“Probably a stiletto.” She shrugged. “You know, fuck-me heels.”

“That’s a thing?” Now I was seriously questioning my own shoe wardrobe. Did I own said fuck-me heels? Did I want to? I wasn’t sure on either count. I knew where Chase would stand on the second question, though.

Siobhan’s cherry-red lips pulled into a bemused smile. “How are you this innocent? I thought Chase would have corrupted you by now.”

“Oh, that’s well underway.”

She nodded behind me. “Let’s start at Nordstrom and work our way over to Bloomingdales.”

“That sounds expensive.” I sucked in a breath between my teeth, grimacing.

“You’re talking to the sales rack queen. Give me your budget and I’ll deliver.”

We navigated through the throngs of shoppers over to Nordstrom. Siobhan glanced down at her navy Apple Watch, scrunching her face up in thought.

“By the way, are you, um, coming to the game against Callingwood next week?” She hedged. “It’s totally fine if you don’t want to. Just wondering if I should talk to some of the other girls so I have someone to sit with.”

Walking into the department store, we headed to the escalators off to the back. “Yeah, I plan to.” And I’d pray beforehand.

“Awesome.” Siobhan drained the last of her mocha and tossed it into a garbage can as we passed by. “Moving out probably helped put a damper on some of that stuff. There’s no way it’ll be as dramatic as last time, right?”

“Right.” At least, I hoped so.

48. find out

CHAPTER 48

FIND OUT

Bailey

The week flew by in a blur of classes, newspaper, dinner with Zara and Noelle, and trying to squeeze in some time with Chase. Emphasis on trying, because the universe seemed perpetually determined to make our schedules incompatible. If we didn’t have sleepovers, we’d never see each other.

Getting ready for the gala consumed a good half of my Saturday. Probably because Siobhan made an event out of it. We ordered takeout for lunch, we pre-gamed—in my case, that consisted of only one drink, because I had zero alcohol tolerance—and we listened to music while we got ready. I even curled my hair, which was a momentous twice-a-year event. Shiv had to swoop in and help me with my makeup because I still hadn’t mastered the fine motor skills necessary to make a straight line with liquid eyeliner. Probably never would.

When it was time to leave, Chase strolled through the door, and his jaw literally dropped. “I definitely should have tried to squeeze in a quickie with you earlier, because now I might die waiting.”

“Well, hello to you too.”

“Do you think there is any chance we still—”

His phone chimed, and he glanced down, brow furrowing. “Guess not. Ward’s timing strikes again.”

* * *