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Aria holds up my iPhone, camera flipped in my direction. “We need a soundtrack up here!” Before I can peek at what she is doing, the opening lyrics of Fergie's “Glamorous” erupt from my phone.
I burst out laughing as Aria bops over, my cell camera already rolling. “You can NOT resist a classic throwback! Now let's see those influencer skills, sis.”
As if on reflex, I launch straight into lip sync mode, puffing out my chest with fake swagger. Grace hoots, fanning herself jokingly at my attempt at badass while I mouth the lyrics. Mia and Rory halt their primping and jive along.
Soon, we are all cracking up at my exaggerated hair flips and model poses in the makeshift salon chair, Aria cackling as she films our carefree vibes.
When the song winds down, I'm flushed and grinning ear to ear. “Did we just create TikTok gold?”
“I'd say we're gonna break the internet!” Aria grins. “Just add your magic editing touch, and you’re good to go.”
All anxiety about tonight’s event takes a backseat. Right here, right now, with my girls cheering me on—it's the mood I want to bottle forever.
“What better viral video than a glamtastic Cinderella glow up moment?” Mia adds with an affectionate shoulder squeeze before steering me back around for final touch ups. My nails are painted, and Rory begins applying makeup.
“Voilà! You're officially dazzling, love.” Rory puts the final touches on my makeup with a flourish of powder brushes while Mia spritzes my hair into perfectly undone curls.
I take in the full look in the mirror. A glamorous, mysterious siren stares back through familiar eyes.
“Ladies, I could cry! You actually worked magic.” I turn to pull Mia and Rory into an impulsive group hug. Grace and Aria abandon their perches to join our circle with more laughter and squeals.
Eventually, Mia extracts herself to glance at her diamond-studded watch. “It's already six-fifteen, honey! Let's get you dressed.”
A rush descends on the living room as the stylists re-pack their kits and offer me some final words of encouragement. As abruptly as it began, the pampering winds down in a flurry of air kisses and last-minute beauty advice.
“Go get 'em tonight!” Rory winks. Then they're out the door for their next appointment, and an eerie quiet settles.
In my room, the garment bag with its glittery occupant awaits its unveiling.
I stroke one hand down the silky fabric, anticipation tingling, and begin dressing.
8
GALA GLAMOUR
Get it together, Whitmore.
I straighten my bow tie for the tenth time, staring myself down in the polished glass door of the no-frills Upper East Side elevator co-op.
You've done a thousand of these benefits. It’s just one more with slightly higher stakes.
When I ring the intercom to Maddie’s apartment, a melodic voice buzzes me up. Walking past the mirror and the fragrant lilies displayed on the lobby table, I take the elevator to the second floor, willing my damn pulse to stop the jittery tap dance behind my ribs.
Before I can overanalyze further, the door swings open, revealing a tall slender woman in her twenties with the same striking eyes as Maddie, but in jade rather than honey.
“You must be Maddie’s sister.” I smile, aiming for easy charm while discreetly peeking around her.
“Grace,” she says, eyeing me curiously just as a whirlwind of chestnut hair launches herself from the sofa. The resemblance is striking.
“Hi! I'm Aria, Maddie's favorite—I mean ONLY baby sister,” she gushes, hazel eyes brimming with questions. From what Maddie told me, I assume the sisters are very close, but I wonder how much they knew of our arrangement.
“Jack. A pleasure.” I accept Aria's enthusiastic handshake, unable to resist returning her infectious grin.
“Sooo, I gotta ask the hard questions here,” Aria announces, hands planted on her hips. “You were a Navy SEAL? You don’t look like a soldier.”
Her direct line of interrogation startles a laugh from me. “Uh, yes, maybe not in this suit. Now I work for my family's tech company.” I raise an eyebrow at Grace who just coughs lightly into her hand, eyes gleaming. Meanwhile, Aria barrels on.
“So, how the heck did you and Maddie meet?”
