Page 80 of In the Dark

I lifted my chin, happy to inform him that books were just as good as any of the fun he might want to have. “Books can provide the biggest escape from reality ever.”

“What books? The history of World War II isn’t going to make me feel—”

I scoffed, cutting him off and waving away the idea of nonfiction and war. “Definitely not those.”

He hummed as if still not interested. “Will a book tell why you’re not eating your breakfast this morning?”

The man was obsessed with my caloric intake ever since I’d come out of my room.

“We’re getting married in a month, Callahan.” And I’d seen the pictures of who he normally had standing by his side.

“And?”

“And everyone will be there.”

“So?”

“So, we’re going to be the center of attention. I’d like to look my best.”

He stared at me, bewildered. “You do look your best.”

“I don’t even have a dress and haven’t worked on actually toning my body in well over a year.”

“Probably should add dress fittings to your list of to-dos, then. Where would you like a dress from?”

“Oh, you’re going to take me somewhere outside of Paradise Grove all of a sudden?”

“I have meetings on the coast, and I’m guessing you’d like your cousins there for a fitting?”

I stared at him and considered what he was offering. “You’ll let them help me pick the dress?”

“Like I said”—he seemed very focused on his own plate all of a sudden—“I have meetings there.”

“What types of meetings?”

“Meetings that aren’t your business, Jasmina,” he said with smile, pointing a fork at my plate. “Now, eat.”

“Or I’ll do like most every bride and starve to fit into a dress I should.”

“What?” He curled his lip as if affronted.

“You secured the best media coverage and photography in the nation. You’re giving freaking Bridal Digest or something our exclusive, Callahan.”

“So what?”

“So, the camera adds ten pounds, and people have filters that they put on now and makeup artists that contour—”

“The camera could add fifty pounds and you’d still look better than any other woman on the planet. And what would you need a filter for?”

“To make my face look better?”

“You try to make your face look any different than it does, Jas, and I’m going to have a problem.”

“The photos are going to be plastered everywhere forever.”

“All the more reason to look like yourself.” He got up and walked around the dining table to lean his backside right next to my plate, then he took my fork, stabbed a few pieces of buttery eggs onto it, and murmured, “Come on, Viper, take a bite.”

“So, you want me to look—”