My phone rings, and a familiar face pops up on my screen. I hurriedly answer. “Lena?”
“Iris! I’m here! Well, actually, we’re here! We both came—we figured a ball would be the perfect excuse to dress up, and I wanted to support you during your first major fundraiser.”
“Oh, this is the best news ever! When can I see you?”
“Tina has insisted we go on a hike today.” Lena audibly gags into the phone. “I am not a hiker, but love makes you do crazy things, I suppose. So, we will probably need to catch up tomorrow. Can we get ready together? In-person this time?”
“I’m so in!” My grin widens. “I have to get there early, as I’m sure you already know. Want to swing by at around noon?”
“We will be there. I’ve got to go. We’re heading to baggage claim, and it’s quite crowded. See you tomorrow!”
After saying goodbye to Lena, I can’t stop smiling. I haven’t seen Lena since she moved away several months ago. The idea of getting ready for an event together like old times excites me—this is exactly what I need.
“I can’t believe we haven’t seen each other since March.” Lena applies the final touches of her makeup masterfully. While Lena and I share my bathroom mirror, Tina is currently in the kitchen baking homemade cookies. She doesn’t wear much makeup or apply heat to her hair, so she is in no rush to get ready.
“It is wild,” I agree while putting on mascara. I’ve settled on a bronze and black makeup combo for tonight, using a pop of copper in my inner crease.
“So, what’s going on with you? Something seems to be bothering you,” she says, putting on deep red lipstick. Of course, Lena can tell. She always can. She’s the one person I can’t bullshit—aside from Jasper.
“Well, if youmustknow, I have been dating someone—his name is Jasper—and everything has gotten jumbled and so confusing, I don’t really know if we’ll be moving forward after tonight,” I confess.
“Ah, I see. What makes you think you won’t be able to move forward?”
“It’s just… hard,” I sigh, sparing her the complexities of my love life. “I don’t know how deep his feelings for me are, butmine are quite deep. In fact, they’re deeper than I’m even comfortable with, so I’d rather cut it off before we hurt each other even more.”
Lena pauses applying her makeup and turns toward me abruptly. “Do you think you’ve fallen for him?”
“No… Maybe… I don’t know, Lena, everything is so mixed up.” I rub my temples and let out a loud, tired sigh.
“Iris, if even a fragment of you feels like you could love him, please, listen to me.” She grabs my shoulders and locks eye contact with me. “You have every right to walk away after tonight, but please, do yourself justice and tell him how you feel before you do.”
My heart skips a beat. Until now, I chalked my feelings up to caring for him deeply. I avoided considering it could be love. Do I love Jasper Alcott? Is that what this tugging feeling in my chest is? Could this be the root cause of the gaping hole left in his absence? Is this why butterflies have taken permanent residency in my stomach, and I can’t think straight without him near? I’ll admit, he has made himself irreplaceable. The idea of losing him makes me sick, but if I truly love him, then the unavoidable loss will be impossible to face.
“I’ll keep that in mind—thank you,” I say sincerely. We turn back toward the large rectangular mirror, completing our makeup and hair, as the aroma of oatmeal raisin cookies invades the bathroom. “Tina, those cookies smell heavenly!”
“Thanks, honey!” she shouts from the kitchen. “They’re Lena’s favorite.”
I catch a glimpse of Lena, who’s subtly blushing. “She’s a keeper, Lena.”
“I’m pretty lucky. Who knows, maybe your boyfriend is a keeper too.” She winks. “Now, for the moment of truth. Let’s see your dress for tonight.”
I nearly trip over Truman on the way to my closet.I wonder if Kai kept me from fully tripping just now.I scoff, then carefully pull out the most magical gown I’ve ever owned. If I dressed up as an angel of clouds and light on Halloween, tonight, I’m masking myself as an angel of the starry night sky. The black sheer-sleeved ball gown is covered in microscopic crystals. When light hits the dress just right, it shimmers. The sleeves are form-fitting with a floral lace design, giving the sheath dress a chic look. I chose to wear my hair half-up and half-down, leaving some wavy whisps down to frame my face. I finish the look with a delicate black lace mask. Tonight means more than what meets the eye—it’s everything. My gut is telling me the choices I make tonight will have lasting consequences.
While walking onto the stage, I absorb all my surroundings. The elegant room smells of pinecones and candied cranberries. Aged Emporium's winter masquerade ball has taken the word “whimsical” to a whole new level. A large, frosted artificial tree sits in the center of the dance floor, just below the magnificent crystal chandelier. No, not a classic Christmas tree—an oak tree, barren of leaves. Instead, it’s entirely frosted, completed with a few lanterns dangling off its limbs. Intricate centerpieces lie atop each table, featuring slender white candlesticks in onyx candle holders alongside vases full of white hydrangeas. Several other realistic barren trees adorned with lights and frost line the walls of the ballroom. Our staff spent hours hanging up solid snowflakes directly from the ceiling using invisible wireso the guests could witness snowflakes gently floating in mid-air amidst fairy lights twinkling throughout the grand room. I glance around to see everyone mingling amongst themselves, in good spirits. This is everything I could’ve envisioned and more. I don’t see him, but I imagine he’s around here somewhere. Nevertheless, the show must go on, so I place myself on center stage to greet all our attendees with as much grace as I can muster.
“Good evening! Our team at Soi couldn’t be more thrilled you all made it. At Soi, we prioritize giving back to our community when possible, so when we learned about the Alcott family and Aged Emporium, we immediately chose to take action. You’re supporting a local business and family that truly deserves it by being here tonight.” I pause, noticing him in this sea of bodies, standing beside his parents. My face and heart warm simultaneously. “I’ve had the absolute privilege of working closely with Aged Emporium’s newest owner, Jasper Alcott, throughout the last several weeks, and I can confidently say no one in town is more deserving than him. You should all be very proud of yourselves for supporting such an amazing human being.”
My eyes glisten, leading me to cut the speech short. “Please, enjoy the drinks and good company, and be sure to greet the Alcott family while you can. Cheers.” I hastily step off the stage, eager to breathe in some fresh air, but a hand intersects my path before I can slip outside.
“Care to dance, Greene?” I slowly peel my eyes away from the door, looking at the man holding out his hand instead. Jasper is adorned in an all-black tuxedo fashioned with a pocket square. True to his nature, he chose to forego a formal tie or bow tie. His black mask accentuates the flecks of silver in his eyes. My breath hitches—he’s devastatingly handsome.
“Sure,” I answer softly, deciding I can slip outside later.
The music decrescendos slowly, growing fainter with each passing movement as several couples waltz around us. I glance at his masked face and trace the outlines of it with my eyes. As his hand roams down my back, my mind wanders to the first time he stroked my back at the Halloween party earlier this fall. To my surprise, the way he's looking at me tonight isn't too different from that evening.
"What do you think of it?" I ask.
“Your gown reminds me of the midnight sky.” His lips inch closer to my ear, whispering, “You look exquisite.”
