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“You’re such a guy.” Seraphina shakes her head, letting out a groan in frustration. “C’mon, Penelope. It’s time to go.”
Penelope tilts her head to the side. “Go? Go where?”
“I’m taking you with me so we can get ready!” Seraphina says, grabbing Penny’s hand in hers. “C’mon, let’s go. We’ve already lost way too much time as it is.”
“But…”
“No buts. I’m not listening. You’re coming with me, and I don’t want to hear any excuses. You want to look stunning tonight at the awards show, don’t you.”
“I guess? I thought I’d just slip into the room, and no one would notice.”
“Slip into…” Seraphina glares at me. “She’s your date, right?”
“Yes,” I say immediately, my brows furrowing.
Did she really think I’d just sneak her inside like she’s my dirty little secret? Fuck that.
“You’re not slipping anywhere, honey,” Sera voices my thoughts out loud. “Now, c’mon, get that ass moving because we’ve got work to do, and we don’t have any time to waste.”
Penelope glances in my direction, her eyes wide. “What about Sebastian?”
“Sebastian will be fine. Boys have it so easy. A shower, a little bit of cologne, put on clothes, run his fingers through his hair, and he’s good to go.” She claps her hands. “No more protesting.”
“Be nice to her, Sera.”
My best friend pokes her tongue at me. “I’m always nice. You can thank me later.”
I watch as Seraphina barely gives Penelope enough time to grab Henry’s harness before she pushes her toward the door. Birdy gives me one final, worried look over her shoulder before the door closes behind them, and I can’t help but laugh. She has no idea what she’s gotten herself into.
“Sera seems to love her,” Roy comments, his attention still on the screen.
“Penelope is easy to love.” Raising my hand, I rub at the middle of my chest, where that pressure seems to be growing with every breath I take.
Roy looks up and gives me a knowing smirk. “Mhmm… I can see that.”
Slowly, I turn toward my producer. “What does that mean?”
“She’s nice. That’s all. And freaking talented too. I can see why you like her.”
I did like her. Something about Penelope called to me from the very first interaction. First, it was her music. Then it was the intoxicating mix of innocence and stubbornness that was all her. And now…
“Are we done for today?” Roy asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Actually,” I say slowly, pulling out my notebook. “I wanted to try something else.”
One pierced brow rises in interest. “What did you have in mind?”
CHAPTERFORTY-ONE
PENELOPE
“Can you keep still for a little while longer?” Nancy, the makeup artist, asks for what feels like the umpteenth time.
“Sorry,” I whisper, clenching my hands in my lap tighter.
Ever since Seraphina pulled me out of the studio so we could get ready, I’ve been a nervous wreck.
It was weird having somebody work on me, but even I wasn’t too proud to deny somebody’s help. I wanted to fit in tonight. I wanted to be worthy of standing on Sebastian Black’s arm, and if that meant having people fuss over me all afternoon—why exactly, I wasn’t even sure—then so be it.
