Lareina’s expression remains scrunched with worry and embarrassment.
I wave my hand dismissively, then smile at her. “You know what, don’t worry about it.”
“How can I not worry about it? Now you have nothing to wear.” Her tone grows increasingly dejected as she speaks.
“What happened?” Fiona says, walking up.
I turn to her—and swear I notice her eyes light up as she takes in the big stain on my dress. But maybe I imagined it, because whatever I saw is gone just like that. She blinks at the wet stain on my chest with a frown on her pretty face.
“My fault. I got clumsy,” Lareina says.
Fiona pats her shoulder. “Don’t worry. Ailee can just wear a clean shirt from Josh’s closet.”
What? “No, no, no, those are the boss’s shirts,” I say quickly. I’m not at all comfortable with rummaging through his closet.
“The ‘boss’?” Fiona blinks. “He’s your fiancé! What belongs to him belongs to you.”
“Well, yeah, but we aren’t married yet,” I say feebly. Josh is pretending to save my butt—and dignity. Not only that, I’ll have to keep working after the engagement is over, and it’ll be awkward if I let myself get too emotionally attached to him and end up all clingy like his exes.
“So? You’ll be a Huxley soon,” Lareina says, totally on Team Fiona. “Pietas et unitas.”
“What does that mean again?” Fiona asks, frowning and tapping her lip theatrically.
“It means ‘all his stuff is yours now.’”
“Right. And if he complains, you can dump him. Although if he apologizes, you should take him back so we can still be sisters.” Fiona’s eyes twinkle.
I shake my head.
She isn’t giving up. “I can help you pick the cheapest one. Would that help? You can’t really stay in that dress. It’s almost see-through now.”
I look down. Sure enough, the thin fabric’s gone semitransparent. It even shows the outline of my bra.
“It’s just a shirt. And you can repay his ‘generosity’ by making some tasty dinner,” Lareina says, exchanging a quick, mischievous look with Fiona.
Fiona loops her arm around mine and nearly drags me up the stairs with strength that shocks me. Maybe it’s the magical power of chocolate. Lareina manages the stairs with care behind us.
“Which one is his bedroom?” Fiona says.
I point.
“Awesome.” Fiona opens the door with all the confidence of a woman who belongs. If I didn’t know better, I’d thinkshewas Josh’s girlfriend. She walks into the closet. Lareina follows in.
I’m amazed at the “closet.”It’s bigger than my old bedroom.The center island holds watches and cuff links I’ve seen before. A silver cane with a wolf’s head sits in a case.
“His Huxley cane,” Fiona explains. “Every Huxley has one. Bryce commissioned one for the baby already.” She places a protective hand over her belly.
Lareina looks around. “Wow, this is nice. I think his closet is bigger than Ares’s. Didn’t know Josh was into fashion so much.”
“Bryce’s is bigger,” Fiona says. “He’s a peacock.” Her voice is soft with affection. She turns to me. “How come there’s no space for your stuff?”
“I just moved in, much sooner than expected due to the fire. So, you know, he probably hasn’t had time to rearrange his things,” I say, sweating a little and praying I sound believable. I don’t like to lie, but I don’t want them to dislike me or treat me differently because I’m not his real fiancée. In sixmonths everything will be over, and I’ll have to give up the nice relationship I could’ve had with these women.
“I love the way this shirt feels.” Lareina runs her hand down one of the white dress shirts. She checks the label. “One hundred percent silk, handwoven. Must be a gift from Akiko. She always gets the coolest stuff from Japan.” Lareina takes the hanger off the rod. “How about this one? The fabric is nice.”
“No, no, no.” I wave my hand desperately. “I can’t possibly. Handwoven silk from Japan sounds more expensive than my kidney.”
“Nonsense. I think it’s the cheapest item in here,” Fiona says.
