Page 114 of Heartstruck at Dawn
“I had a surprise for you. But now you’ll have to wait until you get back,” I said, trying to tease him about leaving.
“What surprise? You can’t do this to me. Come on.”
“I don’t know if you’re going to be happy about it, but … I cut my hair.”
“You did? How much? Like a couple of inches or?”
“Right above my shoulders. I even donated it.”
“What! Oh, God, I can’t wait to see you. You know how much I love your hair, but I’m sure you’ll look just as beautiful. Perhaps you can send me a picky?”
“Of course!”
“I need to go, Murph. Please text me once you get back and tell me all about the premiere, all right?”
“Of course. I love you. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Love you too.”
I took a selfie and sent it to Nathan. I was so nervous to see what his reaction would be. I looked so different.
Nathan:You look smashing, love! I can’t wait to kiss my new short-haired girlfriend.
Me:I’m glad you liked it. I love you.
Nathan:I love you too.
Ilaria cried out when she saw my hair. I held my breath when she stepped forward to touch it. “Ah!Fantastico!”
Phew. She loved it.
“Let’s get you two dressed. Where’s Joel? I want him in his suit now. I still need to decide about that tie.”
“He’s taking a shower,” Lily replied to her. “He woke up a few minutes ago. I hate him.” Lily yawned. She was exhausted, but it didn’t seem like it. She looked great.
Ilaria used double stick tape for my jacket because I insisted on how the neckline was too deep, and I was afraid of having a wardrobe malfunction. I don’t have large breasts, but I still didn’t want one popping out of my jacket.
I was getting nervous. Not having Nathan coming with me made me feel uneasy. “Do you want anything to drink? You look jumpy,” Lily said.
“I don’t know. Are you having something?” I asked, dabbing my lips with the lipstick I borrowed from Carolina.
“I seriously can’t drink, but I can get you a glass of wine.”
Ilaria was helping Joel with his jacket. I was about to sit down, and Ilaria screamed, “No! No, sitting! You will get the clothes wrinkled.”
I didn’t know exactly how we were supposed to ride to the event, if not sitting down.
Lily brought the wine, and Ilaria almost fainted. “You two want to give me a heart attack. No wine. No sitting.” I guess she was right. I was wearing light colors. What if I spilled a drop? I didn’t want to imagine the wrath.
Joel was finally ready, and the four of us walked downstairs. A doorman I’d never seen before opened the door for us with a cheery smile. Senad was inside the small cubicle beside the entrance talking on the phone. We said goodbye to Ilaria, and she left in a car that was waiting for her.
There were two more black cars parked in front of our SUV. The two drivers were talking to Aaron, Caleb, and David.
Caleb turned to look at me and raised his brows. “How’s the birthday boy doing?” I asked with a smile. Lily and Joel congratulated him afterward.
“Do you think I could ride with you?” I asked Lily. “I’m so nervous about arriving there alone. I don’t even know what to do once I get there or where to go.”
“Of course. We’ll ride in the first car. Billy and Tobias will go in the second one.” William and Tobias hadn’t come down yet. “Shoot, I forgot my phone. I’ll be right back. You can wait for us in the car.” Lily rushed back inside the building.
