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“Damn,” Toad muttered, shaking his head as he leaned against a nearby wall. “That’s fucked up.”
“Toe the line,” Diablo ordered, “Or you’re next.”
Toad bobbed his head, and I knew he’d think twice about doing or saying anything stupid now that we learned about the maid costume and heels.
“At least it’s not the middle of the day,” Patriot called out, trying to soothe the hit to my pride.
Yeah, it would be worse if I had to do this in front of all the club girls and ol’ ladies.
Diablo lifted his phone and snapped a pic as I shot him a dirty look. “Blackmail possibilities.”
Rael took a few shots and then hauled me up to his side, placing a kiss on my cheek. “You pretty fucker.”
I was one hundred percent sure I would never, ever escape this torment for many years to come.
Over the next four hours, I cleaned the common room, the bathrooms, and stumbled around, tripping with my limp and the heels, but I didn’t complain, and I didn’t slow down until I finished. Was it fucked up that a kid with a limp had to hobble around on high heels? Definitely. Was I upset about it? No. They didn’t treat me any differently because of my physical disability, which was exactly how I wanted it.
Grim went to bed hours ago, so I knew he’d check over everything once he was up. I was the last one awake since the others tired of watching me prance around and trickled off to their rooms. Slipping the heels off, I slowly made my way to the room I shared with Toad and snuck inside. I felt grimy and gross and needed a shower before I met Stefanie.
My ass was dragging by the time I dressed and crept back out into the hall. The kitchen was quiet as I brewed coffee and made hot chocolate in two thermoses. There were muffins in a container on the counter, and I snatched a couple before slipping outside. The sun had lightened the sky to a light navy blue when I pulled up outside Stefanie’s house.
All the lights were out, and I wondered if she was asleep. I didn’t mind if she missed out on our date. It wouldn’t be the last time I showed up or crept to her window, hoping to see my pretty pageant girl.
The wind whipped my hair, and I tugged on my beanie, yanking it down so my ears wouldn’t freeze. My coat was zipped all the way up, and my fingers warm inside the new gloves I’d gotten from Rael. He insisted that I have the coat, gloves, and hat because I couldn’t do my duties as a prospect if I froze to death.
He didn’t fool me any. That crazy bastard was a softie.
A light flipped on inside one of the bedroom windows, and I hoped it was Stefanie or I’d have to leave. For five long minutes, I waited in the chilly morning air, stomping my feet occasionally to stay warm and sipping on my coffee. The curtains moved aside, and then I saw her—the girl who was already owning my heart.
Stefanie slid the window open and gestured for me to come closer as I jogged her way, pausing beneath. “Go around the back. There’s a gazebo out there. I’ll bring a few blankets.”
“I’ve got the hot chocolate.”
She flashed a grin and then shut the window, shivering as I saw her cross the room and layer on clothes. Out back, I found the gazebo, and the strand of twinkling white lights hung around the upper level and along the entire perimeter. Cushioned bench seats provided comfort within and a little shelter from the relentless wind.
Stefanie joined me as I wrapped her up in a blanket, then placed another around her legs and feet, tucking her in. Slender fingers poked out in a pair of leather gloves as I handed over the hot chocolate.
“It’s going to be so pretty. Look at the purple mixed with blue.”
I wrapped a blanket around my body and then huddled close, sitting next to her on the bench seat. “Yeah. It’s already beautiful.”
“You’re such a flatterer.”
“Nope. I just tell the truth and can’t shut my big mouth.” Truer words were never spoken. Look how I spent the entire night cleaning in a French maid uniform. Winking at her, I noticed her flushed cheeks. “There isn’t anywhere in the world I’d rather be right now.”
“Yeah?”
“Absolutely,” I replied firmly.
“You’re super sweet, Shadow.”
The sun was rising higher as we watched the show from her backyard, taking in the shades of amber, pink, and lavender that painted across the sky like one of her brushes.
“You ever paint a sunrise?” I asked, wondering where she found her inspiration for art.
“No, actually. It’s always been too far out of reach. How could I match that kind of radiance and beauty with paint?”
“You will someday,” I replied confidently, “Probably when you least expect it.”
