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Ivy Krasinski flopped down on the bed in the luxurious hotel room. The Vail Resort was nothing like the Super 8 motel her family had stayed in when they visited Washington, DC, over April vacation back when she was in seventh grade. The resort looked like the movies with a doorman, and Ivy's life was not like Hollywood portrayed. Until the trip to Colorado, she had never been on a plane, and her first flight was on a private jet.
Ivy had never expected to become friends with Tate Kane in law school, but both girls struggled in their first year torts class. Honestly, Ivy would rather have baked a torte than study torts, but she had wanted to be a lawyer since she was a kid. Her mother always said she could argue her way out of a box.
Thinking about law school would put her in a bad mood. Attending part time, she had been on the slow plan. Tate passed the bar exam two years before and worked for her family's business. Meanwhile Ivy was forced to leave her apartment when her roommate transferred to North Carolina. Returning home at twenty-seven was demoralizing, especially since she had to quit her job in order to keep up with her studies.
It was safe to say Ivy was the only poor girl invited to Tate Kane's wedding. When her phone buzzed with Tate's room number, Ivy looked at her jeans and black tee and hoped she wouldn't get thrown out of the hotel.
The bride-to-be flung open the door. "Ivy, you're here. How was your flight?"
"You mean aside from the good-looking guy who nodded at me once before sipping scotch while he worked the whole time. I ended up in the galley. The private flight attendant went to my high school."
Tate laughed. "You are so cool. The guy who owns the plane went to mine."
"Are you punking me? I don't belong here."
"Yes, you do. You're my friend."
Ivy looked around. "Who are all of these girls?" The room was filled with perfume and young women. Their dresses were expensive and lacked fabric. Each perfectly polished hand held a champagne flute or a phone.
Tate shrugged. "I wouldn't trust any of them with a secret."
"You haven't told me any secrets."
Tate leaned in. "I just did. Seriously, I trust you over my sister."
Tate pointed to a dirty blonde with a tight dress and heels that would break Ivy's ankles. Tate had on a green dress with a tight bodice but flouncy skirt matching her brilliant eyes. Her hair was darker than her sisters. Ironically, Ivy was a blonde, but had nondescript brown eyes like a commoner among royalty. The Kane's were Boston royalty.
After Tate handed her a glass of champagne, the two clinked their glasses. "To you and Duncan and a long happy life together."
Tate glowed. Ivy had never been in love, if she didn't count Neal from high school who she watched choose another girl. She got crushed even though she had only labeled it as love. Her dating life had some possibilities, but the excitement dimmed for one or both quickly.
"I'm outta here. " Tate's sister, Doyle, held up her phone. "I need a proper party."
"Remember, Mother's warning." Tate frowned.
A tall girl with brown hair frowned at Doyle's back and picked up her phone. Tate shook her head. "This is Dani. Her job is to keep my brother on time, but she looks out for all of us."
Dani laughed. "I'd be fired if my employment was contingent on him being on time."
Tate nodded. "Dani is like family. Ivy is my friend from law school."
Dani smiled kindly. "Where do you practice?"
"I'm still finishing up."
Before Dani could respond, a girl dressed in a dress as tight as Doyle's looked Ivy up and down like she was competition. For what? It was a room full of women drinking champagne.
"This is Faith. We've been friends since we were kids. This is my friend, Ivy. She got a ride from Jimmy."
Faith lit up. "Jimmy's here."
"I had to invite him."
Faith pressed her red painted lips together. "Maybe this is finally my chance. Weddings are perfect for a drunk hook up." She put her finger to her lip. "I bet he's hot in bed. Tate, how hot is Duncan with all his muscles?"
"That's private."
Another girl oozing wealth said, "He must be hot. He doesn't even have that much money."
"He won the Great Race." Tate pouted.
Ivy calculated at least a third to taxes would leave him with more money than her father had made in the last ten years, but it was nothing for a Kane.
Faith talked with her hands. "I want status. I'd say yes to Baxter in a heartbeat, even though I bet he's a snore in bed."
Tate's glare cooled the room. "My brother is too smart for you."
Ivy watched Tate's fake friends and felt dismayed, although her friendship was genuine. Ivy had never asked her friend for anything, except a copy of her notes when she missed a class. Tate never made her feel poor, even though she must have known. She made it sound like no big deal that the rooms were free and Jimmy was flying out, anyway. She even offered for Ivy to borrow a dress.
With excuse after excuse, the others left, including Dani, who was the nicest, until only Tate and Ivy remained. Tate kicked off her shoes and flung herself on the bed. "Tell me something new."
"I moved home to concentrate on finishing school without having to work." She was let go because school conflicted with her hours. "I can't believe I'm back in my childhood room."
"It's temporary. When do you finish your classes?"
"December. Fingers crossed. I need a summer internship."
"Work with me."
"I don't know."
"Think about it. It's not as boring as you think."
She made a sour face. "Contracts all day."
