“What is Underground Christmas?” Aunt Patrice asks.

I’m somewhat relieved that Aunt Patrice has never heard of it, but all I can think about right now is: FORMAL ATTIRE.

“Tell everyone what Underground Christmas is, Sara,” Nonna says. Today, she’s sporting an apron that has a picture of a spatula, whisk, spoon, and rolling pin with the words Choose your weapon written below them.

Sara rubs her hands together, clearly loving the attention. “Well, Underground Christmas is just the biggest, baddest party this town has ever seen. The Regional Arts Council puts it on, and it only happens every other year because there’s so much planning involved. My friend’s parents’ restaurant is just one of the local restaurants catering it, and, Soph, it’s going to blow your mind.”

“That’s a pretty wild party, Sara. How old is her date? Are you sure that’s the right event for your cousin?” Uncle Charles gives his daughter a serious look.

Her hands go to her hips. “Dad, she’s almost eighteen. Aunt Patrice set her up with a freshman and so did I. A freshman in college.”

My eyebrows shoot up. Wild party? And my date is a college guy?

Everyone starts talking at once. I drop down next to Charlie, Judd, and Olivia.

“Dude, Sara’s got you beat,” Judd says.

Charlie hits him in the shoulder again. “Dude, you were the date I set her up with, so you’re ripping on yourself!”

Judd winks, and I can’t help but smile.

Olivia picks up her plate and heads to the sink. “Sophie, what are you going to wear?” When we were younger, the two of us used to play in Aunt Camille’s closet, which was filled with hats and party dresses and gloves and heels and everything else you could imagine. We would dress up and Aunt Camille would serve us tea and cookies. I enjoyed it, but not as much as Olivia.

“No clue,” I reply.

“I’m just bummed I can’t go, too,” she says.

And then it dawns on me — no backup on this date.

“So no one in the family will be at the party tonight?” I ask.

No one speaks up, and I drop my head on the table. Sara passes by, her hand running through my long hair. “Don’t worry, Soph. Your date is super hot. You’re going to have a blast.”

“Super-hot date who just happened to be available for one of the hottest parties of the year.” Charlie snickers. “He sounds like a winner.”

Sara grins. “Just wait. You’ll see.”

***

I call Addie the second the house clears from breakfast. She sounds as excited to dress me up as Olivia did.

“I have the perfect dress. Gabby wore this gorgeous gown to Cotillion last year, and I just know it will fit you. And if not, Maryn will have something you can wear. She’s always going to parties for her sororities.” Addie is one of three sisters, so there’s never a shortage of clothes at her house.

“Okay, I may drive over if I can catch a break from work.”

We talk a few more minutes. I’m dying to ask about Griffin, but I don’t. I promise to call her later, then I jump in the shower. When I get out, Margot is blowing up my phone.

MARGOT: UNDERGROUND CHRISTMAS!

MARGOT: I’m not sure you’re prepared for this party

MARGOT: There will be naked people there. Lots of skin. And nakedness.

I barely get my hands dry enough to text her back.

ME: What do you mean, naked people???

MARGOT: NAKED. As in little or no clothes. Brad and I went to one of those parties a few years ago and I thought Brad’s eyes were going to pop out of his head. And the naked people usually have food on them. That you’re supposed to eat!

ME: ???????????????

ME: What!?!?!?!?!?!

Olivia knocks on the door and I almost drop my phone. “Hurry up,” she calls from the other side. “Nonna’s letting us have the morning off to find you a dress!”

I clutch the towel tightly around me and swing the door open.

“Did you know there will be naked people at that party tonight? With food on them?”

She lets out a giggle.

“I can’t even right now. Just give me a minute,” I say, and then shut the door. I dress quickly and dry my hair just enough so it won’t be dripping down my back.

Olivia is stretched out across the bed when I come out.

“Tell me about the naked people,” I say.

She rolls over and looks at me. “From what I’ve heard, there are guys and girls walking around in costume. Teeny tiny costumes that match whatever the theme is. And then some of them are draped across tables with food on them like they’re the platters. It’s all to shock everyone there. Very scandalous.”

“Oh, I’ll be shocked, all right,” I say. “Moving on. Addie says her sisters have dresses I can borrow for tonight!”

