Chapter 21 #2
I run my hand over the velvet of the midnight-blue gown, making sure to touch the beaded bits gently. “It’s fab, isn’t it?”
“Look at the intricacy of those beaded stars. This dress is made for you.”
I smile, easily agreeing.
I fell in love the second I saw it but couldn’t justify the high price until I had somewhere to wear it to.
Between my senior architect position and my secret life as a glassmaker, I can now easily afford designer dresses, the ones I always borrowed from Addie, but old habits die hard.
With care, I take it off the hanger and step into it with Addie’s help. The flowing layers of tulle that trail the back sweep the length of the closet, and the draping fabric off my shoulders adds a soft and mysterious element to it.
God, this is beautiful.
Addie zips me, then helps me with my simple silver strappy heels, and I do a quick twirl to take it all in.
The beading was hand-sewn into intricate stars and crescent moons to match my pearlescent white moon mask. It’s adorned with tiny stars to match the dress, shimmering crystal accents, and strategically placed rhinestones that catch the light if I move just right.
“You look like a fairy.”
I glance at Addie over my shoulder, smiling. “No, Adelaide. I look like a goddess.”
Spritzing myself one last time with my new jasmine perfume, I hear my intercom go off. “Ads, that’s a courier. Can you give him the box that’s on the floor next to the elevator?” I yell down the steps, then glance around my room one last time, making sure I didn’t forget anything.
Silver sequined clutch? Check.
Extra perfume, mints, face powder, and a mini hairspray to ensure my hair stays in place and slicked back the way I want it.
Check. Check. Check. And check.
And most importantly…
My mask? Check.
My hand hovers to shut off my light, but I hesitate, then walk back through the room and stop next to my bed.
With a delicate touch, I pick up the photograph of Camila and me, and hold back my tears.
“Tonight is for you, my sweet friend. I’m going to try to start living for both of us.
My scars are healing after all these years, and for the first time since I can remember, I feel like I can breathe.
Maybe it’s because I’m back with your family, people I love dearly, and they remind me so much of you that it’s what I needed all along.
I’m not sure, but I’m glad I finally figured it out. I love you.”
I kiss her face and put the picture back in its place, then walk downstairs to meet Addie with a renewed purpose.
“What was in that box, a dead body?”
I smirk. “An oversized abstract glass decanter.”
“Oh. You didn’t show me that piece. Was it commissioned?”
I nod, the smirk still firmly pulling the tips of my lips up. “You could say that.”
“Why are you being so evasive? Who was it made for?”
“Guess.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” She throws her arms up. “I’m not guessing. Just tell me.”
“Nate and Leo.”
She pauses mid-sip of her champagne. “They asked you? They know?”
“Nope. Leo pulled me into the office the other day and asked if I thought this artist was any good. He showed me ‘Cherry’s’ page. He was going to reach out and see if they’d be willing to donate a piece for tonight’s silent auction.”
“Shut the fuck up.” She laughs and hands me a glass. “What did you say?”
I shrug nonchalantly while taking a long sip. “That the work was mediocre, but the artist has a cult-like following, and the bid for something of theirs would go for a lot of money.”
She covers her mouth as she starts hysterically laughing. “Oh my god, that’s the best thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Especially when he told me he didn’t get the hype but was willing to ask for one, knowing it would be a popular item.”
“Classic. Wait until he finds out it’s you.”
“If he ever does…”
“Here, zip me up the rest of the way.” She turns, and I do up her classic long black silk gown. Then I run my fingers over her hair. “Your hair came out amazing, the hairdresser did it perfectly to suit your outfit.”
It’s waved and slicked back to look wet. Addie is going as a dark siren, a goddess of the sea.
My phone pings. “Our car is here. Are you ready?”
She puts one last swipe of lipstick on, then turns to me, holding it up, and I nod. She lines my lips first, then puts the same shade of red on me, before we head downstairs.
“Ms. Cunningham?”
“That’s me. Thank you, sir,” I respond as the driver holds the door to the Suburban open, thankful for my forward thinking in booking a larger vehicle to accommodate my dress.
Addie gets in on the other side and looks at me pointedly when the car starts moving.
“What is the game plan tonight?”
“Game plan?”
She rolls her eyes. “With Nate?”
I hunch my shoulders because I don’t have one. I’ve thought about this nonstop, and I’ve come up with nothing.