"Negotiating is the fun part. Don't worry, you'll pass the bar. This time next year your move home will be a memory."
Ivy shut her eyes and imagined. No roommate. No stressed out parents fighting all the time because money was tight. "Maybe. For now, I have to spend my spring break in my childhood home. Twenty-seven going on twelve."
"You should go away."
"I can't. Can't afford it."
"We have a ski house two hours away. It's sitting empty. You should use it."
"How will I get there and get home? I can't. I'm not like you."
"Do you know why those girls are my friends?"
"Because you've known each other for years."
"We have, but they want things from me. Not money, they like to throw out my name. You need the most and have asked for nothing."
"It's not right."
Tate smiled. "That's what makes you different." Ivy felt uncomfortable and yawned. Tate copied her and Ivy smiled. Rich people caught yawns too. "Take my offer. You can study. I'll pay for your transportation. I'll be lazing in the sun and you can enjoy some peace."
"You'll be enjoying your honeymoon."
Tate's face grew serious. "Have you ever had amazing sex?"
Pawing, one-sided, often drunk. "Not really."
"It's not like in books or the movies, is it?"
Ivy nodded and yawned. "Nothing like it." She was on East Coast time. Tate yawned again. "Tate, a bride can't be bored with sex."
"I know the bitch accused my brother of being a bore, but Duncan isn't very imaginative."
"Don't look at me. My experience is limited. You should sleep. Tomorrow is your big day."
"I'll have the arrangements sent to your room. See you after I'm married."
The two girls hugged. Ivy planned on an amazing night's sleep in the comfortable bed. She woke to a knock on her door. After slipping into the plush hotel robe, she cracked the door.
"Room service."
Ivy pinched herself if only it came with a younger Richard Gere. She felt like it was the set of Pretty Woman. Even the robe was similar. Smirking, her mother would want to take it like she took sugar packets from restaurants and extra ketchup from McDonald's.
"Just sign. Compliments of the Kanes."
Her hand shook as she reached for her wallet. How much should she tip?
The server held up his hand. "Your host paid the gratuity."
"Well then, um, thank you." Even the hotel staff knew how to act. She never should have come, but she had, so it was too late. The tray had a coffee pot and pastries. She lifted a cover to find a plate of eggs, bacon and toast. She needed two Richard Geres to eat all the food.
After pouring a cup of coffee, she ripped off a piece of croissant. It was airy, buttery heaven. Next she picked up a piece of perfectly crisped bacon. The salty goodness mixed with the buttery flaky pastry. Eating more than she should, Ivy lingered over the bold roast brewed coffee. To cap off the perfection, the view out of her window was of beautiful snow-capped mountains.
Leisurely she took her time to shower and dry her shoulder length hair. It took longer than she expected to pin her hair to look elegant enough for the Kane wedding. By the time she slipped into Tate's used gown, she was late. As she rounded the corner to the Ballroom labeled Tate-Dawson Wedding, she froze. People were standing around with a murmur that sounded like an angry buzz. Dani walked by with a frown.
Ivy touched her arm. Dani looked at her and sighed. "I'm going to check on Tate." She lowered her voice. "I always thought he was a bastard. You can take off earlier."
"Take off?" Ivy's head was spinning trying to catch up.
"To Aspen. No wedding." Dani forced a smile and walked away in determined strides.
According to Dani, the wedding wasn't happening, and it was the groom's fault. Ivy glanced at the room and saw the chaos before turning to return to her room. She texted Tate, but didn't get an answer. Although they were friends, Tate had family to rely on.
A large envelope had been left in her room. Inside were keys to a rental car with an address and instructions for entering the house.
With her small bag packed, she left her room. Her plan was to leave Tate's dress at the front desk, but Dani was in the elevator. "Can you give this back to Tate?"
She smiled. "She lent me this same gown once."
Ivy smiled and bet Dani did a lot more than keep Tate's brother on time.
Finally, after a long drive, the GPS announced her destination. As she stood and stretched, the large house loomed in front of her. The roof peaked over large glass windows. Ivy had parked by the detached garage as per the instruction. Using the code she entered the house. It was cool, so she turned the thermostat to sixty-five. Her parents rarely let it go above sixty-three. The Kane's could afford two more degrees, even with the large golden stained wood vaulted ceiling. The large windows were perfect for taking in the view of the mountains, but couldn't be good insulation.
She wandered into the gourmet kitchen and opened the fridge. It was packed with fresh food. Did it magically appear?
The hardwood staircase matched the ceiling. On the second floor, there were five bedrooms. She stopped at the one labeled Tate and picked her friend's room to settle in. Inside it was as luxurious as the hotel. Ivy laughed to herself. Tate called it a ski house, but it was at least twice the size of Ivy's house.
Back downstairs, she sat on the comfy overstuffed sectional sofa and flipped on the TV. She would start studying after some relaxation. On her phone was one text from Tate. "I hate him."
She replied. "Come to Aspen."
"I'm going to the Caribbean."
Ivy smiled. The girl had class.
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