“Okay, okay. You win,” she said. “But we’re only staying for a little bit. Long enough to survey the ballroom and see who’s here. Then we’re gone.” She turned away. And her avoiding eye contact was the only hint I needed to figure out she wasn’t staying because of Gabe.
Asha knew that today was Desertion Day and, more importantly, how much I hated it. That she would stay to keep my mind off Rose made me want to cry, but in a good way, because let’s face it: the chance of Gabe Grant coming to the ball was nonexistent. This was something she was doing solely for me. More girls seriously needed BFFs of Asha’s standards.
“Yes!” I kissed her on the cheek. “Have I mentioned lately that you’re the bestest best friend of all the best friends in the history of friendships?”
“Keep laying it on. You owe me.”
“How’s it going back here, ladies?” Sandra asked, and I jumped at the sound of her voice. Somehow, in the midst of our conversation, she’d made her way over without me noticing.
“Fabulous.” Asha’s voice was drenched in sarcasm. “We’ve checked a grand total of zero coats, but we did point a few people in the direction of the bathroom.”
Sandra laughed, pulling up her mask so we could see her properly. “Well, since most of our guests have arrived and nothing has been checked, you’re both free to go home.”
“Miss Hogan?” I said, and Sandra turned her intimidating gaze on me. “I was wondering if… I mean, you mentioned that we might be allowed to stay?”
“I’m glad you’re so eager to help out, Felicity,” she said, “but there isn’t anything else for you to do.”
My smile faltered. “Actually, I meant to stay and enjoy the ball.”
Pretty please, I silently begged.
Sandra gave me a hard look as she considered my words. “Yes, I suppose,” she finally said, “but you’re required to wear a mask, and I can’t give away any of CCA’s for free. You’ll have to purchase one.”
“Don’t worry. I have that covered.” I grabbed my canvas messenger bag from underneath the counter. “I made these last night,” I said, pulling out two handmade masks for her to examine. “You know, in case you decided to let us stay.”
After the mall yesterday, I’d gone to Craft Corner. By using coupons and shopping out of the bargain bins at the back of the store, I was able to get all the supplies I needed at a relatively low cost. The masks the CCA had ordered for the ball were all different animals—from peacocks and swans to tigers and lions—so I made sure the ones I constructed were as well. For Asha, I’d created a blue jay with an array of white and cobalt feathers that I knew would match her eyes perfectly. My own was a butterfly, made with a dusting of pink glitter and fake jewels.
“I should say no since everyone else is wearing our masks,” Sandra said, picking up one of my designs. “But these are simply stunning.”
I beamed. “So we can wear them?”
She nodded slowly. “Yes, I suppose so.”
“Heck yeah,” I said, not believing my luck. “Thank you so much, Miss Hogan. This means the world to me.”
Sandra was already walking back toward the lobby, waving a hand over her head without looking back. “Have fun, ladies.”
I had every intention to.
Chapter 2
The ballroom was glittering. Five massive crystal chandeliers lit the space, their warm glow reflecting in the arched floor-to-ceiling mirrors that ran the length of the room. Music swept down from the mezzanine where an orchestra was playing, and the melody carried beautiful couples across the dance floor.
The amount of wealth packed into the room was staggering. When I first arrived, I saw a woman wearing a necklace that was set with an emerald the size of my fist. I felt out of place in my department store dress and fake jewels.
“Where the hell are you, Asha?” I muttered to myself as I glanced down at my wrist, but my watch wasn’t there. I’d taken it off before the ball, replacing my favorite accessory with a sparkling pink bracelet I’d made to match my mask. Yesterday, I was proud of the jewelry I designed for tonight, but after seeing some of the pieces the guests were wearing, the faux crystals around my wrist didn’t seem so special anymore.
Sighing, I turned back to the crowd. Asha had disappeared what felt like ages ago. She’d gone to order sodas from the bar since we couldn’t have any of the champagne being passed around by the waitstaff, and I was starting to feel awkward standing by myself.Besides her, I didn’t know anyone here except for the CCA staff members, but they were all too busy entertaining important guests to keep me company.
In Asha’s absence, I’d claimed a deserted high-top cocktail table set beneath the balcony. My spot was out of the way, perfect for people watching. A sweet-looking elderly couple at the edge of the dance floor were moving slowly to their own tempo, and I easily spotted Ronald Gibbins, the CCA’s executive director, who was wearing a ridiculous top hat. I continued to scan the crowd, hoping to catch sight of a celebrity, but it was hard to recognize anyone with all the masks.
That’s when I noticedhim.
Unlike most of the colorful and ornately designed masks guests had donned at the beginning of the night, he’d chosen a simple but sleek black wolf that made his gray eyes pop. Even though he was standing a few yards away, I could see their startling shade as he stared at me without reservation.
He looked younger than most of the attendees. Maybe he was the son of a successful businessman or movie director? It was difficult to gauge how old he was with the upper half of his face covered. Eighteen or nineteen, if I had to guess. Possibly early twenties.
The only thing I knew for sure was that he was beautiful. Not hot like Eddie Marks, the captain of the soccer team who I’d had a crush on since middle school. Eddie knew how all the girls looked at him and used it to his advantage. This boy, whoever he was, didn’t do that. I didn’t knowhowI knew this—maybe it was the way he held himself, tall but not cocky, or the look in his eyes,lonely yet hopeful—but I could tell he wasn’t like the Eddies of the world.
