Page 265 of Wicked Brutal

“I enjoy his worst qualities.”

“We know,” Becca says.

Then Penny comes out in a dress with a slit almost to her hip.

Cat looks at her. “No.”

Penny turns toward the mirror. “Yes.”

“Xander fights people recreationally.”

“And?”

“You’re going to cause a homicide.”

Penny smiles at herself. “Sounds like his problem.”

I laugh. Carefully this time. I’m wearing something pale pink that Penny insists is beautiful and I insist makes me look like an expensive cupcake. My sweater came off with the first dress — there’s no point putting it back on between every change when we’re alone in a private suite — so the marks on my arms are out. I stopped noticing them twenty minutes ago. The girls haven’t. Every so often I catch Cat looking, or Penny’s mouth tightens, or Becca finds an excuse to touch my hand. But they don’t let it ruin today. Good fucking day.

I’m standing in front of the mirror deciding exactly which baked good I resemble when the suite door opens.

Bella Whelan walks in. She stops. Looks at Penny. Cat. Becca. Then me.

Her eyes travel down the pink dress. “Oh, thank God.”

Penny’s entire face falls. “Oh, fuck off.”

Bella walks farther inside. “No, sincerely. Thank God I’m here.”

“You weren’t invited.”

“Clearly.” She gestures toward me. “Look what you’ve done.”

I look down at myself. Becca starts laughing.

Cat looks me over again, then Bella. “If you’re about to tell her that dress is awful, hurry up. I’ve been trying to decide if I hate it.”

Bella’s eyebrows lift. “Finally, someone reasonable.”

Cat’s mouth curves. “I didn’t say I agreed with you.”

“You will.”

Penny closes her eyes. “No. There cannot be two of you doing this.”

Bella looks at her. “Penelope.”

“Whelan.”

“Lovely as always.”

“My morning was going beautifully until thirty seconds ago.”

“I have that effect on people.” Then Bella looks at me again, and her expression softens. “Alison.”

“Bella.”

“Please take—“ She stops. Her eyes have landed on my arm.