Page 117 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

After the fifth shop and trying everything on and dismissing it within minutes Maddie was ready to smash something up. It wasn’t that Becky was annoying her, it was just she hated shopping and Becky was right, every dress was wrong, either too flouncy, too flowy, too clingy, not clingy enough, they all sucked.

“What am I going to do?” Becky said sitting down in the car with a fresh coffee and looking like she was close to crying.

Maddie looked at her and then the idea hit her.

“How desperate are you?” She asked her.

“So desperate.” Becky muttered.

“Fine. But I’m doing this for you and you better not forget it.” Maddie stated.

“Forget what?” Becky asked confused as Maddie dialled the number on her phone.

“You owe me big time.” She said and then she heard the squeal as the line picked up.

“Maddie.” Kelsey cooed. “You never call me. What do I owe this honour?”

“I need a favour.” Maddie said.

“From me?”

“Are you home?” Maddie asked.

“Yeah come round, I’m drinking mimosas.” Kelsey said.

“Already? It’s not even afternoon yet.” Maddie replied.

“Yeah well, it’s six of clock somewhere.” Kelsey laughed. “I’ll make some more ready for you.”

“Fine.” Maddie said hanging up and then telling the driver the address.

“Seriously? Your sister?” Becky asked confused.

“Trust me. The girl’s house is filled with sample dresses for events that Kelsey hasn’t worn and doesn’t know what to do with.” Maddie stated.

“Pray to god there’s something there then.” Becky said seriously.

“If there isn’t then there’s no hope.” Maddie said and Becky laughed.

They pulled up outside the gates and waited as they slowly opened to let them in.

“Just to warn you, Kelsey is intense and not in a good way. She’s also a complete slob.” Maddie said.

Becky laughed. “I’ve seen the videos Maddie, I think I’ve got a good idea of what your sister is like.”

“Oh you have no idea.” Maddie said as she helped her out the car.

Kelsey threw the door open before they’d even gotten up the steps.

“Maddison, my big sister.” She cooed and Maddie rolled her eyes. The girl was evidently drunk already.

“This is Becky.” Maddie said.

“What happened to your leg?” Kelsey asked staring at the cast like she’d never seen one before.

“Accident at work.” Becky said and Maddie snorted.

“Wow, I’d sue if I were you. I heard you can get a pretty sweet payout.” Kelsey replied.

Becky and Maddie both laughed then and followed her inside.

The house was clean by Kelsey’s standards. The floors had evidently been washed and hoovered recently and though there were stacks of dirty plates in the kitchen it looked less of a state than Maddie’s apartment had been after just a few days.

“So you’re after dresses are you?” Kelsey said passing them both a cocktail with an almost lethal amount of alcohol in them.

“Yeah we have a ball, a masked ball.” Becky replied.

“So what’s the look you’re going for? Slutty or sexy, classy or sophisticated?” Kelsey asked.

“Er, classy, it’s a work thing I don’t want to look trashy but I also don’t want to look like a nun either.” Becky said.

Kelsey smiled. “Let me show you what I’ve got, you can pick anything from them and they’re yours.”

“Seriously Kels?” Maddie said surprised at her generosity.

Kelsey shrugged “Yeah sure, they’re all dresses some designer or other has given me and I’ve not worn any of them.”

She walked off before coming back with an armful of different coloured dresses and plonked them on the couch before disappearing again and bringing back more.

“How many do you have?” Maddie asked shocked.

“I don’t know, I lost count after a while, I stash them all in the spare room because I don’t have space in the walk in wardrobe anymore.” Kelsey said before going to get more.

“Jesus Maddie.” Becky said looking at them.

---