AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’ve honestly never seen Celine look this animated. Her cheeks are flush with color and only half of it can be attributed to the blush she’s got on. As usual, she looks amazing. She’s wearing a skin-tight white dress with red stilettos and a matching clutch. She looks like she’s going to a fancy cocktail party. But apparently, it’s just a run-of-the-mill shopping excursion outfit.
That’s new, too. The old Celine used to dread shopping.
“This is unnecessary,” I say. “You have so many dresses in your closet. I could just borrow one of those.”
“I’m smaller than you.”
“Ouch.”
Celine laughs. “Just being honest. And anyway, I want you to have something new and fabulous to wear for the ball.”
“Ball now, is it?” I mutter. “That sounds intimidating.”
“It’ll be fun. And who knows? Maybe you’ll catch the eye of some handsome young business tycoon and sparks will fly.”
I choke. “I highly doubt that.”
“For God’s sake, you sound like —” I turn to her when she breaks off. But she waves away her own words. “Never mind. I’m in a good mood and that’s the best time to shop. You’re going to have a good time, too, whether you like it or not. The shopping will continue until morale improves.”
I can’t help but laugh. It does lighten my spirits to see her like this, but I’m still stuck thinking that this is just a temporary upswing in an otherwise lonely life. She’s taken pains to avoid talking about Ashton. And recently, she’s seemed determined to avoid talking about Ilarion, too.
Selfishly, I’m okay with that, given what happened between Ilarion and me yesterday. Before he left on his work trip.
“Did you get a chance to speak to Dad this morning?” I ask.
“I did, but just for a bit. He and Ilarion were pretty deep in conversation when I went to his room.”
“Ilarion and Dad?” I blurt.
She shoots me a look framed by one raised eyebrow. “Yes. Why?”
“Nothing. I just wasn’t expecting them to be so, um…chatty?”
“Is it actually that, or are you worried about something?” Celine asks shrewdly. “Ilarion promised me, Tay.”
“I know he did. It’s just—”
“So why aren’t you giving him the benefit of the doubt? He’s trying with Dad. He wants to bury their history. Purge all the bad blood.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because—apart from the fact that I trust Ilarion—Dad told me.”
My jaw drops. “He did?” I’m almost afraid to believe it.
Celine nods. “After Ilarion left, I asked Dad what they were talking about and he told me not to worry because Ilarion was just trying to make sure he was ‘comfortable.’ He doesn’t want there to be any awkwardness between them.”
“That sounds…positive,” I venture. What I really mean is,That sounds way too good to be true.“When was this?”
Celine jaw twitches infinitesimally. “This morning, before Ilarion left.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Don’t be so skeptical. I can see that look on your face. You’re not as good at hiding your emotions as you think you are.”
It takes everything in me to keep my expression neutral.If only she knew.“Fine. I’m done talking about Dad and Ilarion; happy now?”
“Exceptionally,” Celine teases with a triumphant smile. “Today is about trying on pretty things and buying whatever the fuck we want.”
