own good,” Aiden observed. “I pity the poor bloke who has to win your heart. Chocolates and roses won’t cut it with you.”
“You are changing the subject,” Hannah pointed out. “Are you uncomfortable talking about romance, Aiden? It must be due to your lack of a love life, ever since you left that witch of a woman Vespa. You know I never liked her.”
“Really?” Aiden said. “I never knew that, given that you never told me that you didn’t like her any chance you got.” He gave her a dry stare. “I’m aware of your feelings regarding my previous girlfriend, thank you very much. What I’m not aware of, however, is why we’re talking about her in the first place.”
“I think that you don’t believe in love anymore,” Hannah said. The two stepped in line and Hannah regarded her brother in hopes that he would answer the unspoken question.
“Listen,” Aiden said after a long moment. “You must realize that reality isn’t a fairytale. I expect that I’ll end up marrying some woman who has as much money as I do, pop out two to four children, and live back home. I will make money by being a lawyer and she will raise our children. That’s how it was for Mum and Dad and that is probably how it will be for me. You, on the other hand, I know, refuse to let such a predictable set of circumstances happen to you.”
“Is that what you really want, Aiden?” Hannah asked, and this time her voice came out sincere.
But Aiden didn’t answer because what he might want and what he knew he should want were two different things.
Hannah offered him a smile. “Well, who knows,” she said, the same optimistic smile back on her face. “You just might meet the lucky girl at Stephen’s bash tomorrow night.”
* * *
Just because UCI is on break doesn’t mean my job is. Luckily, it’s just me and Kelly in Penguin Books, and luckier still, there are no customers in the store so I can comment as freely as I want to.
“…then he picks up the luggage and puts them in the car.” I finish telling Kelly everything that went on between Aiden Douchebag Shawe and me over Christmas because Kelly loves drama, hot guys, and romance. Of course the romance is between Stephen and Taylor, not Aiden and me. Plus, I need to get this off my chest, and I need to do it with someone who isn’t related to me or anyone I’m talking about. Kelly is the obvious candidate.
“Oh my gosh, that’s so romantic!” she exclaims like she’s in some sorority, listening to one of the sisters explain some cheesy proposal. “He actually listened to you. You know that, right?”
“What?” I ask, perking my brow. “No, Aiden Shawe wasn’t listening to me. He was just trying to prove me wrong. He just wants to show that he does have good manners after I totally called him out on the fact that he didn’t.”
“Sure, sure,” Kelly says with a stupid smile on her face. “You keep telling yourself that, Ron. You know what I think? I think this guy could totally be into you and not even know it. I just wish I could meet him and observe the two of you together. Then I’d really know.”
“Okay, first of all,” I begin, holding up my hand. “Ew. There is no possible way Aiden is interested in me. He made that abundantly clear when he pretty much looked at me like I was some kind of fungus, refused to dance with me because that might mean actually touching me, and since I’m American, he obviously thinks I’m barbaric and that he’s so much better than me.” I take a breath considering that I didn’t realize I was going to go on a tangent until I finished. “And two, you’re obviously coming to the party with me. This means that you’ll have to endure an entire night with Aiden and Stephen’s older and normally drunk-in-the-classy-way sister Farrah, but it’s an excuse to dress up as a 1920s slut and get away with it. Plus, Stephen has the coolest dance floor ever.”
Kelly smiles and though she doesn’t say it, she looks genuinely happy that I’ve invited her to a college party. Well, I’m not exactly sure if this constitutes as a college party, but I think Kelly won’t mind. Any form of socialization that doesn’t directly involve school spirit is a relief to her. A part of me thinks she’s only into the whole spirit bullshit because she wants to fit in so badly. She has this entire plan for her life that she doesn’t like to stray from and I think that she has assumed she would have a serious boyfriend by now. Maybe a party would provide her with a boyfriend.
“You know,” Kelly says, “it’s so weird how someone like Hannah and someone like Aiden come from the same parents.”
“Right?” I ask. “I can’t wait for you to see him for yourself, Kell. I know it’s hard to believe what I’ve said about him, but seriously, just wait. But don’t get blinded by his good looks, okay?”
Kelly snickers and rolls her eyes. “Sure thing, Ron,” she replies. “Now, it’s a costume party, right?”
Before I can answer, the door to the shop opens and Kelly and I immediately straighten. Both of us are behind the register which is directly across from the door, and even though we’re not doing anything wrong, we want to give our customers the façade of professionalism. Except this particular customer is familiar.
It’s only when I recognize him that I feel my face flush and my heart skip a beat.
“Hi,” he says in his adorable English accent. He walks over to Kelly and me, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans. Kelly is looking pointedly at me, most likely wondering who he is, but I ignore her. All in good time. “I’m George, George Thatcher.”
