Chapter 14 #2
May is sitting beside him, pulling at the corner of his lip in an attempt to get him to smile, and he almost cracks one, but then he sees us approaching.
May’s attention follows Rafael’s gaze, and her mouth pops open as she slides out of her seat. “You two look fucking fantastic!” She pulls me into a hug before stepping back, allowing me to admire her in return
She is wearing a tight orange gown that gives way to small ruffles at the bottom of the dress. Lines of gemstones intersect in waves, flowing down the silhouette, giving the illusion of tiny streams of water. It’s stunning, and the shade perfectly matches the flower on Rafael’s mask.
“This is incredible!” I say, gesturing to her dress, and she smiles as she looks down at it.
“It was Nora’s back in the day,” she says, running her hands down the fabric. “She altered it to fit me and added the stones.”
My smile pulls even wider. Nora is the woman who owns the art studio Isla works out of and has become a sort of makeshift grandmother to both her and May since they moved here. At least that’s how it seems based on the little I’ve heard from them about her.
“I don’t exactly like dressing up,” Rafael mumbles from his spot at the bar as Leo claps a hand on his shoulder, ordering us both a drink.
“Did yours take much convincing?” May asks, looking at the men.
I smile as I look at Leo’s broad back. “None at all, actually.”
May scoffs. “Lucky for some.”
“Well, look who finally decided to show up.” Caio’s voice comes from behind me, and all of us turn to see him and Isla looking like the sexiest couple you’ve literally ever seen.
Isla’s long brown hair is pin straight, and she’s wearing a slinky black dress that hugs her figure so perfectly, I almost feel envious.
Different-sized pearl necklaces hang from her neck, and her hands are covered in black lace gloves.
The look is perfectly finished with a black lace mask.
I’m left staring like a middle-aged man.
Caio stands next to her, all done up in a dark gray suit, his hair perfectly styled and his arm wrapped possessively around Isla’s waist. His mask is made of white silk. The perfect complement to hers.
“Shut up!” May squeals. “You look hot as fuck.” Isla giggles as she falls forward out of Caio’s grasp and into May’s embrace.
“Thank you.” She laughs as Caio leaves her side to meet the guys.
“You both look insane,” she says as she gives me a hug of my own. And suddenly, I find myself wanting to cover up. It’s ridiculous for someone who sells her image for a living, especially when I know her compliments are genuine. I smile in response.
“Have you guys been through the maze yet?” Isla asks.
“What maze?” I ask.
“The hedge maze out on the lawn.” She grins.
“How did you—” I shake my head. “I’m not even going to ask.”
Isla giggles. “We’ve been planning for a while.”
I see Miles appear from within the crowd, Marina at his side. They’re both in 1920s-esque dress, tassels and sequins adorning their costumes.
Miles signals for May and me to be quiet as he sneaks up behind his sister, his hands jumping to her shoulders as he scares her. Isla jolts sideways as she yelps, stumbling in her heels before she sees Miles laughing and slaps him in the shoulder. “Seriously, Miles!”
“Nice job with the place,” is his only response before he sees Leo and heads straight for him, but not before placing a searing kiss on Marina’s lips. A smile lingers on her face as he walks away.
“I am so ready for your honeymoon phase to be over,” Isla says. Marina bumps her hip into Isla’s, shaking her head. I get the feeling their honeymoon phase is far from over.
I remember that feeling. The constant butterflies, that addictive warmth that oozes through your veins whenever someone mentions your person. It’s not studied enough—the way your entire life feels like a never-ending dream when you meet someone whose soul fits so perfectly against yours.
At least at the start, before you find the fractures that were hiding behind the shield of blinding light.
Because in my experience, they’re always there, waiting.
Waiting for the perfect day to make their presence known.
On a birthday that gets ruined with an irrelevant argument, on a silent night spent on opposite edges of a mattress, or in a moment meant to be a wonderful exploration of each other, a moment of closeness that leaves you feeling farther from them than you ever have.
And then you realize the fractures have morphed into cracks, ones that you trip over an endless number of times before you finally fall into one that you can’t seem to get out of.
So you stay there in the darkness until the day you’re finally strong enough to reach up and pull yourself out.
I jump as I feel hands on my waist, but these hands are so familiar now.
I don’t mean to close my eyes, but relief washes over me at his presence.
These are hands that have never hurt me, hands that hold me like I’m something precious.
My hands find his—it’s becoming our routine. Our fabricated routine.
“Dance with me,” he says, his voice low in my ear.
I have to fight the shudder that slides up my spine, and when I look up, all the girls are watching us intently, their eyes sparkling. “Okay.”
Leo takes my hand, pulling me through the crowd until we reach the dance floor, and I instantly feel self-conscious. I don’t know how to dance to music like this. But May and Rafael follow us, and as I watch my brother stumble onto the dance floor, I realize I’m not the only one.
Leo smiles as he bows, the musicians transitioning into a new song. The tune sounds familiar, but I can’t pick the song. I can’t really focus on anything aside from where Leo holds his hand out in front of me.
I take it, and he pulls me into him. My hand falls on his chest as he holds the other out to the side. He gently leads me into some kind of two-step, perfectly on beat with the music. I snort as I look down at my feet. This is the last thing I thought I’d be doing a couple of weeks ago.
“What’s funny?” Leo asks.
“No, nothing.” I shake my head.
He takes the hand holding mine high, spinning me before my back lands against his chest. And any air escapes my lungs as his breath lands on my shoulder. “I refuse that response.”
I close my eyes as my back vibrates with each word he speaks. “It’s just…all of this,” I say. “It’s not what I had in mind when I asked you to do this thing with me.”
He’s quiet for a moment, and I can’t tell if it’s his heart or mine that I can feel beating. “What, dancing around at a masquerade ball wasn’t a part of the grand plan?”
He releases me from his chest, spinning me until I’m facing him again. His face is inches from mine, and I don’t think that’s accidental. He doesn’t urge me into movement as he awaits my answer. “No,” I breathe. “This was definitely not a part of the plan.”
His mouth hitches in a smirk as he steps forward, leading me in a dance once more. He holds me close, and when his bottom lip grazes the shell of my ear, my eyes fall closed on instinct. “Maybe that’s what’s so fun about it.”
He pulls back, and I can’t bring myself to respond. He doesn’t say any more, his eyes just watch mine as we move in unison, not letting go as songs change, our movements too, and yet, it seems his eyes speak a language of their own.
“What do you guys think about taking on this maze?” May asks from where she and Rafael have danced up to our side.
I look at Leo, and he shrugs. “I’m game if you are.”
“Be prepared to lose, though,” May says. “Because this just became a competition.”