“What’s with all the fuss, Pauline?”
“We’re saying goodbye to the year, for heaven’s sake,” his wife snapped as she adjusted his tie to perfection.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit much?”
“You’ll see it’s not.”
“But everyone else is showing up in T-shirts and barefoot.”
“That was just during the setup. Just wait and see—everyone will dress up for the actual party. No wife will let her husband show up to dinner in beach shorts. Especially not when they’ll all be wearing their best outfits.”
“For the backyard?”
“For the New Year’s Eve party!”
And with that, Pauline ended the debate. She hurried upstairs to iron the girls’ new matching dresses.
“Let me see what you’re planning to wear,” Dajana said sternly.
“I was thinking of that olive linen set we bought from the Italians. Makes me look like a successful entrepreneur.”
“Everyone knows you’re working maintenance right now. They’ll laugh at you if you try to look like something you’re not. I think you should go with your nice sports pants and that navy polo shirt. You can’t go wrong with that.”
Adrian nodded. He didn’t really care about how he looked. What he was interested in was Viktoria’s ass and cleavage. He was hoping she’d show up in a low-cut sleeveless top and tight, short shorts.
“Isn’t that a bit too much? Or too little?”
“Oh, come on, Günter, don’t give me that sour look!” Viktoria huffed, seeing her husband’s long face. “What do you expect me to wear in this heat? A pantsuit by the pool?”
“I just think there’s something reasonable between a neon pink mini dress and a full-on suit.”
“Like what, exactly?”
Viktoria stood with her hands on her hips, waiting for an answer.
“That cute light brown dress with the pink polka dots. It’s elegant and still summery.”
“It goes down to my ankles.”
“That’s just a detail.”
“Is it now?”
Her brows knitted as she stared him down. She didn’t understand what had gotten into her usually non-jealous husband.
“I just don’t get why you need to show your butt to the neighbors in that dress.”
“But it doesn’t bother you if they see me in a bikini?”
“That’s different.”
“How exactly?”
“I don’t know… but you know what? Wear whatever makes you feel good. I said my piece, and that’s it. I’m not going to argue about this too.”
“Too?” Viktoria asked, confused.
“You haven’t noticed we’ve been arguing more lately?”
“You’re the one always picking fights. Especially about my friends.”
“Alright, whatever,” Günter muttered, waving her off. “I’ll go ahead. Come when you feel like it.”
He didn’t wait for her reply. He grabbed a tray stacked with marinated meats and headed toward the pool.
Viktoria hung the pink thing back in the closet. Maybe it wasn’t such a great idea after all. Instead, she pulled out a red, low-cut lace mini dress. That matched her current mood much better.
“Have you thought about what we’re wearing?”
“I don’t think we need to overthink it, Bernard. It’s just a barbecue.”
“Sure, but we’re the hosts. We should stand out a little.”
“And how do you suggest we do that?”
“By matching! You wear the burgundy shorts with a cream short-sleeved shirt, and I’ll wear the opposite—burgundy shirt, cream pants. What do you say?”
Noud shrugged.
“Everyone else will show up shirtless in their swim trunks anyway. At least we’ll look like we made an effort.”
“Exactly. And it’s actually a pretty cool idea.”