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Violet laughed. “You’re a fantastic listener, Bryn. Much, much better than my hardheaded son.”
I laughed and took our empty mugs to the kitchen to be washed. “Honestly, Violet, I’m not sure if that’s a compliment.” I turned on the tap to wash the cups when a knock sounded on the door. I jumped, almost dropping one of the mugs.
I started to walk to the door, but Violet was already most of the way there.
“Don’t worry. I’ll get it.” She walked to the door and pulled it open.
“Hello, Violet.” It was Jasper’s voice. “Is Bryn awake?”
Violet must have answered in the affirmative because he bounced into the kitchen, a bright smile on his face.
“Hey, Jasper,” I said, smiling back. “Long time no see.”
“Yeah, no kidding. It’s a huge relief to see you on your feet again.”
I finished washing the mugs, and Jasper and I sat at the table to chat. It was the first time we’d had a conversation with just the two of us, but things weren’t awkward or stilted between us. Jasper could talk and talk like Tavi, but his ramblings were more chilled. He had a smooth voice, and it was nice to listen to.
As he spoke to me, I tried to admire his lean, muscular frame, his soft, bronze hair, and his big, blue eyes. I knew I ought to be more attracted to him, but whenever I thought about getting closer to him or kissing him, my mind wandered instead to a pair of bright-green, soul-searching eyes, to black, silken hair, and to a kissable mouth. That mouth could scowl at me or smile at me—either way, he left me feeling breathless and excited.
“Bryn?”
I blinked, coming out of my daydream. “Sorry, what was that, Jasper?”
He smiled back at me, not at all upset by the fact that I’d missed what he’d said. “I was saying that there’s a big get-together tonight, and I’d like you to come with me if you’re interested.”
I thought it over, wondering why Tavi hadn’t invited me. But I shook my head, figuring she must have sent Jasper to do it. She might have been too busy helping prepare for…whatever the get-together was for.
“Sure,” I said. Having a bit of fun might help the ache in my chest and the longing I felt for a certain someone. I wished I were sitting across from Night instead of Jasper.
He whooped in excitement and hopped to his feet. “I’ll pick you up in a couple of hours, alright?”
“Sure,” I said again with a smile. I watched him zip out the door, a moment of confusion settling over me. We were going together, but just as friends, right?
30
BRYN
I smoothed my hands over my dress as I looked at myself in the mirror. I wore a soft, cornflower-blue dress that stopped a few inches above my knees. It was shorter even than the sweater dress I’d worn to the bonfire, but I felt beautiful. The dress flared out at my hips, giving me more of an hourglass figure than I thought I had.
There was something about the scene that struck me as very familiar. I had admired herself in the mirror the night of Gregor’s funeral as well. Mom and I had complimented each other’s outfits. Unfortunately, that night had ended with my dress ruined with mud as Troy and the Terrible T’s laughed at me.
Tonight, I knew, wouldn’t end the same way. I had never felt more excited to get dressed up and spend time with the people I loved. Here, I had friends and a purpose. Violet, Mable, Frankie, and so many others had told me that my gardening abilities helped the pack tremendously. My chest filled with pride as I thought about how much I’d been able to help out and how rewarding it had been. I also loved working in the mess hall, chatting and laughing alongside the others. It was wonderful to feel part of something greater than myself.
My skills had always gone overlooked and underappreciated by the Kings, but that wasn’t the case here.
I walked over to the small box where I kept the few makeup items that Violet and Tavi had given to me. I pulled out a red lipstick, the one that Tavi had dared me to wear.
“It’ll make your eyes pop against your dark hair—especially if you wear it with that blue dress,” she’d told me days ago. “You’ll look like a goddess!”
I put it on and smacked my lips in the mirror. Wow, I thought, surprised at how flattering the vibrant red was on my mouth, Tavi knows her shit.
I ran a brush one last time through my wavy locks, my hair falling to my middle back. Violet let me know what Jasper had been too excited to tell me. The party would be in the mess hall, so I would be plenty warm in my short sleeves, even as the night grew cooler. Next, I stepped into a pair of tall, knee-high chocolate-brown boots. Violet had been responsible for these. Apparently, she had requested them from Colville. My legs looked amazing in the boots.
Finally, I was ready. When the knock came on the door, I rushed downstairs, swinging it open to find Night, not Jasper, standing on the porch. My breath caught as I looked up at him. He never knocked. It was his mother’s cabin, so he usually just walked inside without a care.
And…there was something different about him. Something about the perfection of the tight, dark jeans that outlined his strong thighs and tapered waist perfectly, or maybe it was the black button-down shirt, the sleeves of which were rolled up to his elbows and which put his incredible forearms on display. It might also have been the way his shiny, silken black hair was pushed back out of his handsome face.
I wasn’t the only one staring. Night took his time, letting his eyes drop down and then slowly back up my form. My body felt hot under his devouring gaze. His eyes widened at the way my dress clung to my torso. There was just enough cleavage on display to make me feel naughty but not slutty. Finally, his jade-green eyes met mine, and suddenly the mood shifted to one that was less hot and more awkward.
