My Ever After

Chapter Seveteen

It is now the night of the gala. To say I was nervous was an understatement. Rylan and his family are used to this, but me? I feel like as soon as I step out of the car and my picture is taken I might pass out. I am nervous because I am going with Rylan. I am nervous of how he will react when he sees me in my dress. 

I went downstairs to get some lunch when Mallory walked in.

"Elizabeth! Tonight is the night! We have hair appointments in an hour."

"I am so excited!"

"You are going to love it. I want to warn you though."

Oh no. This is going to be something bad.

"What?"

"Tonight at the gala there are going to be some women there. These women are ones that I have tried setting Rylan up with. They are snooty and not nice. I know you can hold your own, but if they start anything then you tell me and I will have security take them."

"Thank you for the warning, but I am not sure why you're telling me this."

"Oh honey. I see the way you look at Rylan when he isn't looking. I know that you like him. These women can be ruthless. I just worry about what people will say to you. You are practically my daughter and I want to protect you."

"Awe, Mallory." I went and hugged her.

This felt right. I feel like a part of their family.

"What is going on in here?" I heard Rylan ask from behind me.

"I was just telling your mom how much I love her." I said and he smiled.

"And I was just telling Elizabeth about the women who will be there tonight. I want her to be careful and be ready to stand up for herself. I know I tried to set you up with them so I am partly at fault, but they will be all over you Rylan. I don't want that."

"Maybe they won't." I said and they both looked at me.

"How so?"

"Well I am going to bet anything that Erica will be there tonight. We told her that we are engaged. We can just go in and act as an engaged couple. Sure, I will get dirty looks and  at least two of them will come up and tell me that Rylan will leave me or cheat on me. They will say they don't know what he sees in me. I can handle that and I can handle it if someone tries to get physical."

"Do you really want to do that? Pretend to be engaged?" Rylan asked.

"You and your family have helped me out so much Rylan and if this helps you then I am glad to do it." I smiled and he smiled right back before hugging me.

"Why are you so perfect?" He mumbled.

"I'm not perfect Rylan." I said back.

"You are perfect to me. So I will be at the bottom of the stairs at seven thirty to escort you to the gala."

"Perfect, Emmie is going with your parents."

"Okay, okay. Elizabeth and I have a hair appointment to get to. We will see you later."

With that Mallory grabbed my hand and led me out of the kitchen. We were laughing then I had remembered that I never ate lunch. Mallory and I stopped for lunch before going to our hair appointment. We went to the spa. It was when we walked in that Mallory told me that we were going to get massages and the whole works.

"Mallory this is too much. I cannot have you pay for this."

"Elizabeth. I want to do this. I treat my daughter to this stuff and you are practically my daughter. Please let me do this."