After a few more lines about not messing up and sleeping where you work, Lexi had drilled the message into Zoe’s head. Like a child having been scolded, Zoe hung up the phone and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Is everything okay?” Will asked the question as his hands warmed her shoulders. She hadn’t realized the AC had chilled her to her bones. Or maybe it was Lexi’s words. Either way, Zoe stepped out of Will’s embrace and turned to face him.
“I’m fine.” Zoe half smiled. An ache squeezed her heart. Common sense told her she’d find someone else, sooner or later. Right now her priority was landing the Creative Design Director job with Ravens Cosmetics. “You know, it’s been a long day. I probably need to head on back to the hotel and rest up for tomorrow.”
Nodding, Will reached for her again, successfully pressing his hand against her lower back. “Let me tell everyone we’re leaving.”
“No,” Zoe exclaimed, holding her hand in the air. “The last thing I need is for everyone to see us leaving together.”
“I’m sorry.” Will shoved his hands in his front pockets and cocked his head as if it gave him a better understanding of what she said. “Did I miss something?”
“No.”
“We were having a good time just a few minutes ago.” He reached for her again and in order to not make a scene, Zoe let him.
The brush against her arm sent chills down her spine. In the few seconds she tried to keep him away, his touch created such a sensation throughout her body she realized that she needed it. Zoe blinked toward the lights overhead to keep from letting a teardrop fall. She needed to focus. “We were having a good time, Will. But I need a break. I’ve got to go.”
Foolishly, Zoe had left with no secured plan on how to get back to the hotel. She headed down Mas’s driveway toward the street. In her dress and heels, she regretted her decision to leave the party. Zoe slid her phone open, searched for an Uber driver near her and placed an order for a pickup.
Less than five minutes later a car pulled up to the mailbox. But it wasn’t the Uber car she’d called. Instead, it was a stretch limousine. The back window rolled down and a gaggle of girls screamed Zoe’s name. In the center of the group of girls sticking out of the sunroof was Kimber Reyes, toting a crown so big it caught the moonlight across the crystals.
“Evening, ladies,” Zoe said, cheering up. When she’d last checked her phone the time was close to midnight. Didn’t they have curfews? “What are you doing out this late?”
“After-party!” someone yelled.
“We wanted to sneak and get a look at your party,” Kimber said.
“Like, you saved all of us today,” another girl said.
Someone popped the door open and Zoe sighed as she climbed in. “Well, thanks for the lift. How was the prom?”
Everyone began to talk at once. The space of the limo was filled with girls and Zoe wondered where all their dates were, but someone else mentioned again about an after-party about to get started. The story the girls gave was that they’d all been together since elementary school and they started out every party together. They’d promised each other that once they were seniors, no matter what cliques they were in, they’d all hang out together at prom. They’d managed to do the same thing for every party throughout middle and high school. Zoe liked the idea of the girls all sticking together rather than focusing on being with boys. It was the confirmation Zoe needed to stay focused on her goals.
The limousine made its way to the front steps of Magnolia Palace. “Are you guys coming to the pageant tomorrow?” Zoe asked with her hand on the door before their chauffeur could open it.
“I’ll be there all day,” Kimber said with a droll roll of her eyes. “Come hell or high water, I’ve got to be there.”
“Why the long face?” Zoe asked.
“Because y’all are starting at the crack of dawn, which limits how long I can stay out tonight.”
Zoe grinned and patted Kimber’s shoulder. “Behave tonight.”
“I’d say the same to you,” Kimber teased right back. “But considering you’ve gone home alone, I’m guessing you have no choice.”