30. Nina #2
“You made a joke?” Elodie stares at Evren like she’s never seen him. “And a funny one at that. Are you really Evren? Or did you switch places with a twin I don’t know about?”
“Ha, ha,” Evren says dryly. “I’m going for a swim to cool off while you two catch up.” He kisses me slowly, as if showing me everything I’m missing out on.
“Wow.” Elodie whistles. “Just so you know, this has surpassed awkward and moved on to ‘I need the witness protection program’ level of uncomfortable.”
“Good.” I grin and slap Evren on the ass as he turns to head upstairs.
“You’re going to regret that,” Evren says, and my thighs clench at the promise in his words.
Once he disappears up the stairs, Elodie passes me a glass of champagne and sits on one of the puke-green beanbags that Zeki left here.
“Please tell me,” Elodie says, “that you didn’t have sex on one of these.”
“Yikes, no, the color makes me want to vomit every time I see it.”
“True, that’d really ruin the mood.”
“So what’s up?” I ask. “How have you been?”
“Besides missing you? I’m doing well. My new cake-decorating class is really tough but surprisingly fun. How about you?”
“I’m good. Really busy with the new line, but there’s a lot that we need to catch up on.” Like everything that happened with Mick and Quincy. Quincy who it turns out isn’t interested in Nova.
“I agree,” she says, “but first, I actually came over to talk to you about something.”
“Okay?”
“Sssssooo, I know you offered to make my dress, but I also know you’re going through a lot and it’s totally okay if you’ve changed your mind. I just kind of need to know so I can go buy one if you aren’t able to do it anymore.”
“Shit, I’m so sorry. I’ve been a horrible friend and completely dropped the ball on that.”
“It’s okay. I really don’t mind buying something. I’m sure Hunter would love to bring me somewhere fancy to try on dresses.”
“No friend of mine is going to celebrate her post-elopement party in a design that isn’t mine.”
Elodie grins. “You know, that’s the first time you’ve called yourself a designer.”
Her words slide through me, like stepping into sunlight after days of shadow. My breath catches, and I feel it—the strange, sudden jolt of hearing myself say it out loud. My fingers twitch as if trying to grasp the moment, hold it still, and keep it forever in my hands.
Designer.
My shoulders pull back, like my body is finally catching up to the truth. Yeah. I am a designer, and a fucking good one at that.
“I guess it is,” I say softly.
“I’m so proud of you.” Elodie not so discreetly wipes some tears away from her eyes.
“What’s with the tears?”
“Oh, I don’t know, my best friend finally sees how amazing she is? That’s nothing to be emotional about.” She grins. “So, you’ll do it?”
“Yes, I’ll work on it now and finish it in a few days.”
“We still have a little time before the party.”
“So?” I say. “I want to make sure it’s perfect for you.”
“Now you’re going to make me cry again.”
“Uh-huh and now you’re making me think you're pregnant,” I joke.
She flips me off and we spend the next hour catching up on everything that’s been happening in our lives. Once she leaves, I hurry into my room and start sewing the most perfect dress I can for my best friend.
Hours later, Evren finds me at my sewing machine.
“What’s all this?” he asks, glancing at all the fabric pieces I’ve cut.
“I’m a horrible friend and forgot to make Elodie’s post-elopement-party dress.”
“And you’re working on it now?”
“I have to. The party is soon.” It’ll be tight, but I’ll make sure it’ll work out.
“Why didn’t you just tell her you don’t have time?” Evren massages my shoulders and I sink back into his touch. Shit, how long have I been working on this without a break? “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”
“She wouldn’t, but I would. I’m a designer, and I refuse to have my best friend, someone who’s like a sister to me, not wear something I made for her wedding. Elodie always used to say I’d make her wedding dress, and I don’t think I’d forgive myself if I fucked this up now.”
“How can I help?”
“I… You want to help? ”
“Of course. You’re stressed, and more importantly, I want to help you because I love you.”
No one, not even Elodie, has offered to help me sew. Elodie doesn’t get why I like it, but she still supports me. So Evren offering to do anything he can to make it all easier on me is yet another way of how he shows up for me, constantly.
“Have I told you lately how much I love you?” I ask. “And…can you help me pin this up on the dress form?” I hold up the bodice. I don’t need help. I’m used to doing it alone, but I also don’t want to push Evren and his offer away.
“I’ll do anything you want or need.”
“Anything?” I raise my eyebrow at his innuendo.
He pointedly stares at my pussy and says, “Anything. Tell me this.” He holds the fabric to the form and then I pin it. “Has anyone ever eaten you out while you sewed?”
“No.” My voice turns breathy and needy at the thought of him feasting on me.
A filthy smirk crosses his face. “Then we’re about to fix that.”