Page 215 of Lessons in Cruelty

“Fuck me, it’s an Elie Saab.” She gives me a frantic look, nodding her head and whimpering. “Can’t believe Kai’s got such good taste!”

“Kai’s got fuck all to do with this,” I mutter as I take out the box and pull off the ribbon.

Melissa snaps her fingers at me. “Faster, woman, faster!”

“God, would you please calm down? It’s just a fucking⁠—“

Dogs in Riverside hear Melissa squeal when I lift a length of gorgeous blue fabric out of the tissue paper. I frown at the dress. Stunning as it is, it’s not the one I tried on.

Oh. Right.

That one had a huge wet stain on it the last I saw.

Melissa grabs my shoulders and shakes me like I’m a vending machine that didn’t spit out her soda.

“Don’t just stand there! Move! We’ve still gotta do hair and makeup. Do you need to shower? Of course you need to shower. How else are you gonna fucking shave? Jesus, I need to shave.”

She snaps closed the lid, and shoves my bowl into my chest, pointing to her mouth. “Food in hole. You’re gonna need the calories.”

I walk mechanically, thoughts moving like a thick sludge.

This dress probably costs a year of rent in my uncle’s shitty apartment. More than a year of groceries. More than my dad’s piece of junk car is worth.

And Bastian didn’t just buy this dress. He bought everything.

I’ll be wearing a small fortune tonight. Everyone will know I didn’t buy it.

They’ll know I’m just a good girl who takes what she’s given.

A good girl who does what she’s told.

How stupid of me to think I could fight them.

How stupid of me to think I could change.

Chapter 54

Kai

This tux is annoying the shit out of me, and I’ve only been wearing it for like an hour. It’s too tight. The collar, the stupid cum-fucking-whatever-band around my waist, the cuffs, the goddamn collar, everything.

Feels like someone’s hands around my throat.

Not Haven’s.

I mean, aw, she really tried.

Girl just doesn’t have it in her.

At least the food’s good. I’ve had seven mini burgers and I’m already eyeing a platinum-blonde sorority chick with a tray.

She catches me looking at her and smiles as she veers my way.

“Hey, handsome,” she purrs, her black dress shimmering as she pops her from hips side to side. “Like what you see?”

“Depends.” I scan the tray. “Got any of those little burgers?”

She laughs like she thinks I’m joking, and her expression turns sour when she realizes I’m not.