I wrinkled my nose. “You’re all right.”
“Hey! Chess will like it.”
“That young man is very dreamy himself,” Abuelita said.
Peter laughed. “What would Grandpa think about that?”
“He’s been in the grave for a dozen years. And when he was here, he knew I had eyeballs.”
I cracked up. Leave it to Abuelita to be checking out guys fifty years younger than her.
Peyton came out next, not in a ballgown, but her tutu for the ballet Serenade. She was performing the solo and pas de deux at the event tonight. It was a stunning display of tulle, perfectly fit to her measurements.
“Oh, mi amorcita,” Abuelita said. “Perfecto.”
“Thank you,” Peyton said, stepping up and pressing a kiss to her cheek.
“I always loved that one,” I told her.
“Me too,” Peyton said wistfully.
Giving up her life in New York City and ceasing performing had been difficult for Peyton. She had a life and a career here as the artistic director that she loved, but sometimes, it was hard. How could it not be? Ballet had been the only thing she cared about for years.
Then, it was my turn. I carried the black dress bag into the room. Blaire and I had picked it out online from a designer that she partnered with. We’d had the thing tailored to my build once it came in.
“Need help?” Peyton called.
“Please.”
Peyton entered the room and buttoned up the tiny buttons at the back.
“I’ll be doing this for you next weekend.”
She laughed. “If I can find a dress.”
We’d gone dress shopping at all of the local places, but nothing had fit her that would be ready by next weekend. I’d promised to go look for her in Dallas or New York, if need be, to find something. Someone somewhere could make this happen.
With the dress securely in place, I drew on my black heels and walked into the living room. Abuelita’s breath caught.
“Piper,” she breathed softly. “Where did my little girl go?”
I smiled and spun in a careful circle, letting the light catch the soft shimmer to the black-and-silver dress. It gave her a perfect view of the square neckline, ruched middle, and nearly completely open back. The waist tapered in before falling to the floor in a swirl of beautiful fabric. When I twirled, everything flared up like I was an actual princess. It was better than anything I’d ever worn to prom, and I felt perfect in it.
“I love this tradition,” Peyton said. “You look gorgeous, Piper.”
“Hollin won’t be able to keep his hands off you,” Peter said with a laugh.
Abuelita shook her head. “She won’t be able to keep her hands off of him.”
I rolled my eyes. “Abuelita can’t keep her hands off of him.”
Abuelita arched an eyebrow. “He’s very charming.”
We all chuckled at her. Then, the doorbell rang.
Peter rushed to answer it, and there stood Hollin Abbey in a black tuxedo, carrying a bouquet of roses.
“Abbey,” Peter said, pulling back to let him inside.
My eyes ran down the length of him. My mouth went dry. Abuelita was right. I wasn’t going to be able to keep my hands off of him. My hands, my mouth, my body. Maybe we shouldn’t even go to this thing, and I could stand here and objectify him forever.
His eyes were on mine as he equally gaped. I was the girl who loved blue jeans and boots. I wore skirts and dresses sometimes but nothing fancy. This was next level, and he was admiring me in the same way that I was admiring him.
When I didn’t move, Peyton smiled and took the flowers. “They’re beautiful.”
He cleared his throat. “They’re actually for Nina.”
My grandma put a hand to her chest. “For me?”
“Yes. I thought you deserved them,” Hollin said with a wink.
I grinned at him slyly. The little charmer. “That’s nice of you.”
“Well, thank you, Hollin,” Abuelita said. She tried to stand, but Peyton stopped her.
“I’ll put them in water for you.”
“Come give me a hug before you go.”
I hugged Abuelita. She felt smaller than before. I pressed a kiss to her cheek and told her that I loved her.
“Have fun,” she told me sincerely.
“We will.”
I waved good-bye to the rest of my family and followed Hollin out to his truck. “What? No motorcycle?”
He slid an arm around my waist and dragged me tight against him. “God, you’re beautiful.”
I laughed. “Me or the fact that I suggested your Harley?”
“Both.” He kissed me long and hard, and I forgot the entire world existed in that kiss. “But mostly, I was worried about your hair.”
I touched the perfect updo that Peyton had worked into my hair. He was probably right. It had taken forever to get my hair to cooperate. But maybe it would have been worth it. “Fair.”
Hollin opened the passenger side door for me and helped me and all the layers of my dress into the truck. It was an effort in a million layers of tulle and satin and four-inch-high heels, but we managed. He got into the driver’s side and turned for downtown and the new Buddy Holly Hall.
“Have you been inside the new building yet?”
He nodded. “I went once with Jordan and Julian, but it was during the day. You?”
“Just the ballet studio.”
Peyton’s company had their own studio space inside the building. It was stunning and reminded me so much of the space she’d had in New York. I was sure that made her feel more at home.
“You’re in for a treat.”
Hollin parked out front, and as we headed inside the building, I saw how absolutely right he was. The hall was beyond impressive. Everything was mile-high ceilings with a giant, circular glass staircase and tiered balconies. A long bar had been set up on either end of the hall. And a string quartet was playing from a small stage, filling the room with music. It was modern, sleek, and stunning. I loved everything about it.
I found Annie, Blaire, and Jennifer as soon as we entered.
Blaire squealed at the sight of my dress and flung her arms around me. “Look at you!”
I laughed. “Thanks. It’s all your doing.”
“Psh, I found the perfect dress. You’re the one wearing it.”
All of my friends looked incredible. From Blaire in a powder-blue dress that clung to her with a thigh-high slit, to Jennifer in a more modest pale pink number with a full skirt, to Annie, ever daring, in a sleek forest-green dress that had cutouts on both sides.
Hollin kissed my temple and then went to get drinks.
“Y’all seem happy,” Annie said.
“We are.”
“I love to see it,” Jennifer said.
“We all do,” Blaire chimed in.
“Where are the guys?” I asked to take the focus off of me.
“Jordan and Julian went to schmooze the team owner,” Annie said with an eye roll.
“Sounds like them.”
“They’re up there with Jensen and Morgan,” Jennifer said, pointing to the front of the room, where the CEOs of Wright Construction and Wright Architecture stood with the owners of Wright Vineyard. It was a big Wright-fest.