I grinned as I slipped away from the crowd. The sounds of the party were muffled as I closed the bathroom door. I unzipped the black garment bag hanging on the wall hook, revealing a flashy silver dress, not unlike the one I had worn the day I first met Bear on my way back from the club.
The day that started this whole new life for me.
I slipped into it, sliding the small straps onto my shoulders, and looked in the mirror. My silvery hair fell in sheets around me, the plunging neckline of the dress showed off my tits perfectly. But the thing I noticed most was how bright and happy my eyes were. I took a deep breath, overwhelmed by how many people were here forme. I swallowed as I thought of last year’s horrible birthday, trying to wrap my head around the fact that this was my life now.
Gray was waiting for me when I left the bathroom. He leaned against the wall, looking hot in a pair of dark jeans and black button-down with the sleeves rolled up. He opened his arms and I stepped into his embrace, leaning my head on his chest.
“You did this for me?” I asked.
His hand stroked my hair. “I would do anything for you.”
I pulled back so I could see his face. “Thank you.” I ran my hand through his hair, which had definitely gained some new gray hairs this past year.
“I had to make up for last year, princess,” he said. His voice was choked with emotion and that was enough to set me off. A single tear ran down my cheek.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he said gruffly, pulling me in for a tight hug.
“I just love you so much,” I responded. “I can’t believe this is my life.”
“Believe it, princess. It’s just going to get better from here.”
I took a deep breath, the words finally feeling real.
He ran his hands down my back. “I have a present for you,” he said softly. I pulled away as he took a small rectangular package from his back pocket. It was terribly wrapped in bright blue paper with birthday candles on it.
My lips twisted in a smile.
“Do not make fun of my wrapping,” he said, his voice a low growl.
“Whatever you say, daddy,” I said, smiling fully now.
I carefully unwrapped the present and inhaled sharply when I saw Cat’s set of tarot cards.
I blinked quickly as I looked up at Gray. “How?” I breathed.
“The house is finally being foreclosed,” he said, cupping my face. “You mentioned you wished you had something of Cat’s, so I went inside to see if anything was left behind. Almost everything had been cleared out, but I found this tucked behind a side table.”
My uncles’ house had been on the market for months, but mysteriously, no one had purchased it. I didn’t know what Henry had done to prevent the sale, but whenever I brought up how strange it was that it hadn’t sold, a wide smile spread across his face.
My uncles’ court date had finally been set after months of waiting, and I was ready for all of it to be over with. The dark part of me wanted to see them suffer, but mostly I was ready to move on. I had my new life now, and they didn’t get to take up space in it.
“You broke into the house for me.” I held back a sob as I ran my fingers along the edge of the pack. I held them up to my nose and could almost scent her on them.
Gray swallowed hard and pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. “Want me to hold it for you while you dance, princess?” I nodded. He slipped the cards into his pocket before drawing me back in his arms. I stood on my tiptoes so I could reach my bond mark on his neck, nipping at the silvery skin and smiling when it earned me a growl.
Before I could tease him more, Gray pulled something else out of his pocket. I realized it was my pill organizer. He took my evening pills out and handed them to me, picking up a bottle of water from the floor. The pills felt heavy in my hands.The last MRI had shown my tumor was growing, and I had an appointment with Dr. Ash soon to talk about next steps.
“Don’t think about it right now,” Gray murmured, knowing exactly where my mind had gone. He tilted my chin and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. “Tonight is all for you.”
I swallowed down the pills and pressed one last kiss to his bond mark. “Let’s go have fun.” My hand ran down his arm until I entwined my fingers with his and pulled him back to the main room.
121
GRAY
Istood to the side of the makeshift dance floor, watching as Westin danced with her friends. They were shouting the lyrics to some pop song I’d never heard, looking tipsy and happy. Westin’s eyes were shining, her hair streamed down her back, and the disco lights danced off the sequins in her dress, casting her in a radiant rainbow.
She was pure starlight.
