It wasn’t even flattery. I had no idea how my sister managed to glam me up the way she had with the limited stuff she had to work with.
She’d taken a plain olive-green cocktail dress, spruced it up with a gold belt and golden heels I didn’t even know I had. Then she’d managed to use my nude eyeshadow palette to create a smoky eye with cat eyeliner I couldn’t stop staring at.
And if that hadn’t been enough, she’d braided one side of my hair into a Dutch braid while leaving the rest of my straightened strands to hang loose over my shoulder.
“Wow...” This time it was Millie’s turn to say the word I couldn’t stop saying. “You look like a pretty princess, Kate.”
I spun in a slow circle. “I feel like one.”
Izzy stood back, admiring her handy work with a smile on her face. This was her thing. Being creative was as natural to her as breathing. Be it on canvas—her preferred medium—or on people, she thrived when she was creating.
“Thank you. Iz.”
She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, a loud knock echoed through my apartment.
And just like that, a giant, unwelcome bout of nerves ambushed my system.
“I’ll get it,” Millie squealed.
My lips parted on a protest, but she was already gone with Izzy short on her heels. Normally I wouldn’t mind the two of them opening the door, but with my sister’s strong feelings about Tristan, I wanted to be there in case she said something not suitable for Millie’s ears.
Grabbing my purse, I hurried to the front of my apartment. The door had already been opened. Millie stood in front of Tristan, her mouth moving a mile a minute as she pointed toward her pancake plushie.
Izzy stood next to her, arms crossed in front of her chest, giving Tristan her mightiest glare.
It didn’t matter. He only had eyes for Millie, listening and nodding while she rattled on. My heart dipped, and butterflies I had no idea existed let loose inside my belly.
My palm went to my middle in a futile effort to calm whatever havoc was brewing in my insides. Tristan must’ve noticed the movement out of the corner of his eye because his gaze flicked my way for a fraction of a second before his attention was back on Millie.
He blinked once then glanced at me again. His mouth parted, but instead of saying anything, he shook his head and focused on Millie.
A sliver of disappointment ran down my spine. I wasn’t expecting him to make some extravagant exclamation about my appearance, but a little acknowledgment would have been nice.
Ignoring my bruised ego, I slid in next to my sister. She was still on the defensive, arms crossed and that glare firmly stuck in place. I elbowed her. She didn’t even flinch. I elbowed her again.
This time, she sighed and, in an overly dramatic fashion, let her arms fall to her sides.
Millie, who’d been in the middle of explaining to Tristan who the real-life Mochi was, stopped talking and looked at us. A small frown formed on her forehead, and her mood to chat was gone.
I really hoped she didn’t think Izzy’s dramatics were about her.
Dropping to my haunches, a freaking miracle considering the length of the heels I had on, I beckoned Millie with my finger. She came, hugging that plushie even tighter.
“Tristan and I have a work dinner to get to right now, but when the three of us have dinner together another time, you can tell him all the stories you want.”
I bopped her nose.
After three excruciating seconds her smile finally broke free. “’Kay.”
Because it was impossible not to, I smiled as well. “You can go listen to some music; Izzy will be right there.” I pinned my sister with a stare. “Won’t you, Iz?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Mmm-hmm, yup. Right after I see the two lovebirds off.”
Millie’s confusion was back. Tristan arched a brow. I barely suppressed the groan pushing up my throat.
Izzy and that damn mouth of hers.
Thankfully Millie didn’t stick around to ask any questions. We weren’t even close to havingthe talk,and I had no idea how to explain to her what lovebirds meant. Even though I knew I’d had to explain something if Tristan and I were really doing this.
