42. Lex
Chapter forty-two
“Thanks so much for staying open later for us, Claire,” Isabelle says in the chair beside me while Maeghen, Claire’s new assistant manager, straightens her ringlets.
“Oh, anything for a friend.” Claire smiles as she dusts blush over my cheek. “All those extra zeroes Mr Millionaire promised me also helped.”
“Baby, we’re billionaires,” Beth says.
She’s sitting next to Isabelle, sipping champagne. Her warm brown hair is pin-straight, and her green eyes that match Caleb’s are defined with heavy black liner, making them look fierce and striking.
“But I don’t mind if my brother wants to pick up the bill for me this time.” She smirks as she meets my eye in the mirror and winks.
As soon as I agreed to attend the ball with Caleb, I messaged Gen to make sure I could have the night off. She even swapped my shift last night and had me finish at midnight instead of three, so I wouldn’t be too tired tonight.
I stayed at my own place last night, which Caleb sulked about, but I wanted to have my car with me since I had a full day of shopping planned.
I was getting ready to leave just after nine when there was a knock on my door, and I found Isabelle, Beth, and Beth’s friend, Tenley, waiting for me.
Tenley, as in Tenley Callahan, who owns the building where Parlour Tricks resides.
They took me to a studio in the city where one-of-a-kind couture gowns lined the walls. Champagne was served, and we each took a turn on a pedestal, trying on dresses until we found the right one.
Beth chose a black strapless dress that cinched in at her waist and hugged the beautiful curve of her hips. With the full-length lace gloves it came with, she looked every bit the confident woman she portrays.
Tenley picked a dusty purple tulle dress with a sinfully high slit up her thigh. With a satin corset bodice and sheer, off-the-shoulder bell sleeves, she looked like a modern-day maiden. Classic and delicate grace.
“I hope these waves will hold,” Maeghen says as she starts winding Isabelle’s now-straight hair into big Hollywood waves.
“You’re gonna be a total knockout, Iz. Just wait until my brother sees you,” Beth says, bouncing her eyebrows and running her tongue over her teeth.
“Ah, I think he’s going to be more interested in Lex.” She laughs, and her blue eyes fly to mine in a panic.
“I wasn’t talking about that brother.” Beth smirks.
I think we all hear the gulp Isabelle swallows. Claire meets my gaze in the mirror and gives me a face that says she wants to know more. I shrug. I don’t know of anything, but now I’m curious.
“Caleb isn’t interested in anything other than Lex these days. That photo of you from the beach was super cute. Who knew my brother could be such a simp in love?”
“What?” Claire screeches at Beth before looking back at me. “He told you he loves you?”
“No.” I shake my head.
“Pfft, it’s so obvious. Have you noticed how much red that guy wears these days?
I caught him online shopping at Christmas dinner for mermaid cufflinks.
Mermaids! At first, I thought, what the fuck?
Then a text message popped up on his phone from Siren , and I thought, well, isn’t that nauseatingly cute. ”
“Have you seen his tie with the waves?” Isabelle smiles, and Beth throws her head back and laughs.
“No! What a dork!”
“I think that’s sweet,” Tenley says, slapping a hand against Beth’s forearm.
“I think that’s obsessed,” Beth argues. “I can’t wait to tease him about it later.”
“It’s not like his feelings developed overnight,” Isabelle says, and then her forehead creases in thought. “Actually, maybe they did. Remember on the plane to Royal Harbour? He was acting a bit out of sorts, and Gage said he went home with someone. That was the night he met Lex.”
“I do remember the trip to Royal Harbour.” Beth nods. She pins Isabelle with a daring stare and a curve of her lips. “Many interesting things seemed to happen on that trip.”
“Exactly. So it’s been like three, four months of building feelings,” Isabelle says, totally unaffected by Beth’s words.
“Mmm, building feelings. Of which I’m sure will become very obvious when we arrive at the ball later.”
“Why do you sound like you’re speaking in code?” Tenley asks with one eye open on Beth while eyeshadow is swept over the lid of her other eye.
“I can be more blatant if you’d prefer? Isabelle?” Beth raises her eyebrows, pointing her reflection at Isabelle’s.
“No! No, I think you’re right. Caleb’s feelings will definitely be obvious tonight.”
“Yes. Caleb’s.” Beth chuckles. “Of course.”
** *
Caleb wanted to walk into the ball together, but Beth insisted that the four of us girls come in our own limo and the guys could go in theirs. Apparently, she wanted a Cinderella moment when everyone gawked at her as she came down the stairs.
We ran into James Huxley in the lobby, he was there with one of his business partners, Jackson, who owns the casino in Queens Coast. We all chatted for a few minutes before Beth grumbled that Caleb was blowing up her phone, demanding our presence.
We left Tenley and Isabelle to keep chatting and made our way to the ballroom.
“Beth Heart and Lex Morgan,” Beth says to the ushers when we reach what look like ten-foot-tall doors.
“Thank you, Miss Heart,” the man says as he taps against the screen in his hand, and the other man pulls open one of the giant doors.
“How disappointing.” Beth looks at me with those wicked cat eyes. “No stairs. My Cinderella moment shall have to wait for another day.”
I laugh as I fiddle with the clasp on my clutch, and we walk into the ballroom. Soft lighting fills the grand ballroom. Too many tables to count are lined with white linen and impressive floral displays.
“Is that something you’re looking for?” I ask. “A Cinderella moment.”
Beth snorts, then loops her arm through the crook of my elbow.
“I’ve yet to meet a man who can handle the fact that I’m not some trust fund brat,” she says.
“They don’t look at me like a regular girl who they’d treat like a princess.
