Page 108 of Veiled

“Matt, this is not the time for commentary. Or breathing loudly. Or existing loudly.”

“Lee, I will bring you every snack and all the coffee you want if you promise never to make me go through this with her again,” Matt whispers when Sasha shuts my bathroom door, unable to hold her bladder any longer.

“Back up Matt. If you mess up her makeup, I swear I’ll give you a tonic to make your,” she coughs and gestures between his legs, “tiny.” He jumps, while I try, and fail, to hide my laugh.

“You know,” she says, coming to brush highlighter across my cheekbones, “I think Aiden might be more nervous about you going with him tonight than he is about the event. He actually texted me a list of what he bought you because he was afraid it wasn’t enough.”

Matt snorts. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a private fireworks show planned for after. Oh! Or one of those really cheesy monologues like in the movies.”

“This dress is a monologue,” Sasha retorts. “A sexy, dramatic, borderline indecent monologue.”

When Sasha steps back again, she sighs wistfully, “You’re gorgeous. Matt, say something before I pass out.”

Matt tilts his head, examining me with big-brother softness. “You look incredible, Lee. Aiden’s gonna lose his shit when he sees you.”

I look down, flustered. “It’s just the makeup.”

“No, it’s just you. And I’m glad he pulled his head out of his ass to see it,” Matt says in his ‘don’t argue with me’ tone.

I can’t help the smile breaking free.

“Alright,” Sasha says, vibrating with excitement, “go put on your dress. Now.”

Knowing better than to test her patience, I take the dress into the bathroom.

The black satin glides over me like it's my long-lost shadow, hugging my body in all the right ways. When I catch my reflection, I almost don’t recognize her—this version of me who looks confident, powerful, break-your-heart pretty, and, surprisingly, whole.

I open the door, and for a heartbeat, neither of them moves. Sasha’s hands fly to her mouth, eyes going glossy with triumph. Matt actually forgets to breathe, “Okay, I take it back, Sasha. You didn’t overhype it. She looks—”

“Don’t say ‘nice,’” Sasha warns without looking at him.

“You look like you walked out of a storybook, Lee.” Matt’s voice is reverent.

Sasha snorts, “A storybook? She looks like the devil's wet dream.”

“WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!?” I shout.

Matt explodes in a fit of laughter. “Holy! Shit!”

Sasha turns her now almost constant shade of pink, “What? I picked up a new book, and that’s exactly how the author would be describing you right now.”

“I’m going to need to borrow this book when you’re done with it, Sash,” I say with a wink.

“Sure thing, Lee. Now, stop getting distracted and let’s go show your man what he’s paid for.”

Matt and I snort out laughs in tandem.

It takes a minute for Sasha to register what she said. “Oh my gosh! I can’t with you two.”

“C’mon, my little heartbreaker. Let’s go before she kills us,” Matt beams, his arm extended for me to take.

Chapter forty-one

Aiden

I’m pacing.

Shirt ironed, hair fixed, tie in my pocket because, despite tying them a million times over the years, my fingers won’t steady enough not to mess it up. Every minute that ticks by tightens something in my chest.