Dean shakes his head. “You’d better not try to open another door tonight.”
I shudder playfully as we walk around the car. “So controlling.”
He smirks. “Protective.”
“Possessive?” I challenge him as we start ascending the stairs to the front door.
Dean’s hand instantly finds mine as he falls into step beside me.
“No one should be allowed to have this many steps. It should be illegal,” I groan, looking at the second set after the first landing. “There’s more here than on campus!”
“You’re doing great, baby,” Ash praises, a few steps behind. “I’m just enjoying the view.”
Glancing back over my shoulder, I roll my eyes.
“Can you blame me?” His voice deepens.
I ignore him, focusing on the last thousand steps up to the door, completely out of breath by the time we finish our climb.
“Thank God,” I huff. “He needs to install an escalator.”
Dean and Asher chuckle right as the door swings open, and Blair greets us with a smile.
“Oh, I love your dress.” She beams, studying it intently.
“Yours is beautiful.” A light bulb goes off in my head as I recognize the designer. “Wait, is that a N.J. Elizabeth?”
Her eyes light up. “Yeah.Wow. How’d you know?”
N.J. Elizabeth gowns are top-of-the-line designer, but not in your face, brand name everywhere like the rest of the market. They’re famous in the fashion industry. The gowns are all one-of-a-kind pieces, but each one always has a bow hidden in the seam line on the waist. Sometimes, it’s used to compliment the design—like in Blair’s golden gown, it’s positioned front and center—but other times, it’s hidden on the side, barely noticeable at all.
“Because she’s a fashion designer,” Asher says proudly, not a condescending tone, like I’ve heard from Adrianna over the years.
When I look up at him, a frog grows in my throat. I’ve never given myself that title or heard it in such a serious way. Usually, it’s thrown around as an insult by my stepmother. But not this time.
“There you fuckers are.” Malik, dark-haired with piercing purple eyes, strolls up behind Blair. “About damn time.”
His angry tone strikes me, and the apology falls out of me as I drop my eyes to the floor. “I’m sorry. We were busy running an errand?—”
Dean’s hand finds my waist, caressing me carefully. “Don’t apologize, Ciri. For one, this asshole doesn’t deserve your kindness. And two, he’s kidding.”
Vulnerability snakes around my throat because I fell right into the same behavior I’d been conditioned to over the years.
The words form on my lips again, but I stop them, swallowing the apology.
Asher hands Blair the dresses, who scurries back inside, leaving Malik in the doorway.
Nodding slowly, I take a few slow breaths, calming the anxiety building inside as Dean’s hand brushes my side.
But I’m struggling to calm my racing heart. His lips find my hairline before dropping to my ear.
“Deep breath, baby. You’re doing amazing.” He presses a kiss and adds a line that nearly makes my heart explode. “I’m so proud of you.”
He’s proud of me …
I’m proud of myself.
I can do this.
