“Is it time?” I ask.

I don’t want to get dressed until we have to. My dress is pretty comfortable, but I am wearing heels with it. Mom and Emily helped me pick out a pair that had thicker heels so I don’t break my neck, but still. This isn’t going to be easy. I’m going to feel so out of place.

“Yes, some guests have already arrived.”

“Gracie,” Tomas calls for my mom, stepping into the library where Emily and I had spent the afternoon getting ready. “You left me.”

“I didn’t leave you.” Mom laughs as Tomas pulls her into his side.

“Remember my birthday present,” he whispers to her.

“We’re right here!”

“Standing right here.” Both Emily and I speak at the same time.

They’re adorable, but I don’t want to think about what gift my mom might be giving him later. Especially one he’s whispering about. If he’s as dirty as his son and uses a bit of blackmail, I really don’t want to know.

“Both of you stop.” Mom shakes her head at us. “I promised him I’d stay in reach of him all night.”

“It’s my birthday. I want to spend it with my wife.”

“Tomas.” Mom melts into him, and they start to kiss.

“Okay, you two. We’ll get dressed and be out shortly.” Emily shoos them along.

I help her get into her dress. It’s not shocking that she has a pink dress. It’s strapless, fitting tight at the top but flaring out at the waist before stopping mid-thigh. She looks gorgeous in it. But that’s no surprise. The girl could wear a paper bag and make it look glamorous.

I’d gotten a white dress that also fits snug up top, but it has long sleeves with ruffles at the ends. The front dips down low, showing more cleavage than I’m used to, but with this style of dress, I get to wear a bra, and I need one. It flares out around the waist, but mine is a bit longer than Emily’s, stopping right above my knees.

“I can see your panty line,” Emily points out. “You got a thong?”

“No.”

“Yeah, they suck. Just go without.”

“Go without panties?”

“Yeah, it will be fine. Your dress isn’t short.” I glance in the mirror that was set up next to the rack where our dresses had been hanging, and realize you can see the outline of my panties at the top before the dress starts to flare out.

“Fine.” I reach under and pull them off, putting them into one of the bags before I put the heels on.

“Damn, you look like a sexy angel.”

“Really?” I don’t think anyone has ever described me that way before.