“Well, if you’re sure…,” Evie replied in a teasing voice as she stepped into the soft glow of the lights emanating from the main deck, illuminating all of her now. Romeo tried not to react too obviously to her appearance.
Evie was now dressed in a green-and-silver tulle gown, with pieces of silvery ribbon wrapped around the braids in her hair. The combined effect made her look a little bit like an older, hotter Tinker Bell. She also appeared a lot taller than he’d remembered her being this afternoon. His gaze dropped down to her toes, which were encased in a pair of silver ribboned heels. That explained it.
“You look, uhm, really good. I like your dress,” Romeo said.
Evie looked down with a strange sort of surprise on her face as though she had forgotten she was wearing clothes.
“Thanks, Romeo. You don’t look so bad yourself,” Evie replied with a smile.
Romeo hoped that the cloak of night would at least not make it obvious that he was in fact blushing.
“Thanks, but I haven’t changed from when you saw me earlier,” he said. As he played little to no role in the press conference, there was no need for an outfit change.
“Well, you still look great. Though I maintain that your outfit would be much better with underpants over it,” she continued, a rogue look in her warm brown eyes.
“I might have to sue you for defamation at this point,” Romeo replied.
Evie raised an eyebrow at him and snorted. “Spoken just like a rich kid,” she said in a tone that sounded unexpectedly bitter.
Romeo’s skin was red-hot now. “I wouldn’t actually… I was just—”
“Joking? Yeah, so was I,” Evie said, joining him on the platform he was standing on. “I know you wouldn’t actually sue me. I know you’re not likeotherrich kids,” she said playfully, though there was still some bite to it.
“You sayrich kidslike it’s a slur,” Romeo replied, leaning back against the decorative wheel, watching Evie as she moved to stand beside him with her arms crossed.
“Maybe it is,” she replied, and then, after a few quiet moments, she smiled and whispered, “I’m kidding again, if you couldn’t tell.”
Romeo laughed uncomfortably. “I couldn’t. You have a strange sense of humor, Evie Gray.”
“Thank you,” Evie said, as delighted as if it were a full-fledged compliment.
He was just glad she didn’t seem offended by that too. Thankfully, before he could put his foot farther into his mouth, he was saved by the sudden appearance of his sister, Perdita, below, emerging from one of the back steps that led to the lower decks of the yacht. And… she wasn’t alone.
She was with a boy—which was interesting.
The pair was trying to be inconspicuous, but it was clear that something had happened between them. Perdita looked upset. Romeo’s gaze shot to the boy, who looked equally upset. But it didn’t seem like they were upset at each other. Perdita hugged the boy tightly and then walked off again.
Interesting indeed…
“Perdita’s gotten really tall too,” Evie suddenly said, following his gaze down.
“Do you have some sort of secret height obsession?” Romeo asked.
“Perhaps,” Evie replied with a wider smile. “Maybe I have a vendetta against tall people. Maybe I’m hunting down anyone over five eight so I can grind their bones and feed them to the chickens at the Manor.”
“If that is also a joke, it’s an oddly specific one,” Romeo laughed.
“Who said I was joking?” Evie replied. “Did you consider that this is why I’m here at this ball?”
“Ahh, so you’re not here because you enjoy boring, overly lengthy, self-congratulatory events? You’re here to suss out your victims, going around with a measuring tape, making sure no one above average height is left standing,” Romeo said.
Evie nodded. “That’s exactly it. Could you remind me what height you are again?”
“I’m a respectable five nine and three quarters—on a good day,” Romeo said.
“Ah, well… It was nice knowing you, Rome. Unfortunately, you will soon become chicken feed.”
“Well, Fola will be very happy to hear that she’s safe from you and your chickens,” Romeo said. The mention of his sister made Evie stand up straighter.
