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“We’ll mostly be on one road, and they plowed them a couple of times already. Even chemical-treated them this morning.”
“So it’s safe?” I arch a brow and he drops his shoulders.
“Why would I put you in danger?” His question throws me for a second because I had no idea that he cares so deeply for my safety. I guess it’s still part of his game, but he seems so genuine. After I haven’t answered for a few seconds, he waves a hand in front of my face. “Hello?”
“Yes. Okay.” I nod and he cocks his head.
“You want to go?”
“Yeah, what time?” I try to sound nonchalant, but I’m pretty excited to leave this place, even if it is only for a little while.
“I’ll meet you in the foyer at eight.”
“Alright.” I brush past him, chills rising as I feel the sticky skin of his arm graze mine.
“Wear something warm.” He calls after me and I turn around, walking backwards for a second to give him a sarcastic thumbs. I catch a little grin before I spin forwards, that tells me he finds it funny, which makes my heart flutter before I remind it of who he is and what he’s really doing.
To survive tonight, I should keep reminding myself of this. Write it on a piece of paper and keep it in the pocket of my jacket because I can not, under any circumstance, get swept up into his games. Not again.
12
ESPIE
“Can you help me?” I summon Olive who’s sitting on the bed in our room while I’m in the bathroom getting ready. She flits in, assessing my needs before I ask. I’ve been struggling with the zipper on this Valentino Embellished pleated silk-tulle gown. Gorgeous black and beige layering, small birds stitched to the bodice of the a-line top portion and down the sleeves. It’s just a bitch to get on.
“Got it.” Olive simpers over to me, gently zipping up the back and brushing down the sleeves at my shoulders. “You look beautiful.” She whispers.
I've gone for a bright red lip, simple eyes— just mascara and smoky black eyeliner– and large bouncy curls down to my waist.
“Thank you, Olive.” I smile through the mirror as I clip on black pearl earrings the size of a quarter each. Never was allowed to pierce my ears, so I’ve gotten into collecting vintage clip-ons. Olive, being the youngest, has three piercings in both ears. I was always jealous of that, but I’ve grown to like the jewelry I own, even if the reason I own it is a constant reminder of my lack of freedom.
“I think I’m ready.” I nod as she hands me my black Gucci, boots.
After slipping them on and grabbing a long white faux fur jacket, I make my way to the foyer. When I’m at the top of the steps, I nearly think Adrik is late since he’s nowhere in sight, and then I feel an arm snake around me back, and I look over to see his smiling down at me.
His grin falters as he looks at me, looking me up and down as we step onto the black wood floors of the grand foyer.
“You’re stunning.” He whispers, and I’m taken aback by it, not sure how to respond. Barth hands him a heavy black jacket, long, with a large hood on it and gold buttons down the center. He steps away from me to put it on over his far-more-casual-than-mine outfit, and holds out his arm for me to take.
I do, watching him as he and Barth speak about which car to take.
After clacking down the long staircase to the garage, they end up choosing one that looks like an army car. It’s matte army green with high wheels like a jeep, but a wide body like a hummer.
Adrik helps me up into it and then proceeds to his side as one of the wooden garage doors opens steadily. We back up the steep driveway that’s clearly been snowplowed numerous times, with the amount of dirty snow stacked on either side of it. That makes me feel a little safer going out on the roads, I suppose. As we head down the mountain in the dark, the lights from the town glow like a little snow globe dream land. It’s quaint and sweet looking, somewhere you think only exists in books or paintings.
“Am I too dressed up?” I worry and Adrik shakes his head.
“No, you look perfect.” I don’t know how to take that compliment because he’s saying it with such genuineness that I don’t know what to think. This new, nicer version of him is confusing. It makes me dislike him even more than I already do because I don’t understand why the hell he thinks I’ll fall for it.
We weave our way through the small-town lit with fiery lampposts and covered in character. Every building is different, but each one has a cottage feel with dark wood pillars and white stone walls and black scalloped roofing. The car stops in front of a pub and my enchantment ends.
“We’re going to a pub?” I arch an eyebrow and his face drops.
“Is that not good enough for you?”
“Well, I’m not wearing an outfit worth fifty thousand to get drunk at a pub.”
“Who said anything about getting drunk, princess?” He smirks like he’s leaving out information that would relax me. But he likes to push my buttons, that much is still true. Even though he’s softened a bit, I know it’s just a continuation or this version of him. For whatever reason he thinks he can act like someone he’s not to get what he wants. Well, I’m just as capable of pretending the same, so I slide out of the car, head held high as we approach the door.
