Page 93 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

“Okay, well. I’m gonna need all the juicy details soon. Especially with the way your makeup looks right now,” she said with a laugh, pointing a circle around her lips. Ivy Jade looked like Mrs. High Jynx; her eyes were painted in purple diamonds, and her lips were outlined in the most colorful pink. When I looked closer, I saw what Tallulah was laughing at. The paint on Ivy Jade’s face was smudged from all of our kissing.

We were totally caught.

Ivy Jade touched it and saw the pink on her fingers. “Oh my god!” She looked at me, laughing. “Thanks for the heads-up!” she said lightly. “But… by the way. Your makeup is messed up too.”

I chuckled as Tallulah took Ivy Jade’s hand, and they began to walk towards the dance floor.

Gustav nudged me with his shoulder. “Good luck with that one. You’re gonna need it,” he quipped.

I was grateful that Gustav and Tallulah were supportive, though I never had any doubt they wouldn’t be. Who I had my doubts about were⁠—

“Ivy Jade Castellanos, where have you been?!” Her mother’s voice boomed through the outside air just as the upbeat song transitioned into a slower one. She was with Antonio, who looked like he was ready to crawl out of his skin.

Ivy Jade froze before she turned around, and the stare-down between the two could intimidate a fucking bull.

“Shit,” I heard Gustav say under his breath.

“Come here,” their mother snapped. “You have a lot of explaining to do!”

Mrs. Castellanos marched towards her and began to grab her arm and pull her away, but Ivy Jade wiggled free.

“Get off of me!” she scolded, slapping the back of her mother’s hand.

Our group got quiet, and Mrs. Castellanos looked like she was about to have a meltdown. Neither she nor Antonio were dressed up for the reception, but her face was as red as the devil.

“You’re embarrassing yourself right now, Ivy Jade. You’re embarrassing our whole family!” she hissed.

“You’re the one shouting in the middle of a dance floor!” Ivy Jade spat out. “All you care about is your reputation, so you can’t even see that neither of us wants to get married.”

“Don’t be absurd!” Mrs. Castellanos scoffed, looking back at Antonio.

He clammed up, trying to smile. I swear I could see the sweat leaking out through his suit.

“Tell her, Antonio,” Mrs. Castellanos laughed. “Tell her you want to marry her!”

It got quiet again. We all waited for a response.

“Well…” he cleared his throat, loosening his tie. “I think Ivy Jade… is a wonderful woman. And without a doubt, she’s going to make a man very happy someday. I just don’t think that man is me…”

Ivy Jade nodded confidently, as if it were so obvious.

“Enough of this!” Mrs. Castellanos snapped, screaming at the top of her lungs.

“No!” Ivy Jade said firmly, stepping closer to her mother. “I won’t do this anymore. I don’t have to explain myself to you ever again, Mami. I don’t care about being cut off or not being good enough for you and Papi anymore. If your love is conditional, I don’t want it!”

Ivy Jade quickly walked over to me, taking my hand in hers. “This man will love me no matter what. And he makes me happy, Mami. And I love myself enough to know that’s what I deserve—I deserve happiness!”

My heart flipped wildly in my chest. Not only did Ivy Jade love me, but she was about to change her entire life just to be with me.

Mrs. Castellanos' mouth dropped open as she looked between the two of us.

“I told you Romeo was no⁠—”

“Stop. I don’t wanna hear anymore.” Ivy Jade turned to me, looking up at me with wide, determined eyes. “Let’s dance, my dark knight.”

I smiled, proud of my girl as she led us further into the dance floor. The soft, melodic music vibrated through my feet. We turned towards each other as we stopped below a disco ball chandelier. Ivy Jade’s eyes were soft and content as I wrapped my arm around her waist. I leaned down and pressed my lips against hers. She tasted like everything I never knew I needed.

“I’m proud of you, Princess,” I said quietly, warmth spreading from the tips of my fingers where I touched her.