“I don’t know, Addie. I’m worried that if I tell him I’m no longer engaged, he’ll think I called it off for him.” When she sucks in a breath to speak, I continue, “I know I need to tell him. I’m going to do it tonight.”
“You need to rip off the Band-Aid, and, if I’m being honest—”
I raise one brow. “When are you not honest?”
“Ha ha. As I was saying.” She widens her eyes. “I think subconsciously, you did do it for him.”
I knew she’d think that, because sometimes I wonder if I did too.
“He hurt me.” I state the obvious with little heat behind it.
“But you forgive him.”
I nod and swallow down my emotions about Nate’s past. It’s not my story to tell, even if I hate keeping things from Addie.
When Nate explained everything, it didn’t ease the sting that had permanently pierced my heart, but my anger diminished almost immediately. After that night, I realized how much it had affected me and how much resentment I had been holding onto; I finally had a reason to let it all go.
Instantly, I felt a heaviness that had been weighing me down lift, and the black cloud that had followed me overhead for so many years disappeared.
“I want to enjoy tonight. When the time is right, I’ll tell him.”
Suddenly, the car jostles, hitting a large pothole, and we both bounce up and down.
Addie glares at me and points to my chest as the aftershock makes my boobs jiggle lightly.
“That’s it, I’m getting a boob job. Yours threw a party over there, dancing all around, mine barely RSVP’d.”
I burst out laughing.
“Stop it, they are fine.” I laugh again when she cups them and attempts to push them together.
“Oh, please, they didn’t even bounce; they just sighed in disappointment.”
I hand her my mask as we’re getting nearer to the party. “Oh, shush, you. You’re a smoke show, now let’s put on our masks since we’re close.” I hand her my custom piece, and then she holds out a small mirror so I can check it when she’s done tying it.
I tie Ads’s mask, and she looks like a sultry queen. Her mask is black, shaped like waves, with silver streaks that emulate the moonlit glow of the ocean.
The car stops in front of an Upper East Side brownstone, not far from Rosa and Javier’s place.
Addie takes my hand as we walk up toward the door.
“Did you say this is Harrison’s home?”
“Not yet. They live close by, however, after this party, they break ground and begin renovating the whole thing.” I point toward the attached townhouse next door.
“He bought that one as well, and he somehow got approval from the city to combine them. The walls are already down, the party will be between the two places.”
Her mouth gapes in shock. “Jesus. They probably cost forty mil each to buy.”
“Have you forgotten how much money this family is worth?”
She stares between the two townhomes and shakes her head like she can’t believe it. “No, but sometimes it’s hard to believe.”
“Trust me, I know.” I pull her forward. “I overheard Leo talking about it, and I think the idea is to eventually build a separate wing on the ground floor for Rosa and Javier since they’re getting older, and they’ll want to stay close to Claud.”
“Oh, okay,” she swoons. “That makes the ridiculous spending marginally better.”
“Says the girl wearing custom Valentino.”
The doors open as we approach, and when a man twice the size of Mase, dressed in all black, asks for our names, then we’re quickly whisked inside.
“Holy…” Addie says beside me. “I’ve been to some parties, but this is next level.”
“It’s out of this world,” I murmur and whirl around, taking it all in.
We’re enclosed in a dim room with dark plum-velvet drapery hanging from the extra-tall ceilings. The lights are low, with a purple-and-blue glow.
There is candlelight everywhere you look and dark wrought-iron candelabras with wax dripping down as if they’d been burning for years.
A layer of fog along the floor, and a long mirrored wall stretches the north side of the room, with projections of angels flying across the glass.
The guests are wearing mysterious masks and uniquely chosen outfits, each holding a specially crafted cocktail that sparkles in the intimate lighting.
To my side are masked servers who look statuesque enough to be mannequins, dressed all in black with silver-spiked headpieces, holding the hors d’oeuvres.
One of them steps forward with a tray of cocktails, then passes me a black matte card with silver-embossed writing.
Gin or Bourbon
I’d normally go for the gin, but tonight I’m living on the edge. “Bourbon, please.” I am a Southern girl at heart, after all.
Addie asks for the gin.
We’re handing another identical card, still no words exchanged, keeping the mystical allure.
My card reads:
Nyx’s Kiss
Blackberry bourbon with rosemary, honey, and activated charcoal
And Addie’s reads:
The Lunar Elixir
Gin, elderflower liqueur, blackberries, lemon juice, and edible glitter
“And you said they threw this together at the last minute?”