“I remember you,” I say and place my hand in his offered one. I didn’t think it was possible, but his face turns even redder at the platonic contact.
“Well, that’s good news,” he replies and looks over at a very amused Kelly, her eyes shifting between the two of us. “Oh, pardon my manners. My name is George, George Thatcher and I know Marion—”
“Oh, I know,” Kelly interrupts. “You climbed through her window and she socked you, right?”
I laugh just a little too loudly, and this time, my cheeks redden due to
the fact that maybe I’m a bit self-conscious of having told Kelly everything. Including the fact that I find George very attractive in his own way.
He’s not as tall as Aiden, nor is he as clean-cut. But scruffiness is something I equate with danger, and danger is always an attractive trait in the opposite sex. Luckily for me, he’s a few inches taller than I am and he has shaggy beige hair and sparkling brown eyes. He still looks like a pretty boy, but an unkempt pretty boy. His jeans are one size too big but his shirt hugs him in all the right places. He’s also not as broad as Aiden is, but he’s lean and it seems to fit him.
I then realize that I just compared George to Aiden and take a moment to silently lecture myself on the ridiculousness of it.
“Right,” George says, and he fakes a few chuckles, I think to make me feel better about my spontaneous outburst. Which is definitely sweet. “Right, well”—he turns so his eyes are on me once more— “I hope you don’t mind, but I got this information, where you work and all that, from Farrah and I think she got it from Stephen who got it from…. I’m babbling. Anyway, I was wondering if you were going to Stephen’s party tomorrow evening…?”
Oh my gosh, is he asking me out, or am I looking too much into this?
I hold my breath and slowly count to three to guarantee I don’t say anything stupid. Well, anything more stupid than I’ve already said.
“Yeah,” I finally say. “I mean, Taylor really wants to go and she won’t go if I don’t go so she kind of made me come, but I’ll have Kelly with me and I’ll see Hannah again so I’m sure it’ll be fun….” I let my voice trail off. “Now I’m babbling.”
This time, George laughs for real. “Yes, but when you do it, you’re adorable,” he tells me. He smiles at me and my heart flutters again. “And I’m glad to hear you’re going. I was prepared to talk you into it if I had to.”
“Trust me,” Kelly says. “Ronnie is probably the most stubborn person I know. If she didn’t want to go to this party, you wouldn’t be able to talk her into it.”
“I know,” George says. “I think I like that about her. One of the many things I like about her, I should say. Not that I know you well or anything, but of the things I do know….”
I know my face is on fire, but I’ve decided that I really don’t care anymore. “George,” I say. “Not to put a damper on this whole party thing, but I’m pretty sure Aiden is going to be there, whether he wants to be or not. I mean, is that okay with you? I don’t think you’ll have to interact with him or anything, but still. Is that going to be okay with you?”
George shrugs his shoulder. “Listen, what happened between Aiden and I happened a long time ago,” he says. “It hurts sometimes, but I’ve gotten over it. I’m not sure if I can say the same for Aiden. But if he doesn’t want to deal with me, then he should leave. Not me.” There’s a moment of silence and before I can figure out if it’s awkward or not, George continues. “Plus, I want to get to know you better, and this time, I won’t climb through a bedroom window to do that.” He gives me that boyish smile. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow night then.”
I nod dumbly. “Yup,” I say as he turns and heads for the door. “Sure will.”
Once the door closes, Kelly nudges me with her shoulder, a smirk on her face.
“What?” I ask.
“Oh, don’t even pretend,” Kelly says. “You’re in trouble and you don’t even know it.”
Chapter 8
I’m not going to lie; I look like a sweet trophy wife right now.
This is why I think I was born in the wrong time. The dress I’m currently wearing fits me like a glove. Why can’t twenty-first century costumes enhance my physical gifts while simultaneously hiding my flaws? The girls back in the 1920s knew what they were doing when they rebelled and started wearing shorter dresses, cutting their hair short and dyeing it black, and smoking those long, fancy cigarettes. Their fashion was amazing, which is why everyone’s so into vintage now.
Or, at least, that’s what I’ve heard.
However, I don’t feel like I’m breaking any rules an oppressive society has thrust on me due to my sex. Probably because Taylor is wearing a shorter dress than I am and Kelly is actually dressed as a sexy gangster princess. I am in a simple black, fringed-out dress that hangs on my body with relative looseness. I refused to cut my hair or dye it black—I even refused to wear a wig—in order to be authentic, but I decided to go on a limb and straighten my normally unruly hair. Taylor did my makeup and made sure to give me smoky eyes and fire engine red lips. Kelly forced me to wear stilettos and fishnets. So I guess I kind of feel like a slut.
