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I rev my engine, just as a text lights up on my phone.
Saint: Thirsty.
I pause. “What the fuck.” I quickly text back.
Me: You with Tillie?
Saint: *loading image*
Nate revs his engine loudly behind me, and I catch his arms flying up around himself in the rearview mirror. I ignore him.
“Yo!” Nate yells at me out the window.
The image loads and I freeze. Bishop pulls out and I follow behind him, double-clutching until I’ve reached the speed needed. I lift my phone and hit dial.
She answers on the second ring. “You’re getting too comfortable with pissing me off.”
“You like it?”
“No, I’d prefer you naked.” Then I sigh, squeezing the steering wheel. “You’re distracting me and I can’t be distracted right now. Put Tillie on the phone.” There’s shuffling before Tillie’s voice purrs through the other end.
“Little Terror, you’re testing my fucking patience.” I swerve into the right lane, remaining behind Bishop.
“Good. You’re hot when you’re mad.”
I roll my eyes. “I’ll be sure to fill Nate in.”
“Oh, he knows.” She breathes out a sigh. “In all seriousness, I know what the phases are. Can you—”
“—I’ve got him, Tillie. I won’t let anything happen to your baby daddy.”
“Thanks, Bran Bran. You’re sweet when you want to be.”
“Fuck you.”
“Love you, too.”
“Watch that girl. She’s learning a little too quickly how to ride on my nerves.”
“About as good as she rides on your dick?”
“Tillie!” I hear Scarlet and Elena in the background.
I chuckle. “Nothing comes close to her riding on my shit. I’ll see you later.”
I hang up and push play on a random-ass playlist. “Popular Monster” by Falling in Reverse screams through my speakers.
Saint
I remember the first time I wore a dress. A really pretty one. It was one of the first purchases I made with Brantley’s black card and was a signature piece from Dolce & Gabbana. It had small black sequins sewn into the satin, with spaghetti straps that hung from my petite shoulders. I liked it but didn’t love it. I sent it back.
I run my hands over this one, and the feeling I was hoping to feel when I wore that signature piece is the feeling I’m experiencing now. It’s an addiction, filling my veins with warmth, comfort. I think I have a shopping problem. This one is as pure in color as puffy clouds, but hugs my body tight. It falls to the ground at my feet, but has a single split that cuts right up over my hip bone. There are feathers that line the slit, the edges of the strapless area at the top, and the bottom of the train. Sequins are sewn into the bodice, where it dips between my breasts, which spill out the seams. Literally.
“Okay, yes, this is it!” Tillie says from behind me, and my eyes catch hers in the arched full-length mirror. Scarlet’s home is chaos, with dresses, makeup, and workers running around everywhere, going between here and a hotel in Riverside. It’s two hours before we have to be there, and I’ve still yet to get my face made up.
“Come sit,” Scarlet says, waving me over to a stool in the kitchen.
I take my eyes off my dress and move to the chair.
“How have you found fitting in?” Scarlet tries for small talk. She dabs a sponge in white SFX paint, before pressing it onto my cheek.
“It’s been fine. Everyone has made it easy for me.”
She smiles, showing a small slit of her straight white teeth. “I’m glad. I would hate to have to drive my Louboutin up their asses.”
I chuckle, and my shoulders relax. Maybe being around her will be edifying. As she moves through the makeup steps, she explains why The Kings wear the skull face and the significance to their family history. I find it fascinating. I find the whole world they live in fascinating. She’s finished the skull, and is now moving on to glam makeup.
She pauses with a foundation brush in her hand. “I’m sorry that I didn’t fight harder for you.”
My lips part as my eyes come to hers. “You know about me?”
She nods as a sprinkle of pink spreads over her cheeks. “I did. At the time, I was adamant that Hector was right. You needed to be with others around your speed, away from a world that could very well kill you, and if Katsia didn’t find out, then our enemies would have.”
I sit in silence as she continues with brush strokes over my face. I don’t want to fill the silence with pointless words. “Did you know I was with Brantley?”
The wrinkles around her mouth crease. I watch as she dips a shadow brush into one of the many palettes she has laid out on the counter. “I did. At the time, I didn’t agree with it.” Her eyes meet mine and she sighs, resting her hand on her hip. “You and Brantley, I suppose will reach a time in your relationship where this discussion will come up, as it has with Nate and Tillie, Bishop and Madison, and I’m sure every other King who finds his other half.”
