“The party will be interesting.”
“Why?” Sawyer lifts a brow, a small smirk on his lips. “Because you and your nemesis will get a chance to bully each other again?”
“Now, now,” I scoff. “I can behave in public. I won’t create a scandal.”
“Of course, you won’t,” Dad smiles, kissing my temple. “Iraised a lady, not a hooligan.”
“You mean the same lady who stabbed Soren with a pencil? Or the one who shaved his hair off with a razor during the camp one year? Or, perhaps, are you referring to the lady who smashed his knee with a sledgehammer and he had to re-learn how to walk?”
“All ladies have their mishaps,” Dad defends, with a wave of his hand.
“She really can do no wrong in your eyes, huh?”
Dad shrugs. “She’s my only daughter. I’m here to support all her rights and wrongs.”
“And fund them, apparently, because I still don’t know where she got the sledgehammer from.”
Mom laughs, and Avalon follows suit. The rest of the evening goes by smoothly, with them teasing me and Mom trying to warn me to steer away from the Fords, at least, as much as possible.
Though knowing my luck, I’ll be stuck with Soren one way or the other.
All I can think about is the fact that he used my biggest fear against me. He fucked me while we were surrounded by damned snakes, and I still don’t know where he got them from. It’s one of the most terrifying experiences of my life, and I’m not sure I’m ready for what he has in store for me next.
Because I’m sure he’ll do something just as messed up as that.
TWENTY
“Thisis perfect,” I lean in, looking at myself in the mirror. The makeup artist, Tina, finished doing Avalon’s makeup, and then mine. It’s more than I’d usually wear, with rosy cheeks, a pretty, dark, blended eyeliner, and a deep shade of lipliner.
Avalon looks equally stunning, with the red lipstick looking fantastic paired with burgundy eyeliner which makes her brown eyes pop out more. Her hair is styled in loose waves, with the front strands clasped at the back with one of the hairpins I gifted for Christmas last year.
Her dress is entirely black, floor-length, with an open back. It has a gold chain at the back, and it suits her body type perfectly. She’s definitely going to be head-turning tonight.
“You look beautiful,” Avalon says, a soft smile on her face.
“Thank you. You’re very gorgeous, too.”
“So, what’s the plan for tonight, then?”
The makeup artist leaves, and the two of us are alone in the living room. Avalon takes a sip of the champagne, glancing at herselfin the big mirror behind me. I turn around, liking the way the slicked, low bun looks on me.
The dress is long, tight around my chest and waist, then it flows to the floor freely. The sleeves are long, off the shoulder, and my mom thought her rubies would look fantastic. And they do: the set is a necklace, a pair of earrings, and a ring. It was a gift from dad for their twenty-year anniversary a few years back.
“The plan is to avoid Soren and also do some networking.”
Avalon lifts a brow. “So, no partying for you?”
“Oh, there will be an after-party for the younger crowd.”
“Really? Where?”
“It’s at the same venue,” I respond, spraying some perfume on the inside of my wrists, and the back of my ears. “It’s just on a different floor. Shall we go? The car’s waiting.”
Avalon nods, then takes one last glance at the mirror before walking out of the living room. My parents and Sawyer left an hour ago, because as the hosts, they need to be there first to greet all the guests. I, on the other hand, am allowed to be fashionably late.
The drive to the venue is not too long, only around forty minutes. In the meantime, Avalon and I drank a little bit of champagne, took a couple of photos in the back of the car, and laughed at the stupid jokes.
There are going to be at least twelve families that I’m familiar with. Their children have already graduated or are currently at the academy. Meaning, we have to be on our best behavior unless we want to make the main article of Sinners and Saints.
