How so?
Princess: By being there for me.
Always.
“What do you think of this, Gus?” I ask him, holding a piece of fabric up to the dress already formed on one of my mannequins. “Do we like this as an overlay?”
Alora messaged me a few days ago, saying she wants to commission dresses for the wedding instead of casual wear, assuring me that will come later. I promptly put a few sketches together, and she loved them.
I had taken inspiration from pictures of her wardrobe that she’d sent. She loves soft lines, really romantic styles, lace, pinks, blues, pastels, some of which found a home in her gown.
For Blair’s, I choose something more elegant, clean, not wanting something to fight the spotlight with her, but to emphasize the light she already is.
I saw, from stalking her socials on Jules’s account, that she loves bows, so I made sure to add one to the front neckline, small and demure, and one to the back of the corset as well.
This may be some of my best work yet.
Gus squeaks, and I take that as his approval for the fabric.
“Good choice, sir. I’ll get working on this right away.” I giggle, pinning it around the skirt.
He watches me work in awe, his whiskers twitching. He nestles into his little bed on my desk that I made with scrap fabric, happy and content.
Time seems to fade away as I lose myself in the craft, pure glee filling my heart. This is what I love, exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life. I don’t need to be rich. I don’t need status or wealth. I just need this … and maybe the two guys who are making it really hard to stay behind my mask.
Thankfully, they’re out of town for the next couple of days for an away game, giving me a chance to breathe and think without worrying they’ll figure me out. There can only be so many times they run into the real me and not put two and two together.
Asher, thank God, let me go the other day without pushing me further, but I saw the recognition in his eyes. He couldn’t place it, but it reminded me how easily this whole facade could come crashing down.
We might have not known each other for long, but I know these boys are stubborn and resilient. The second they learn who I really am, they’ll stop at nothing until I’m free to be with them. That would blow their life up, and that’s the last thing I want to do.
A knock sounds on my door, and I shout, “Come in,” assuming it’s Jules.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
My stepmother’s voice chills me to the core, and anxiety floods my system.
“Who gave you permission to create new gowns?”
With my back to her, I tap my desk, summoning Gus to my hand, who I instantly tuck into my hoodie pocket.Phew.
Duke brushes against my leg, probably desperate to get a taste of my flesh and hear me scream. Evil bastard.
Turning slowly, I do something I’ve been doing a lot more of lately. I lie. “This is for a class. I have to design and create two gowns for our assigned models.”
She squints, the same beady-eyed stare I’m used to. “Hmm. They’re decent. Or will be at least.”
Striding over to them, she tucks her hands behind her back, assessing them closely.
“Thank you,” I trail off, my skin crawling and cheek burning from being in her presence.
It was only two days ago that she struck me. But I had spoken back to her when she told me to be quiet. Did I deserve it? Absolutely the hell not. But I know her rules, and I chose to act out.
It will all come back to bite her in the end. All of her evilness will—I’m sure of it.
Reaching out, she runs her fingers along the pink satin before rubbing her thumb and pointer finger together, like the material left a residue. “Feels kind of cheap.”
Then she must have horrible taste because that’s the most expensive fabric I’ve ever purchased, thanks to Alora’s budget.
