Flight (The Crescent Chronicles #1)

Chapter Twenty

"I won't even ask how you got into my room without me." Pushing the door closed behind me, I immediately noticed Hailey sprawled out on my couch.

"So how'd it go?" Hailey asked. She put aside her copy of People magazine. Hailey really had such a weakness for celebrity gossip.

"Do you even need to ask?"

"It couldn't have been that bad, right?"

"He said he needed one night to convince me to stay. After that, if I want to leave he'll find a way to make it happen."

"One night? Did he mention which night?"

"He told me you would give me the details but that it's a party."

"Oh." Hailey seemed to be contemplating what I said for a minute. "Oh! I bet I know what he's thinking."

"What?"

"Hmm, I need to find out for sure. I'll be back." Hailey got up and headed to the door.

"Great."

As I waited for Hailey to get back, I decided to call Dad. I hadn't checked in with him since the dinner with Levi and thought I should at least try. The call went to voicemail after a few rings. I thought about calling my mom, but I didn't know what to tell her until I had a better idea of my new plans.

Hailey was gone longer than I expected. I turned on the TV, but daytime channel surfing can only keep you busy for so long.

Right as I was about to give up and head down to the lobby, Hailey burst back into my room. "I was right. You need a dress."

I turned off the TV. "Excuse me? I have plenty of dresses. What did you have in mind?"

Hailey was already one step ahead of me. She ran into my room, and I followed her. She quickly flipped through my dresses in the closet. "Okay, nothing works."

"What do you mean? What's wrong with what I have?"

"They're not formal enough," she explained.

"Formal? What kind of party is this?" I walked back out to crash on the couch.

"Okay, promise you won't get upset."

"Not a chance I'm promising that."

Hailey cracked a small smile. "Okay, I figured that much, so at least promise not to be upset with me."

"Fine. I'll save my anger for Levi."

"Well, it's kind of like an engagement party."

"An engagement party? Why would that upset me?" Then I thought about what she was saying. "Hold on, whose engagement party?"

"Yours." She looked down at the ground.

"No way. No freaking way."

"Remember, no taking it out on me."

"Levi has to be the most infuriating man on the planet. He tells me to give him one night like it's nothing, and it's an engagement party!"

"It's not exactly an engagement party because you guys are more than engaged, but you get the idea."

"You don't actually think I'm going to this, right?"

"I know it seems awful, but what other choice do you have?"

"I should just leave."

"Yeah and get kidnapped again? Levi has lots of bad traits but he does keep his word. If he says that he'll find a way for you to leave afterwards, then he's serious. Why not suck it up and do it? If by the end of the night, you're not convinced then it's over."