However, I understood her play because, even if I did, I’d probably talk to my friend about my brother announcing to the room he wanted to sleep with her and not confront my brother about it.
Especially if he could be scary, like Battle.
Because…yeah.
Talking to your brother about his sex life, I could see, was a serious no-go.
Doing that semi-adjacently?
Not great, but better.
I didn’t want to do this, and I blamed Battle for putting me in this position too.
But I had to do it, however, I had no idea how I’d manage it.
Alas, the time was upon me.
“In here!” I shouted to be heard through the dressing room, bathroom and bedroom.
I heard the door open while I swiped on one more coat of my ruby-red lipstick and tried to devise a plan.
But I saw in the mirror, when she arrived, it was not the she I expected her to be.
It was Temperance.
Temperance in a stunning red sheath gown, straight line across her neck, sleeveless, a pair of beautiful gold evening sandals with a huge flower on the toe adorning her slender feet.
She was carrying a sleek black cat with yellow eyes in her arms. A cat, unlike any other cat I’d ever seen, who looked content to be held there for the rest of its life.
“Oh yes,” she drawled, her cool gray eyes roaming over me. “Battie is definitely going to like your dress.”
Argh.
I had no choice. It was either sexy or sexy.
I picked sexy.
A black gown made of chiffon, the sheer top pleated at a slant across my midriff and chest, making a one-shouldered bodice that hinted at nude underneath. The black skirt had a chiffon overlay with subtly scalloped sides that fluttered when I moved and added to the overt sexuality of the dress, giving it an ultra-feminine feel.
My hair was pulled softly back from a side part to another fluffy chignon at my nape that took forever to pull off.
My diamond studs and champagne sandals completed the ensemble.
The whole getup was another reason why it was regrettable I didn’t come up with a believable excuse to skip dinner.
Even I had to admit I looked hot.
“I went down to ask Patsy for a trash bag I could wear, but she just laughed at me,” I joked.
Temperance smiled her Cheshire cat smile.
I turned on my vanity stool to address her not in the mirror.
“Who’s that?” I tipped my head to the cat.
“Soot,” she answered, gliding gracefully down to sit on the round bench and letting Soot go.
The sleek cat, moving as slinky and gracefully as Temperance did, hopped off the bench and started to explore.
