“Not yet. Keep that move in the queue, though. We might need it later.”
“I hope so.”
“Don’t you think those eyebrows are a little strong?” Gabby asked.
“No, you want people to be able to see them from the audience.”
“I don’t think there’s going to be an audience. We’re all going to be on the deck of the boat. It’s supposed to be intimate.”
Justin leaned back to get a look at his handiwork. “Well, the person in the back of the boat. Maybe the captain. You want them all to see how great you look.”
This was the danger in Justin doing makeup. She was going to look like a drag queen. And Markus would just be Markus.
Next, Lana Hunt arrived with the dress. When she unzipped the garment bag, she revealed Gabby’s dream gown. The timing of this was cruel.
After one look at the makeup, Lana said, “Pretty, but let’s tone it down. This is an outdoor ceremony, not Broadway.”
Thank you, Lana.
Justin huffed. “What about pictures?”
“Take it down a couple of notches. She’s wearing one of my gowns.”
When Gabby was ready, she looked like her dream as a little girl. Her hair was curled so prettily that it almost looked natural. Justin had pinned it up in a chignon that would go viral on TikTok if he’d recorded it.
Justin was pissed. “Look at this!” He pointed at her. “She’s magnificent, and I can’t even take a picture. What is it with the no phones policy? Did anyone really feel more centered and connected in 1988? Connected to what?”
Lana answered seriously. “Yourself, the world around you, your creativity.”
“Do you see this updo?” Justin said. If he’d had a mic, he would have dropped it.
The dress had a full skirt with a train that was supposed to be pinned up, making it even fuller. At the moment, it was unfurled. The plan was for two people to walk Gabby to the boat. It was the kind of gown they shut the red carpet down for at the Met Gala, not a tactical outfit for a mission, but there was no getting in the way of Lana. She explained how to pin it up after the ceremony.
As long as no fighting broke out on the boat, it’d be fine. And that was the plan. No espionage until Valentina arrived. Gabby wasn’t causing any problems.
Justin asked, “I don’t know, is it too much?”
“That’s what I wanted. Do you not see the belting details in the corset?”
“It’s giving Dom at Prom—is that what you were going for?”
Lana ignored him.
“Has anyone thought about a sailor hat?” Justin said. “I know it’s on the nose, but…”
Lana inhaled sharply like she’d been slapped.
Well, there wouldn’t be any fighting about national security issues, at least.
Ignoring her shock and horror, Justin said, “Because I brought one.”
Before he could answer, Jasmine herself arrived, poised and polished. She was dressed in another flowing robe, or maybe it was a cover-up? It was hard to say. Either way, you could see her bikini. Or maybe it was her underwear.
Justin waved hello and called to Gabby. “Come try on this sailor hat.”
Lana shot back. “It’s going to ruin my dress. Justin, why don’t you wear it?”
He said, “I have one too. I’m the maid of honor.”
