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I kind of wanted to tell Dawn everything—even about Russell Anderson and my breakdown. But even though I’d never trusted a girlfriend so much in my life—I couldn’t do it. Not yet. So I stuck to the story about mom’s phone call. And course I told her how Kaden had come to me, and even accompanied me to the gala.

When I finished, Dawn sighed. “This guy is so into you.”

“I wish,” I said, only then realizing how it sounded.

Dawn sat up a bit. “So you have feelings for him?”

I swallowed. “Yes.”

“But that’s great, Allie!”

“I overheard him tell his mother that I have too much baggage,” I blurted out, before she got too happy.

Dawn’s mouth dropped open. “Say what?”

“He told her he didn’t want to get involved with anyone who falls apart so easily.” It hurt to repeat those words aloud.

Dawn slumped back, then pushed the blanket off our faces to get some air.

“What a jerk.”

I snorted. “You can say that again.”

“What a-”

“Dawn!” I interrupted her, laughing, and turned to my side. We grinned at each other.

We spent the rest of the afternoon eating chocolate, gabbing, and sharing secrets from our past. Even though I couldn’t tell Dawn everything yet, and it was probably the same for her, I felt good. These hours had brought us together again. We were on the right path. It was me and Dawn against them all.

“I think we should stop hiding, and go out to conquer the world,” Dawn said at some point.

Now she was on her back, her legs stretched up against the wall. And I was lying on my stomach.

“Conquer the world?” I raised an eyebrow. “You think we’re ready for that?”

“Well, I didn’t mean today. But we could—I don’t know—do something.” She wiggled her toes and for the first time I noticed her socks didn’t match.

Dawn grinned at me. “So, are you in?”

And how.

For the first time since we’d known each other, Dawn and I were the same height—but only because she was wearing the highest heels I’d ever seen in my life, and I had to make do with my flat boots. She had lent me one of her tops with a deep neckline. Since I was bustier than Dawn, it was pretty tight on me. But who cared?

We were fabulous, and the rest of the world—with its devious mothers, dishonest ex-boyfriends, and relationship-challenged Kadens—could suck it.

Today we were going to go out and flout everything. It wasn’t that we were trying to numb ourselves, the way I always used to do. Quite the opposite. Dawn and I wanted to have fun and celebrate.

We arrived at Hillhouse at exactly the right time. The line was short, and after flashing our fake IDs, we were let right in. Groups of people were standing around or dancing, but it wasn’t too crowded. We ordered cocktails and even found good seats at a table in the back, where we toasted to each other.

“Let’s do Thanksgiving together next year,” Dawn suggested.

“That’s the best idea you’ve ever had.”

“We’re really—shit.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t turn around,” Dawn hissed and stared at me, doe-eyed.