“Yeah.” My eyes are like a little kid’s in a candy shop, wide open and in awe. “This place doesn’t feel like we’re in the middle of New York.”
“No. It most definitely doesn’t.” Addie rubs my arms. “You okay?”
“Nervous. But I’m okay. Let’s stand over there.” I nod toward the dark corner near the end of the fully stocked bar. “Something tells me I might need another drink sooner rather than later.”
“Fine. One more drink, but I’m forcing you to mingle tonight. I know big parties aren’t your thing, but you can feel safe behind your mask.”
I give her a noncommittal nod, and we walk over to order a stiffer drink.
My eyes are like lasers, trying to figure out who’s who when they catch a group of four gorgeous men in the far corner, commanding the eyes of every onlooker around.
They stand tall with confidence, all well over six feet tall, radiating a strong, formidable presence.
Even behind their masks, you can tell by their perfectly tailored suits, styled hair, and strong demeanor that others are impressed by them, and they are well aware of their worth.
Sebastian Morales stands the tallest in the center, dark hair matching his mood, unbothered by the onlookers, arms crossed, intently listening to whatever Harrison is saying.
And then there’s Nate.
To me, the most handsome of them all.
His arm is draped over Leo, wearing a midnight-blue velvet blazer that almost matches my dress perfectly, with black satin lapels, a crisp black dress shirt, and no tie.
His mask is left for interpretation: plain, black satin.
His hair grew over the last few weeks just the way I love it, where it’s long enough to swoop and wave along his hairline.
“Look at them,” I mumble loud enough for Addie to hear.
She follows my line of sight and smirks. “If I didn’t know them, I’d be intimidated, but my god, they’re sexy.” She fans herself, then orders us martinis, while I don’t take my eyes off the one and only guy who still makes me feel alive after all these years.
As if he can feel the same pull that I do, Nate turns, glancing around until he finds what he’s looking for.
Me.
He drops his arm from Leo, locking eyes with mine, neither of us moving an inch, and if we were closer, I’d bet his breath would be as fast and labored as mine.
You can feel the electric current from here. It’s a force field, and I can’t hold back any longer.
My heart pounds against my chest; my stomach swirls with excitement.
“Addie?” I choke out her name. My eyes are glued on Nate’s while interrupting her conversation with a mysterious man dressed in all black. “I’ll be back.”
She looks across the dance floor and nods in acknowledgment. “Go, girl, get your man.”
Nate makes the first step toward me, moving like the night sky, quiet but commanding; however, I’m the one who quickens the pace.
We meet in the middle, so our faces are just an inch apart. Without thinking, I don’t know what comes over me, I’m acting purely on instinct and lust when I throw my arms around him.
Nate doesn’t hesitate to pull him into me, locking his arms tightly around my waist.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
My heart pounds loudly in my ears, the air swirls between us, and I can feel the rise of my arousal coursing through my veins as his arms tighten around the curvature of my body.
“Mads.” His voice breaks. He must see something in my expressions, something he’s been waiting for. “Tell me it’s fucking over.” The deep bravado of his voice purrs in my ear, lighting up every nerve ending in my body with excitement.
One hand lifts to cup his cheek. “No.” I allow my resolve to fade and finally give in to my fate, leaning in closer, and I smash my lips to his. “But I’ll show you.”
When my words hit him, about one second later, he pushes any control I had away and dominates everything about our kiss, effortlessly sliding his tongue through my parted lips.
He grabs my ponytail, maneuvering my head to the side, just hard enough to make me gasp, and he swallows the sound greedily, deepening the kiss.
The collision of our tongues steals my breath away with each swirl, while my ravenous side takes over, and I’m transported back to all the feelings Nate elicits from me.
Desire, passion, excitement, love.
I press myself against him, molding my body to his, as if to erase any trace of space that had dared to exist between us before. Scraping my nails down his back, desperate for him, gripping, pulling, urging him closer as our kiss turns reckless.
He bites down, then his plump lips suction mine, carefully pulling back. We’re both breathing heavy, eyes locked, like neither of us can believe it.
Finally reunited, I realize that the kiss wasn’t about love and tenderness; it was Nate claiming what’s his.
It was all about possession.
The kind of kiss that said I’m sorry. I’ve missed you. I need you. I’m yours.