Chapter 50

Evelyn

“What do you think?” I text Ava, adding the selfies of the dark blue, burgundy, gold, and white dresses. All the dresses include unique textures like sparkles, sequins, velvet, and more.

Madelyn sits in the seat provided by the boutique, drinking her bottle of water as she muses over what dress I should pick.

“You seem to be in a better mood these days,” she notes. “That smile is a lot more common.”

I look up, pushing the curls out of my face as I slide my phone into my jeans pocket. “What?”

She points at me. “Does that friendship you mentioned last week you were attempting to salvage have anything to do with it?”

Shrugging, I smirk again. “Maybe.”

Madelyn waves her arm at me. “Good!”

“Really?”

“Yes! Seeing you so down while you were home for Thanksgiving was awful, honey.”

I sit down next to her, the two of us essentially presiding over the dresses we’re debating on. The dresses look so beautiful, and I feel decision fatigue taking over.

“It was bad, Mom. I don’t wanna get too into it, but it broke my heart fighting with Ava.”

She tilts her head. “Do I know Ava?”

“No,” I tell her. “She was Sebastian’s friend first. But we’ve grown really close these past few months. She’s the best girl friend I could ask for.”

Mom faces me. “Do you talk to any of the friends you had back home? I haven’t heard you mention anyone.”

I feel my cheeks warm. The truth is, while I knew everyone and had no true enemies in Hawaii, I didn’t have many girlfriends, either. Lucas was really the closest person in my life back then.”

“No,” I end up telling her. “I’ve been pretty much off the grid.”

“Then what are you going back for exactly?” She ponders.

“Fair question,” I tell her, my smirk returning. “But if you must know, it’s because I really miss the sun and the world I knew.”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t miss it a few months ago?” Madelyn crosses her arms and raises her right eyebrow.

“Can’t a gal change her mind?” I taunt.

“You can. Just doesn’t seem like you.”

“A lot has changed since we left home, Mom.”

“I know. You’re already such a different person. I knew New York would be good for you, but I see how you’re blossoming in ways that Hawaii wouldn’t have let you.”

I push her lightly. “Not like you haven’t changed, either. You’re the wife of a tycoon billionaire.”

“Doesn’t leave me with much to do most days, Eve,” she sighs. “I’ve been trying to find ways to use my time well. But after all the years of this hard work, it feels strange.”

“Like you still have a million steps to climb, but you’re already at the top?” I ask.

“Yes, exactly,” Madelyn replies. Her face turns skeptical. “How did you know?”

Laughing, I lean back in my chair, staring at the dresses again. “It’s what it’s always felt like after every school semester. The work is complete, but it doesn’t feel like it should be. That you’re not done everything.”

“Astute of you,” Madelyn smiles. “My daughter has truly always been so intelligent.”

I roll my eyes at her compliment and stand back up, grabbing my phone to see if Ava has responded.

“Which dress did you like the best?”

Madelyn taps her chin with her fingers. “I’ll only answer if you promise to tell me your favorite.”

“Easy. I don’t have a favorite. They’re all so different and beautiful in different ways. I’m struggling to narrow it down by even one dress.”

Ava’s text back to me is relatively the same as what I’ve just said.

“Oh, great, and Ava can’t pick either!”

“Well, what do you think your New Year’s kiss will like you in?”

“What kiss?” I deadpan. “Who says I’m kissing someone at midnight? And since when is that a mandatory thing?”

“I never said it was!” Mom laughs, throwing back her head and letting her matching curls fly around her. “I just assumed—”

“I don’t have any New Year’s kiss lined up. I didn’t plan on anything.”

“You know, I’m not as thoughtless as you think, Eve.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, going up to the dresses and seeing if there’s any chance I can narrow it down even a little.

“I know you and Lucas broke up. It was so obvious. But what I don’t get is why you haven’t started dating again.”

I’m grateful I have no water in my mouth because I swear on everything that there would have been a massive spit take either all over the clothes, or my own mother.

I whirl around to face her, eyes wide and my heart slamming against my chest. “You knew?”

“I’m your mother! Of course I knew.”

“Then why the hell did you invite him to your wedding? He cheated on me, Mom! He was a tool!”

She shrinks just a little, seemingly embarrassed. “I thought there was a chance of the wedding…being able to help you two back to one another.”

I actually can’t stop myself from gagging. “Ugh, ew, no way in hell, Mom.”

“I know. You haven’t noticed I don’t bring him up anymore. But that doesn’t answer the question.”

“About why I don’t get out and date again? I’m eighteen!”

And Sebastian’s only nineteen, I think to myself.

“And I used to go on dates all the time in my teen years!”

“And now you’re married. You’re rich. You can do absolutely anything you want to do and not stress for a second.”

Madelyn crosses her arms again, her eyebrows lowering this time. “Do you forget how hard I worked to keep a roof over your head and feed you?”

“No!” I insist, not knowing where we’re going with this. “What are you looking for, Mom?”

“Your happiness, my love. I want you to be happy, and carefree even a little bit.”

“I thought you said I’m nothing like the girl who left Hawaii. She was always worrying about everyone except herself.”

“And now you put yourself out there, you actually engage in student activities, you go to sports games, parties, you spend time with Sebastian as if you’ve known one another your entire lives. That is what I love about the new you.”

“So, your point?” I ask, still lost. I look back at the dresses, hoping maybe they’ll change in a way that I don’t like.

They don’t

“Your old Mom has finally found love after decades of waiting. And I want you to find love, too, Eve.”

“Eighteen is a little young. I’m fine with the small changes making way to the bigger ones. I don’t plan to date, kiss, or fall in love with anyone in the meantime, okay?”

Madelyn sighs, seemingly pouting.

“Do you like a dress or not, Mom?” I ask, now exhausted from this rollercoaster of a conversation.

“The blue.”

I look back at her. “Why?”

“Because the blue complements your skin tone, your brown eyes, and your curly hair. The sparkles and glitter will shimmer and shine off the lights, and you’ll be the most beautiful Belle of the ball.”

I watch her, wondering where these words are hiding inside her heart.

“You really like the blue the best?”

“It was perfect on you. No questions about it.”

“Then blue it is.”

As we make our way to check out, Mom walks a bit in front of me. As we get to the back of the store, I start to think about what she’s said.

I might not have planned a New Year’s kiss. But with the way we like to handle things, there’s a high chance Sebastian and I may be sharing the beginning of the New Year together.

Maybe he’ll like the blue dress, too.