Flirting with Disaster (24 page)

Chapter 53

It was Friday night, and everything was set. The samples were all at Be@titude, ready to be shuttled over to The Beeches the next day. Ashley’s staff had turned several of the rooms on the lower floor into swanky try-on rooms, and she’d told me that their cook had prepared lots of snacks for a huge help-yourself buffet table.

I had my outfit—a sample pair of the InJeanious jeans that I was hoping to buy. If I could score a summer job. I had my date—though we were meeting there, and I knew I’d be busy with details. I had my bestie. I was set.

I sat in my room that night praying all would go well. And then I broke out my guitar to soothe myself. I thumbed through some music and finally settled on Taylor Swift’s “Fifteen.” Because fifteen was slipping away from me. I had high hopes for the night—and the year ahead.

Chapter 54

When Ashley had set the party time for later in the evening, I hadn’t really understood why she’d wanted to do that. Would people be kind of tired? Did the Gorm Strausses want to save on food expenses? That hardly seemed likely. But when Mom and I pulled up to The Beeches, I knew right away why she’d set it for later.

The driveway was lit on each side from end to end—it must have been half a mile or more through the amazing beech trees, which stood like more of their staff lining the drive. When the house came into view, it, too, was ablaze from every window. But most beautiful of all were the trees—in the front garden and on the back property—which twinkled with rice lights, like millions of fireflies had settled contentedly on each branch.

“Wow,” I said, in spite of my desire to remain cool.

“Wow,” Mom said. I had to admit, she looked pretty spiffy herself. Penny’s mum had called her to tell her that the parents were welcome in the west wing of the estate to have some appetizers and to talk. Penny told me the real reasons why they were invited, though:

1. We couldn’t drive ourselves yet.

2. We needed their cheque books.

We’d arrived earlier than most so I could help Becky with last-minute prep. Mom headed off with the other parents, and as she did, I heard Penny’s mum talking excitedly about the garden club and the tours they were planning for the summer. Judging by the positive chatter, she had no concerns at all that my mom would be voted in. I felt happy for my mother.

“Hullo, Savvy,” Ashley said. Well, Becky had done exactly what we’d decided ahead of time, although I had to admit to a slight twinge of envy. She’d given Ashley the very best jean style and had also thrown in a top and a set of flats from one of her designer friends.

“You look stunning,” I said. And I meant it. It was good for business. Everyone would want to be dressed like Ashley.

“The outfit is rather smart, isn’t it?” she agreed. “I’ve got to get back to the dining room, where we’ve set up an order table for those wanting to place orders tonight. Becky is just around there, putting things up in the sitting room, the music room, and the library.”

Within the hour Penny arrived, and she and I helped Becky and her friends finish the setup. In no time at all, the house and the grounds were packed with people. Guys, girls, parents with cash—everyone imaginable.

I had just helped one girl sort through some styles for a personalized try-on when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“Hey, there.”

I turned around. It was Tommy. “Hey,” I said, unable to stop the happiness from spreading up to my face and blossoming into a big smile. “I was wondering when you’d get here.”

He rolled his eyes. “My grandparents were going to drive me, and then my dad got home in time, but my gran didn’t want to miss the chance to eat free at The Beeches, so now the whole clan is here. Thankfully my sister had a date or they’d have packed her along too.” He glanced around the room. “By the look of things, it’s going brilliantly!”

I grinned. “It seems that way, but I’m not willing to declare victory till we count the orders at the end of the night—and till I hear the word
victory
from Hazelle’s lips.”

“Is she here yet?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think so. I haven’t seen her, but in a crowd this big . . .” I shrugged.

“Savvy!” Becky called out to me. “I could use a hand if you’ve got a spare one.”

“I’ll meet you outside after things die down,” Tommy said. “Text me when you’ve got a minute. I, uh, want to talk.”

“Okay,” I said, jumpy as those firefly lights. I hoped I knew what he was going to say.

He started toward the buffet, where his football friends were. Then he turned back to me once more. At first I was embarrassed that I was still looking at him. And then he winked.

He winked!
My
wink! The long-awaited wink.

I practically floated to Becky and helped her organize the orders she was taking. Just as I finished alphabetizing them, I felt a tap and spun around. It was Hazelle, and she had a serious expression on her face. “Savvy. I need to talk with you. Is there somewhere kind of private?”

Chapter 55

What could Hazelle have to tell me in private other than something bad—and bad about the newspaper? She was probably going to tell me that Natalie was back on the staff, and because she had seniority, she was going to have to take the staff writer position. Or maybe someone else found out that I was the Asking for Trouble columnist and it was going to be all over campus next week. Or something worse! The rumor would run through the crowd at the launch and steal the thunder from InJeanious.