“I’m so excited,” Kelly says from the backseat. She sinks deeper into her fuchsia-colored feather boa, a big smile on her face. “Thanks again for the invite Ronnie. I’ve never been to a party of this caliber before.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I say, craning my neck so I can get a better look at her from my place in the passenger seat. “Do me a favor though, okay? Don’t tell Aiden that this party is a big deal. It’ll probably make his already hugely inflated ego reach its peak and I don’t want to be responsible for cleaning it up.”
Taylor giggles beside me but keeps her eyes firmly on the road ahead of her. She’s always a careful driver, always going no more than sixty-five on the freeway as law dictates, but she’s even more so than normal on huge drinking nights. And besides St. Patrick’s Day, New Year’s is the biggest drinking night out of the entire year.
“Don’t you think you’re being a little hard on him?” Taylor asks me. “He wasn’t completely vile, was he?”
“Maybe not completely,” I allow, but that’s all I’m giving her.
“And who knows?” Taylor continues. “Maybe he’ll be more open to dancing this time around.”
We continue to chat until we reach the now-familiar house. As before, we pull up to the driveway where the valet is located and after we pile out, a man slides in the car and drives it away. I’m just praying that Taylor knows better than to get sick on the sushi this time around.
After heading up the steps, we walk through double doors that are opened for us by a butler. I think I recognize him from the last time Taylor and I were here, but before I can try and remember his name, I’m surprised to find Aiden, Farrah, Stephen, and Hannah all lined up as though they’re expecting us.
“Why are they there?” I whisper to no one in particular.
“I think they’re here to greet us,” Kelly whispers back. “You know, it’s common for hosts to wait here for their guests to arrive in order to, you know…greet them.”
“Well dictated, Kell,” I remark as Hannah notices us. “Congratulations.”
She can’t say anything in return because by now, all four people have come over to us and extended their form of greeting. Stephen babbles something about how happy he is that we could make it, and he looks quite dapper in a three piece suit and fedora. Farrah is dressed in white—which is clearly a sham—and after taking a puff of one of the long cigarettes in her gloved hands, she curls her lips up because she can’t be bothered to actually speak to us, and we should be lucky she is even standing here in the first place. Aiden, much like Stephen, is dressed in a three piece suit and fedora, but his is darker than Stephen’s and reveals just how broad his form is. His also has white pinstripes that run up and down the suit. He tilts his head down which is his form of greeting, I guess. The English version of the American “What’s up?” nod.
It’s only Hannah who speaks, besides Stephen of course.
“Oh, I’m so glad you could make it,” she says, throwing her arms around me and pulling me into a tight hug. “You all look fantastic.” When she breaks apart from me, she plays with the feather attached to my ’20s headband. “Goodness, Ronnie, I didn’t know your hair was that long.”
“She straightened it,” Aiden says.
This surprises me because firstly, I didn’t think guys actually noticed when girls did different things with their hair, and seco
ndly, I didn’t think Aiden was paying any attention to me at all. And his blue eyes. The way they’re looking at me…. Is that approval? Surely that can’t be the case. It would be ridiculous to assume that Aiden approves of anything in relation to me, and as such, I brush the thought aside and blame it on the lighting fixture.
“Taylor?” Stephen says, and once I hear his voice, it’s like the trance Aiden’s eyes have put me under is broken. I snap my head in Stephen’s direction, looking for any sort of distraction I can find. “Is it possible…? Surely, it’s possible. That’s not what I meant, of course. But maybe, if you would be so kind…. Not that you aren’t, but….” He stops himself, presses his lips together, and looks Taylor directly in the eyes. “Taylor, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”
Taylor blushes but nods her head yes. I watch as she daintily places her hand in Stephen’s, allowing him to lead her to the already-filled dance floor.
“I’ll see you later, yeah?” Hannah says to me, pressing her brows up. “I’m sure you want to look around, enjoy yourself, find someone….” She allows her voice to trail off, her eyes dancing mischievously in mine.
I have talked to Hannah here and there about George Thatcher and how I maybe have a crush on him and that I’m looking forward to seeing him tonight. Since George seems to know Aiden, I was hoping Hannah could tell me more about George, but she knew as much as I did. Apparently, Aiden is very guarded when it comes to sexual conquests, especially those involving women that aren’t with him in the first place. I don’t tell Hannah about what George has told me though, because it’s not my place to. If Aiden wants to say something, he will. If not, Hannah will find out sooner or later, but it won’t be from me.
“You’re right,” I say, feeling my face flush at just the thought of George being here. I grab onto Kelly’s wrist. “Let’s look around.”
I remember my way around Stephen’s mansion pretty well because while Taylor was sleeping, I explored the place. Anything to avoid Aiden and his chain-smoking supermodel. As a result, I now walk around the room with a bout of confidence I never had before. Probably because I know I’m going to run into George eventually.
Four Sides of an Attitude: A Cufflinks & Austen Novel Page 7