They look at me like a princess who’s not smart enough to see through their bullshit.
I’m sure my Prince Charming is out there, but fuck, the amount of toads I’ve kissed so far is depressing.
Is it so hard to find a man who wants to worship me?
” Her words take on a tone full of jest and tease. “Seriously? Am I asking for too much?”
“Oh, thank fuck, you’re finally here. He’s been driving me crazy,” Gage interrupts, slamming a glass on a high-top table with a thunderous look.
His huge body is wrapped head to toe in black. Black boots, black dress pants, and a black silk shirt rolled halfway up his forearms. His shirt is open a few buttons down, and where his neck is covered in tattoos, his chest appears bare.
He rubs a meaty, tattooed hand down his face. “Don’t ever suggest he ride separate from her again.” He glowers at Beth while he waves a hand in my direction.
Beth looks at me with an unimpressed eyebrow raised. “If my brother, of all people, can be reduced to this behaviour, I’m not giving up on myself yet.” She turns back to Gage. “Where is the lovesick fool?”
A gasp comes from the other side of us, and I turn to see Caleb standing there, his gaze fixed on me as it travels from my toes, all the way up to my eyes.
“If you cry, I will disown you,” Beth says, as if she’s completely repulsed but I’m starting to think all her protests are really longing in disguise.
Caleb steps closer to me, picking up a hand and laying it over his chest where his heart beats like a drum.
“Lex,” he whispers my name, stricken with awe. “I didn’t think it was possible for you to look any more beautiful.”
“Thank you, Honey. And thank you for buying my dress and treating us at the salon. I had fun today.”
“Anything for you, Siren.” He smiles and places the barest kiss on my lips.
“Yes, thank you, big brother.” Beth raises a glass of champagne to Caleb.
My eyes survey the room, trying to find a waiter nearby for my own drink. I want to have something in my hands before I officially meet more of Caleb’s family as his girlfriend .
“I know, I too look amazing,” says Beth. “Sorry we took so long. We ran into James and Jackson in the foyer. Tenley and Isabelle should be here soon as well.”
“Isabelle?” Gage asks. He has a glass halfway to his lips that must have missed its destination. He wipes at his bottom lip and the part of his chest that’s exposed.
“Yeah. She was my plus one.” Beth is smirking behind her champagne flute. When she catches my eye, she winks.
“And you left her talking to the High Rollers?” He leans in, glowering at his sister, then pushes back from the table with fury.
“What’s it to you?” she sasses with delight.
“She—” He goes to point past Beth’s shoulder, but freezes, eyes laser-focused behind us. We all follow his line of sight and watch as Isabelle floats into the room beside Tenley.
Her normally tight coils of golden curls have been stretched into big, elegant waves hanging over one shoulder and falling to her waist. Dainty straps sit on her shoulders, dipping into a deep V neckline.
As she moves under the light, every speck of her emerald gown reflects off the sequins that cover the fabric.
“Iz. Tenley. You ladies both look lovely,” Caleb says, and he pulls me into his side, tucking me under his arm.
“Thank you, OG. You look very dapper. Love the red.”
All four of us girls chuckle as Caleb runs a satisfied hand down his suit jacket, which is deep maroon with a black baroque pattern and black silk lapels.
“Me too.” I smile up at him.
“Thank you, baby,” he says, smiling against my lips.
“Gage? Don’t you have anything nice to say, too?” Beth asks.
His eyes are still locked on Isabelle. I don’t think he’s even of this world anymore. He’s entirely in hers.
“You’re breathtaking,” Gage says in a daze.
“Let me at her! Where is she?”
“There, in the gold! ”
Excited voices break through the crowd and shit , I haven’t had enough alcohol to calm my nerves as Hazel and Matilda Heart come barrelling through. I’ve met them before, but that was nothing more than pleasantries exchanged in the name of business. This is so not that.
Hazel’s rose gold hair doesn’t move out of its perfect place, and she commands the attention of every person she passes. Her arms are outstretched as she closes in on us. Caleb must feel as I tense up, and he leans down to whisper in my ear.
“Relax. They love you already.”
I feel sick.
“Lex,” Caleb’s grandmother says with a proud smile.
Caleb turns me around with a hand on my lower back, encouraging me into his grandmother’s open arms. She envelops me in a hug that’s warm and smells of soft florals, like freesias or violets.
Over her shoulder, Caleb’s mother clutches her hands against her chest with a dreamy look in her eyes. What on Earth has Caleb been saying about me that warrants such a reaction?
“We are so happy you’re here.” Hazel beams, pulling out of our hug to meet my eyes. “Forgive me, darling, this is the first meet-the-girlfriend encounter we’ve had.”
“It’s nice to see you again.” I smile. Caleb squeezes my hip, reassuring me as my voice wobbles over the words.
“You know, Hazel,” Matilda starts, “he’s never actually given her that distinction. We’ve seen the photos from the beach, we know he took off after Christmas, but he’s never actually confirmed who she is.”
Caleb’s mother and grandmother hold hands as they grin with way too much teeth.
Caleb sighs. “Lex. This is my mother, Matilda, and my grandmother, Hazel. Mum. Grams. This is my Lex.” I can feel his eyes on me. When I look up at him, his face is soft with emotion. “My girlfriend. ”
The words are so simple, so clear, but the way he says them carries more weight than I can handle.
I’ve dated before, but I’ve never felt so held by someone’s affection.
Their devotion. The way Caleb claims me, with such pride, but also disbelief.
Like he can’t believe that I’m standing by his side, letting him call me his.
In reality, with what I’ve lost in life, I can’t believe that Caleb Heart is one of the things I’ve found.