[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
will.
Sonya said nothing right away, and I shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny. I didn t like
when she looked at me like this. It was about more than auras. It was like she could see into
my heart and soul.
I ll speak to Lissa, she said at last. And I m sure Dimitri will too. In the meantime, let s
hope that if we follow your advice and expect Adrian to sober up soon, he will.
We had just paid the check when Dimitri s cell phone rang. Hello? he answered. And like
that, his face transformed. That fierceness I so associated with him softened, and he practically
glowed. No, no. It s always a good time for you to call, Roza. Whatever the response on
the other end was, it made him smile.
Rose, said Sonya to me. She stood up. Let s give them a little privacy. You want to take
a walk?
Sure, I said, rising as well. Outside, dusk was falling. There s a costume store a few
blocks away I actually want to check if they re still open.
Sonya glanced at Dimitri. Meet us there? she whispered. He gave a quick nod. Once we
were outside in the warm evening air, she laughed. Ah, those two. In a fight, they re lethal.
Around each other, they melt.
Is that how you and Mikhail are? I asked, thinking there wasn t much melting with Brayden
and me, no matter how much I enjoyed spending time with him.
She laughed again and glanced up at the sky, painted in shades of orange and blue. Not
exactly. Every relationship is different. Everyone loves differently. There was a long pause as
she chose her next words. That was a nice thing you chose to do for Adrian.
There was no choice to be made, I countered. We crossed onto a busier street, full of
brightly lit stores with water misters outside that were meant to cool off hot shoppers. I winced
at what that mist was doing to my hair. I had to help. He didn t deserve that kind of treatment.
I can t imagine how Adrian s put up with that his whole life. And would you believe that what
worried Adrian the most was that I would think less of him?
Actually, said Sonya softly, I can very much believe that.
The costume store was still open, thanks to extended Halloween hours, but only for ten
more minutes. Sonya wandered around the aisles with no real goal, but I headed immediately
for the historical section. They had exactly one Greek-style dress left, a plain white gown with
a gold plastic belt. I knelt down to take a better look. Opening the package, I felt the fabric. It
was cheap, probably flammable. The dress was also an XL, and I wondered if Jill had learned
enough in sewing club to take it in for me. With less than a week until the dance, my options
were limited.
Really? a voice beside me said. Haven t you insulted me enough without resorting to
this trash?
Standing above me was Lia DiStefano. Her curly hair was bound up with a bright red
scarf, and a voluminous peasant blouse made her petite body look like it had wings. She
peered down at me disapprovingly with kohl-lined eyes.
Are you following me? I asked, getting to my feet. Every time I m downtown, here you
are.
If I were following you, I never would have let you set foot in here in the first place. She
pointed at the costume. What is that?
My outfit for Halloween, I said. I m going Greek.
It s not even the right size.
I ll get it taken in.
She tsked. I m so appalled, I don t even know where to start. You want a Greek dress? I ll
make you one. A good one. Not this monstrosity. My God. People know you know me. If you
were seen in that, it d ruin my career.
Yeah, because what I wear to a high school dance will really make or break you.
When s your dance? she asked.
Saturday.
Easy, she declared. She gave me a once-over and nodded in satisfaction. Easy measurements
too. Is your sister dressing just as badly?
Not sure, I admitted. She talked about making a fairy dress in sewing club. A blue one, I
think.
Lia blanched. Even worse. I ll make her a dress too. I ve already got her measurements.
I sighed. Lia, I know what you re trying to do, and it won t work. Jill absolutely cannot
model for you again. It doesn t matter how much bribery you try.
Lia attempted an innocent look that was in no way convincing. Who said anything about
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]