Kenzie laughed because she totally agreed. “It was the theme of our senior prom so they’re doing it again for the reunion. I wish I could just show up in jeans, have a couple of beers, and then leave.”
“Speaking of drinking,” Darcy said, reaching into a cooler she’d been carrying. “I brought drinks.”
“I talked to my husband who told me things have changed since this past weekend,” Ellery said as she held up a red plastic cup for Darcy to fill.
“What do you mean?” Savannah asked.
“She means that this fake date isn’t so fake.” A beautiful woman walked in with brown hair and haunting, electric-blue eyes. “Hi. I’m Edie Wecker.”
“Kenzie Carys. Are you a cousin?”
Edie shook her head. “Nope. I just grew up here and am best friends with this crew. I also brought food.”
The charcuterie board was attacked as drinks were poured and Kenzie thought she’d escaped the question about their relationship, but she wasn’t that lucky. “So, about you and Ryker? Exactly where do you stand?” Harper asked.
“We just want to see him happy, and I think you make him so,” Tinsley said with a kind smile as Skye began pulling dress after beautiful dress from the racks.
“Um,” Kenzie started to say, but didn’t really know what to say. “I feel like I’m back in high school, but I guess we’re boyfriend and girlfriend.”
Savannah laughed. “I understand completely. You can never escape high school.”
“But wait,” Tinsley said seriously. “You’re actually dating? Like, for real?”
“We are,” Kenzie said as she couldn’t keep the smile off her face.
“Gavin said Ryker was happier than he’s seen him in forever. I’m so happy for you two,” Ellery said with a huge smile on her face.
“I’m glad, too, but now we want to know all about the people you’ll see at the reunion.” Darcy gave her a wink and Kenzie gave her a thankful smile in return. Out of everyone in Shadows Landing, it was Darcy she related to the most.
Kenzie talked for a while about the reunion and then the conversation turned to which style of dress would be best to wear.
“I’m pretty boring, so I’d normally say go classy, but I think you need to go to knockout level after hearing all that,” Edie said after Kenzie finished her high school drama recap.
“Couldn’t agree more,” Skye said, picking out a couple of dresses and putting them back on the racks before grabbing new ones. She turned and hung them up so everyone could see them. “What do you think of these?”
One was a strapless, gold sequin minidress with a sweetheart neckline. Another was a deep emerald-green, long satin dress with a slit so high up she’d flash everyone as she walked, and the third was a strapless, navy blue chiffon dress with a plunging V-neck bodice and flowy skirt.
“Gold one!” Tinsley said with a gasp.
“Navy,” Savannah said.
“Green!” Ellery added.
“You have to try them all on,” Edie told her as she began checking out some more dresses.
Kenzie tried the green one first. It was lovely with a beautiful back, but the slit made her uncomfortable. Luckily everyone agreed and she moved onto the navy one.
“Wow,” Tinsley said and all Kenzie could do was nod. It fit her like a glove, but it also was such a deep V that you could see her belly button. “As much as I love this, it’s not really Hanover appropriate.”
“Let’s try the mini, but I think I have another idea,” Skye told her as she went back to the racks while Kenzie tried on the mini.
“This is cute!” Kenzie said with a smile. “If only it were a couple of inches longer. How do you not flash your goodies at everyone?”
Skye laughed as she pulled out the dress she was looking for. It was navy and gold and breathtaking. It was sexy in its simplicity and Kenzie couldn’t wait to try it on. “Wait, that looks familiar,” Kenzie said, looking at the dress closer now. It was a strapless silk chiffon dress with a deep sweetheart neckline trimmed in gold. The same gold formed a band around the waist and then trimmed the bottom of the floor-length skirt that had just a smidge more flare than a standard column skirt.
“I wore it when I won Best Actress,” Skye said casually as she handed it over to Kenzie. “I think this will be the winner.”
“I can’t wear this,” Kenzie was aghast and hid her hands behind her back, refusing to take it.
“It’s perfect. Just try it on,” Skye insisted as she shoved the dress at her.
“Won’t you be mad if something happens to it? I mean, this is a reunion. People get drunk and could spill something on it. Beer, bean dip, who knows what?”
Skye laughed as she coerced Kenzie to take the dress. “It’s okay. My costar spilled bourbon on it and it survived. I have a team of people who will clean it and bring it back to perfection if anything happens to it. And if all else fails, Sydney will make me a new one.”
“Because it’s that easy to have Sydney Davies McKnight make you a new one-of-a-kind dress,” Kenzie said sarcastically as she reluctantly took the dress.
“It is when she’s your cousin by marriage,” Skye said with a wink.
“Wait, she’s Ryker’s cousin?” Kenzie sputtered.
“Yeah, she’s our cousin,” Tinsley said with a smile. “And if we had more time, she’d make you a one-of-a-kind dress to knock ol’ Bo and Hailey-Jean on their butts. Trust me. Syd will fully approve of you wearing this dress. Now, try it on.”
Kenzie took the dress and the second she stepped into it, she knew it was the one.
“Oh my gosh,” Tinsley squealed.
“This is so your dress,” Ellery said.
“What shoe size are you?” Edie asked, eying a pair of gold strappy heels.
“Eight,” Kenzie said, and Edie grabbed the shoes.
“It’s fate,” Edie said, handing her the shoes. “With the heels, the dress shouldn’t need altering.”
“Except I’m afraid I’m going to bust the zipper,” Kenzie admitted.
“I’ve got something for that!” Skye said, running to a drawer and pulling out a package. “A friend designs these. It’s a strapless push-up bra and shapewear all in one. I have loads of them. This one is brand-new. Try it.”
Kenzie shimmied out of the dress and opened the package. She battled with the shapewear until she gave up and waddled back in with it stuck on her hips. “I know we’re just getting to know each other, but um, help.”
Darcy laughed but grabbed one side as Edie grabbed the other. With some pulling, shimmying, wiggling, and jumping, the shapewear was on and the dress fit perfectly. Skye handed her a small bottle of baby powder and whispered instructions for using it when she had to get into the shapewear solo. Kenzie stared at herself in the mirror and couldn’t process that it was her staring back at her.
Skye snapped a picture of everyone holding up their plastic cups as they surrounded Kenzie. “That will go up Saturday night. You know, for just one more ‘in your face’ to Bo and Hailey-Jean.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Kenzie said, sniffling.