Pure glee takes over her face, and my heart melts. It didn’t even happen to her, yet she’s over the moon … for me.
“Did you dance?” she gasps. “Did you see their faces? Do you know who they are?”
I try to answer her questions in order, anxiety starting to creep up my neck. “We danced, I did see them without their masks, and I know who they are.” I wince, running my hand down my face.
“Oh no, were you not attracted to them?” she whispers.
I groan, flopping backward onto my pillows and covering my face. “Unfortunately, that is the least of my problems.”
She pauses for a moment before prying further, trying to guess the reason. “Why are you being weird about it? Are they married or something?”
I laugh, dropping my hands to my sides. “God, no. But they’re the last two guys on the planet I can ever be involved with.”
“Ugh! Forbidden! That’s so hot.” She grins, clearly entertained by my torment. Her eyes light up as I see an idea form in her mind. “Two guys who you can’t be with?” It clicks. “No fucking way. Tell mewho, Ciri!”
“By the look on your face, you already know,” I sigh.
Her whisper is far more of a shout. “Dean and Asher?!”
Slowly, I nod, and she nearly loses it.
“Both of them?” She smirks.
I nod again, biting down on my lip, fighting to contain the smile tugging on the corners.
“Wowww.” She beams proudly, pursing her lips. “Good for you.”
My heart races as I recall just howgoodit really was. On top of Asher’s lap … Dean kissing me … it was like a scene out of a smutty little fairy tale.
I’m suddenly aware that I’m touching my lips, reminiscing on the best night of my life. One that is now at its end.
“But now it’s over,” I murmur. “For good.”
“Oh, you never know.” She winks.
I sit up. “I think I do because pursuing that in any capacity is far more reckless than everything I did tonight.” I huff. “Besides, they could be doing this stuff every day, and I was just the next in line for temporary entertainment.”
She hums. “Hmm. I doubt that. Don’t sell yourself short. Besides, I’ve worked here for over a year now, and, sure, they’re flirts, but I’ve genuinely not seen them consistently keep anyone around. Don’t dismiss it just yet.”
Gus pads back over to me across the comforter, not minding my sketchbook in the slightest as he uses it as a ramp to crawl up into my arms.
“Oh, here.” She digs into her sweatshirt pocket and pulls out the mask—my mask. “I thought you might want something to remember the night by. I figured it would be better to store your dress in my room in case Adrianna ever came snooping.”
My eyes thoughtlessly scan the room, an idea brewing in my mind. “I do need somewhere in here to hide my mask.” An idea blossoms. I quickly hand Gus back to Jules and hop off the bed, walking over to the double dresser. “There’s a gap between them that I’ll tuck it in.”
Taking one last good look at the blue lace and silk mask, I push it between the dressers, storing it out of view. “Perfect.”
Jules yawns as I turn back to her.
“Go get some sleep. We have to be up early,” I remind her, and she nods, setting Gus on the comforter and rising to her feet.
She strides over to me and pulls me into a hug. “I hope it was the most magical night, Cirella. You deserve it.”
The back of my eyes burn, and I’m not entirely sure why. But I squeeze her back, tighter than ever. “Thank you. It really was.”
She leaves the room, abandoning me with only Gus and my never-ending running thoughts about Dean and Asher.
A tear streaks down my cheek, and I wipe it away, staring at the drop on my finger.
