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“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“It’s alright, Clara,” he said softly, sending me a look that made me feel like it really was alright.
We had breakfast together in the front room, although I could tell Merrick was distracted. His phone kept pinging and every time he’d look at it, his lips would move slightly. There was a slight frown on his face when he left the house an hour later to take the Audi into work.
I didn’t ask him about it.
Instead, I spent the afternoon with Candice, wondering why Osian hadn’t sent me anything for my birthday. Surely he knew what day it was and that he was expected to at least acknowledge it. But he hadn’t even texted, which I found annoying.
And a little hurtful.
I mentioned it to Candice as we were getting ready for the party later that afternoon. She was bent over the sink applying her lipstick. I was Vesper Lynd from Casino Royale and she was Madeleine Swann from Spectre. The silver, silk dress looked amazing with her blonde hair, gathered at the nape of her neck.
“Maybe he’s planning something for later,” she mused.
I shrugged.
“Or maybe he’s just stupid.”
“Candice!”
“What?” She whirled.. “He has to know this isn’t just about getting you a gift.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, he has to know Merrick’s breathing down his neck waiting for him to fuck up. This is his trial by fire and if he blows it, Merrick won’t accept him when he finally does give you a gift.”
I hadn’t thought about it like that, but she was right. That made Osian’s silence all the more strange.
I obsessed over it as I did my makeup with a perfect smoky eye and slipped on the deep purple gown I’d picked out from my closet. It was a designer dress I’d had altered last year and never worn, but it was perfect for tonight.
The bodice was a deep V and it tied in a halter around my neck, leaving my back completely bare down to my waist. Crystals ran down between my breasts, matching the diamond set I wore on my ears, around my wrists, and at my throat.
“Is this too fancy?” I asked.
Candice shook her head. “It’s your birthday. You can literally wear whatever you want. And it’s not fancy, it’s elegant, and you look amazing.”
I shook my hair back and fluffed the waves falling over my shoulders. Then I slipped on my heels and turned in a slow circle. I looked grown up and, Candice was right, elegant.
Usually I felt cute or pretty, but this was the first time I’d felt elegant.
Like a woman.
Swallowing back the nostalgia, I reached for my berry pink lipstick.
Yale showed up to drive Candice to the Bach’s house, which made her fighting mad although she didn’t have a good explanation as to why she was so offended. As soon as his sports car revved up the drive, her brows went down and her glare followed him as he pulled up to the porch steps.
He pushed down his sunglasses and raked his eyes over her body.
“Looking good, Roberts,” he drawled.
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t even start with me tonight.”
His face split into a grin and, quick as a flash, he made a V with his fingers over his mouth and flicked his tongue through.
Her jaw dropped and there was a shocked silence. I hung back, unsure exactly what that gesture meant. Clearly it hit Candice exactly where Yale wanted because a flush burned up her neck and she stomped down and got into the passenger seat.
The door slammed so hard I was afraid the glass would shatter. Yale peeled out of the drive. They passed Merrick’s Audi as it turned the corner and I saw his frown as he stepped out and observed the faint tire tracks.
