Page 46 of Away We Go

“You don’t think it will clash with my hair?” It’s a halter-neck red dress that is fitted at the waist and flares out in a flirty skirt.

“Try it and see.”

I take the dress into her bathroom and pull it on, marvelling at how it fits me so well.

“What do you think?” I twirl in front of her, enjoying the way the skirt floats around my legs.

Her eyes light up as she looks me up and down. “It’s even prettier on. And the colour is amazing on you.”

I take in my reflection in the mirror. It’s true. Somehow, this shade of red makes my hair look richer and shinier. It doesn’t clash at all.

“Alright, I’ll wear it. Thanks for sharing your beautiful clothes with me.”

She pulls me in for a quick hug and I lean into her, grateful to have found a friend on the other side of the world.

“Now, what are we going to do with all your gorgeous hair?”

• • • • •

Ninety minutes, a can of hairspray and a lot of bronzer later, we jump in an Uber.

“I’m so excited!” Serena is all but bouncing out of her seat and I wonder if that quick shot of tequila we’d had before we left thehotel room was a good idea. Her eyes have a feverish look to them that concerns me a little.

“Me, too.” I squeeze her hand and grin. Even though I’m not quite at her level of excitement, it’s still thrilling to have VIP access to the hottest club in one of the most vibrant cities I’ve ever visited.

“Did you text Nicky?”

I nod. I’d sent him the details of where we’re going and with whom and have heard nothing back. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see James waiting at the entrance when we get there.

“He never comes out to these things with us,” Serena says. It’s like she doesn’t want me to get my hopes up.

She needn’t worry. I have no expectations of seeing Nicky tonight.

I mean, he went out of his way to spend the afternoon with me earlier this week,a small voice whispers in my brain.But that doesn’t mean he’ll appear out tonight,a louder voice whispers back. That voice sounds a lot like Troy and I hate it.

“Though he is doing a lot of unusual things this year.”

Her raised eyebrows tell me what’s on her mind. As expected, the Instagram post from the Help 4 Hurricane Relief had gone viral. In the hours after he’d posted it, the charity had received more calls and offers to help than they could cope with. Mallory had called me later that night, embarrassed at having not recognised the world-famous F1 driver in her midst and was filled with gratitude for how we’d brought awareness to their cause. She’d also mentioned that an anonymous donor had donated fifty thousand dollars shortly after we’d left.

We both knew that came from Nicky, but we chose not to say anything else about it.

“He’s always been charitable. He’s just being more public about it now,” I say. It annoys me that people don’t know this about Nicky. They see him as the Ice Man on the track and don’t realise he has a generous heart.

“But it’s more than just posting about the charity. That photo created quite the stir about the two of you.”

She’s not lying. While I’d been panicking about looking like a hot mess in the photo, the world was wondering who I was and why we were cuddling in the picture. I’d only had to read a handful of comments before shutting it all down. There are two camps out there; one that believes we are together and loving it, and the other thinking there’s no wayhewould ever be withme.

Either way…yikes.

“Yeah, well. It will all die down,” I tell her with a bunch of optimism that I’m not feeling. “Eventually.”

We pull up to the front of The Halo Room.

“This is it!” Serena opens the door and almost runs in her eagerness to get inside.

“Wait for me!” I wobble behind her in my highest heels and pray I don’t face-plant it on the concrete in front of this long line of people waiting to get in. With my latest bout of notoriety—thanks to Nicky’s post—I’d most likely end up going viral again. But for a different reason this time.

“Come on!” Serena is already at the front door, a smug look on her face as we’re waved straight through.

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