“I don’t wanna get out the house,” I growled. “Rather use my teeth and peel your clothes layer by layer from your body.”
“Too late…I committed and once I commit, I don’t quit. Besides, I have something for you.”
She turned away and went to the bedside table. Pulling out a jewelry box she handed it to me. The black velvet of the box could have matched my jacket.
Jokingly I opened it, “For me?”
“Yes,” she said. “I had them designed for you.”
Opening the box, I found a pair of silver cufflinks. Light cast over them and caused them to shine. I was taken aback, and I knew my mouth was slightly agape.
“Like them?”
“They’re…” taking them out and inspecting them further I found they were engraved with an “S.”
“I thought you should have something nice,” Diamond said sheepishly.
“They’re beautiful, Tesoro.”
“Here, let me help,” she smiled taking them from me.
Once she was satisfied with the cufflinks and their placements in the sleeves, I helped her put on the diamond tennis necklace I’d bought her in Italy; it seemed like a lifetime ago that I’d looked in a case and thought of how elegant it would make her neck look. Quickly kissing her neck, we stepped back and admired each other’s reflections.
“We look fucking good,” Diamond stated.
“You look very fuckable,” I assured her.
“Thierry, down boy,” she licked her lips, but she knew it was true.
We exited the room and came downstairs to find Enzo and Treyanna waiting. They were attending as well. It felt good to know I wouldn’t be alone at this thing. The collar of the black shirt I was wearing felt suddenly claustrophobic.
“Are you ready to watch another set of girls debut?” Trey asked.
“Yes!” Diamond gave a shimmy. “Every time we do this, I swear it takes me back. We got drunk after and I gave Tommy Edw….”
She trailed off and threw a look my way. “Let’s go before I say too much.”
“Good call, Mrs. Scarpetta.”
Morgan the bodyguard that Enzo had hired already had the car going. Diamond ran back to give Tiberius one more kiss and then darted outside and into the car. She seemed happy and it might have been a lie. Some days I couldn’t tell but I knew that Naomi’s funeral had left her feeling lost.
Morgan got us to our destination safely. Stepping out of the car you would have thought we were with royals. There was a red carpet and where people were strutting up and down the walkway in their finest clothes. The flash of camera lights was about to give me a seizure.
“You’re fine,” Diamond gripped my hand in assurance. “Smile big…this will hit the society pages tomorrow.”
At some point when it was our turn to be in front of everyone, I let go of her hand. She didn’t seem to mind.
Pretty Woman, I thought.
That was the movie that Diamond’s dress had called to mind. A grin broke out on my face as I watched her work the cameras and the people. When she was done, she took my hand again and headed into The Atlantean Museum where cotillion was being held. Someone had gone all out with the decorations for the theme, which was Van Gogh’s Starry Night.
We took our seats with Enzo and Trey just as the festivities were starting. Pulling out the seat for Diamond, I dropped another kiss on her cheek and then sat down beside her. The center pieces on the table were also fancy. Enzo must have read my mind because he gave a smile.
“Who would have thought we’d be at a Cotillion event,” he looked around.
“Didn’t even know this was still a thing,” I replied.
“Oh yes,” Trey leaned forward. “Our coming out …my parents are on the poor end of things but they knew the importance of having me introduced into society.”
