Page 265 of Barinov

BELLA

Home

45 days since we’ve been back.

I find Cade standing in front of the bathroom mirror smoothing the front of his charcoal suit for what has to be the tenth time.

He adjusts the knot on his navy tie.

Tilts his head.

Loosens it.

And starts over.

“Too loose,” he mutters to himself, his fingers trembling slightly against the silk.

I bite back a smile, leaning against the doorframe. “You’ve said that four times.”

“Because it keeps happening.”

Lex walks into the bathroom, a bottle of water in one hand. One look at Cade’s reflection and his mouth twitches.

“Babe.”

“I know,” Cade groans, running a hand over his face.

“You don’t, actually.”

Cade gestures helplessly toward the mirror. “It doesn’t look right.”

Lex steps in behind him, setting his water down before gently catching Cade’s wrists to stop his frantic fidgeting.

“Stop,” Lex orders.

“But—”

“Cade, you’re spiraling over a centimeter of fabric.”

“It’s not just the tie,” Cade whispers. His voice cracks enough to betray the absolute terror beneath his excitement.

Lex’s expression softens. “I know.”

Within less than a minute, Lex’s fingers work their magic, guiding the knot until it sits perfectly against Cade’s collar. Lex smooths out the lapels of his jacket before brushing away an imaginary speck of lint.

“There,” Lex says quietly.

Cade studies himself in the mirror for a long moment.

“Better?” Lex asks.

Cade nods, looking back through the glass. “Better.”

Cade’s fingers are ice cold as I step beside him and slip my hand into his. “Everything is going to be just fine,” I promise, looking up into those hazel eyes I love so much. “That gallery isn’t going to know what hit them.”

He squeezes my hand once before reluctantly letting it go. “I really don’t know what I’d do without you two.”

“You’ll never have to find out,” Lex says, his tone dead serious.