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smart, and funny,” Riley begged.
    Jade laughed. “Why?”
    Riley sighed as she sat on the toilet lid. “Because I’m having dinner with Josh and Peter Stafford tonight. Do you know who he is?” She didn’t give Jade time to answer. “He runs the biggest modeling agency in New York. Can you believe it? And I have no idea if it’s a business thing, a date, or what, and I don’t look like the spit-skinny models, and I’m from frickin’ Weston, not New York City, so God knows how many ways I’ll mess this up.”
    “Oh, is that all?” Jade teased.
    “Jade! I need support. Please? Someone told me today that I’m not afraid to eat. That’s code for fat , and now I’m not sure if I should just pretend to eat when I’m with Josh and Peter frickin’ Stafford. I’m so nervous I could puke. I probably won’t eat anyway.”
    “Oh my God. You’re kidding, right?”
    “Jade.” Riley closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
    “Come on, Ri. You know how pretty you are. You turn heads everywhere you go. You have curves and you know how to work them. Guys love that.”
    “I don’t think New York guys do.”
    “Really? Josh is a New York guy now. And you know the way he looked at you before he offered you the job.”
    “How could I forget?” Riley asked.
    “And remember that night at the concert? I swear, Ri. The man didn’t give you thirty seconds with the rest of us. He whisked you away.”
    “We were talking about fashion. He was probably just interested because I wasn’t a complete novice. He never made a single move on me, Jade.” I swear the butterflies in my stomach are taking steroids .
    “For a smart girl, sometimes you’re a real dunce. Look, it’s Josh Braden. Think of him as the boy from high school. Be yourself. You’re charming and witty. You’re gorgeous and smart. Ri, you’re so likable that I can’t imagine anyone not liking you.”
    The sincerity in Jade’s voice settled Riley’s nerves…a little. “You really think so? I don’t even know which fork to use in a restaurant.”
    “Google it,” Jade joked.
    “You laugh, but I will before he picks me up.”
    “Josh is picking you up?” Jade asked.
    “Yeah.”
    “It’s a date,” Jade said emphatically.
    “Why? Just because he’s coming to get me? I don’t know where anything is around here and I’m petrified of the subway, but I promised myself I’d start taking it tomorrow. I think Josh’s just being nice.” Oh God, a date?
    “I don’t know. You’re asking me to define something that’s hard to figure out. I don’t know how things work in New York, but if it’s a friendly dinner, you know, you meet them at the restaurant. How did he ask you?”
    This was getting more stressful by the second. “Well, he said that he hadn’t given me a proper welcome and asked if I wanted to have dinner with him. Then Mia said he had this dinner engagement with Peter Stafford, and he asked me to come along.”
    “It kinda sounds like a date, but also like he was being nice because he brought you into New York, you know, welcoming a friend.”
    “See,” Riley said. “That’s what I thought, too.”
    “Well, it doesn’t really matter what it is. You’re his employee, so be professional and be yourself. You’ll know it’s a date if he brings you flowers, or kisses you when he sees you.”
    “Do guys even bring flowers to girls anymore?” Riley asked.
    “Rex does, but he usually picks them from the garden.” Jade laughed.
    Riley glanced at the clock. “Oh my God. I have to get ready.” She was mentally ticking off her potential outfits for the evening. “He’ll be here in twenty minutes. Wish me luck.”
    “You don’t need it. You’re going to have a great time and they’ll both love you. Call me after?”
    “You got it. And, Jade?” Riley hoped she was as good of a friend to Jade as Jade had always been for her.
    “Yeah?”
    “Thanks for everything.”
    Riley dried her hair and put on her makeup, then stood