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Mother’s line is like a whip for laughter from Kell and me. But I cut my giggle short, wondering if we’re overdoing it with the double dose of reaction. After all, Veronica isn’t lying. Style consults and fashion fittings have been as normal to all three of us as sunrises and sunsets. No time nor tolerance for timidity. Even now, as she leans against Kell’s bedpost during the chastisement, Mother’s long satin dressing robe slinks open and exposes half of her barely covered chest.
“Most of the gowns they pulled for me are the Victorian-inspired thing,” I say with practiced ease, because Ididrehearse the line after totally anticipating hers. I smooth one hand over the corset covering my stomach, the other down my full-length satin slip. “This just makes it easier for changes.”
The excuse does make sense—this time. I haven’t dared to think far enough ahead about the next fitting. By then, maybe Sprout will listen if I ask for a temporary Off button on the glow. Even better, Maximus and I will have found the perfect cabin in Siberia to hide out in. Perhaps a tent in the Sahara. Or a treehouse on some unnamed island in the South Pacific. Now there’s my favorite proposal on the list—second only to our yurt and Bubba near the waves, of course.
“Kara.”
I jerk my head up, shaking it free of fantasies about pineapple breakfasts and treehouse sex. “Sorry. Hmmm?”
Veronica closes her robe with a peeved tug while stepping over to me. With her other hand, she pushes stray tendrils away from my cheek. “Where has your head been today?”
“You have to ask?” Kell drawls while hitching up her full skirt and stepping onto the box in front of her three-way mirror. “After I had to fetch her from Maximus’s bed for the second day in a row?”
Mother groans. “Pleasechange the subject.” As if needing physical distance from the conversation too, she turns and crosses for the kitchenette in the room’s other corner. Now there’s an order that’ll get my eager compliance.
“You should go with that one.” I gesture toward my sister’s sparkling gown. “I mean it. That royal purple is a great color, and the gold details at the neckline bring out the similar ones in your eyes. Also, the frothy train gives you permission to go daring with makeup.”
As I anticipate, she smirks in pleasure. “Never a gutsy shadow palette I didn’t like.”
“Your sister’s right,” Mother adds, assessing from her same position while pulling a jade face roller out of the mini fridge.
“Fine by me,” Kell murmurs. “Color’s good, and I can wear the new gold cage heels with it.” Nobody’s surprised by her pile of boxes from yesterday’s retail binge, including a gorgeous pair of strappy sandals that will indeed look incredible with the dress.
“Good. Great. Now we’ve just got to figure out what the bride-to-be will wear…besides Miriam the Librarian’s underwear ensemble.”
An authentic laugh bubbles from me, and I don’t bother to edit it. “You know that’s pretty much a compliment, right?”
Veronica doesn’t free a hint of a smile, rollering her forehead with dedicated drive. “Try the dark-crimson one next. With the black appliques on the bodice and the overskirt that looks like flower petals.”
I make a face. “It’s so…”
“I know, I know.” She twirls the roller head like a type A drum major. “But with the engagement announcement releasing in an hour, you’ll be all over the socials. If they call you in at the last second to present an award, you need something that makes a statement.”
I sigh. “They’re not going to—”
“Humor me.”
I tell myself it’s only ten minutes out of my life—until I know it isn’t.
The second I step onto the box in front of the three-way, I can see the whites of my mother’s eyes from across the room. Worse, Kell’s face pops with the same look.
And, damn it, so does mine.
The worst thing about looking like a Versailles wedding cake? When the cake looks…shockingly nice.
“Wow.”
And there’s the very best thing. When one’s fiancé arrives in the room and turns one syllable into sorcery. Especially that syllable.
“Oh, my God,” Kell rebukes. “You’d better be glad we’re all currently decent, mister.”
“Sure…okay.” His responding mumble, matching the fixated gaze that I lock to via the mirror, relays that Kell could’ve declared a tsunami watch for the coast and gotten his same response.
Thankfully, the only storms to heed are the ones in his irises. Flagrantly, I keep tracking them with my own. Shamelessly, I expose the flames that flicker at the edges of my vision.
“Oh, shit. And the damned all wept,” Kell mutters.
“No, no, no,” Mother dictates. “Weeping is forbidden until tomorrow. My eyelashes are already on for tonight.” Her equally forceful steps cause distinct rustles behind Maximus. “Come now, Kell. We’re smart enough to know when four’s a crowd.”