She hops off the bed. “Perfect. Let’s grab Sara and hit the road.”

Minutes later we’re in my car headed back down I-20 to Minden.

Olivia starts laughing at something on her phone. “This picture Charlie posted is priceless!”

Sara leans forward from the backseat. “Y’all look so cute!”

Olivia holds the phone up where I can see it, and I almost swerve off the road. It’s the one Charlie took last night when Wes and I were dancing, trying to empty the tissue box of Ping-Pong balls. Except you really can’t tell that’s what we’re doing. It just looks like Wes has me dipped back and we’re both laughing hard.

“And so far, four people have tagged Griffin in the comments,” Sara says.

Olivia laughs. “Good!”

I want to beat my head against the steering wheel. I had another string of texts from him this morning, all saying the same thing: “I made a mistake” and “Please talk to me.” I’m guessing this picture is what stirred him up.

“Griffin wants to get back together,” I say. “He keeps saying he made a mistake and he doesn’t really want a break.”

Olivia twists in her seat and looks at me. “Is that what you want?”

I stretch my neck to one side, then the other, trying to work out the tension I’m feeling. “I just don’t know if he really means what he says or if he’s reacting to seeing me with other guys.”

Olivia chews on her bottom lip. “Are you going to see him when we get to Minden?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. Part of me thinks — go ahead and get it over with. Have it out with him one way or another. But I’m not sure I can handle it yet. I can’t quit thinking about how bummed he was when he heard I wasn’t going to Margot’s. I mean, why would that have changed so quickly?”

“Well, I think you have your answer,” Olivia says.

“You have to finish the dates, Sophie!” Sara adds.

We ride in silence a few minutes, and then my phone starts beeping.

“Oh God, is it Griffin again?” I ask as Olivia checks my phone.

She laughs. “No. It’s Seth. He wants to know if you can go to lunch tomorrow, since it’s your free day.”

Before I can give her an answer, she unlocks my phone and runs her finger down my screen, scrolling through my conversation with him. “He’s been texting you, but you’re ignoring him.”

“I’m not ignoring him. There’s been a lot going on!” I throw her a look. “Also, ever heard of privacy?”

She rolls her eyes. “You’re ignoring him.”

“Whatever. Tell him I’d love to go to lunch.” I know that wouldn’t have been my reply if Olivia hadn’t made me feel bad about ghosting him, though.

Olivia texts back and forth with him a few minutes and then she laughs again.

“What’s he saying?”

“Well, Judd’s texting you now. He’s issued a challenge.”

“Reindeer-pooing sweater Judd?” Sara asks.

“Yep, same one,” Olivia says.

“What’s the challenge?” I ask.

“He has a list of things he wants you to do while you’re at Underground Christmas. But you have to have photographic proof. He said it would be like a scavenger hunt.”

Judd is officially nuts. “Let’s hear the list.”

Olivia almost can’t stop laughing long enough to read it. “Okay, first, and I quote…‘A video of you eating a piece of food that was sitting on the naked skin of someone else. Bonus points if it was on the buttocks.’ His words, not mine.”

I lean my head back against the headrest. “The fact that these things are even possible is freaking me out.”

“Man, I wish I was going with you,” Olivia says.

Sara lets out a sigh. “Me too.”

***

“You look stunning,” Addie says as I spin around in front of the mirror attached to the closet door. The dress is incredible. I don’t know what kind of material it is, but it’s soft and fits me like a second skin. The dress is long, skimming the floor, and the pewter color has a little bit of a shine to it so it sparkles when the light hits it.

“But quit pulling at your top,” Olivia says. The dress is strapless and I have the never-ending feeling that it’s two seconds from slipping down. “It’s not going anywhere.”

Addie hands me a pair of heels and I slip them on. She came back with us to Nonna’s to help me get ready. I hadn’t realized how much I missed her until she opened the door. There had been a half-dozen dresses for me to choose from in her sisters’ closets, but the second I laid my eyes on this one, I knew it was the one.

“Are you sure Gabby won’t mind if I borrow this?” I ask.

“No, not at all.”

I hear the sound of a picture being taken and spin around. Olivia holds up her hands. “Settle down. I’m just sending it to Margot.”

“And then every other member of our family will have a copy within ten minutes.”