38. Margo
Chapter 38
Margo
F riday.
Halloween.
The masquerade ball starts at seven o’clock, which means…
Six hours to go.
Only four hours before kids start trick-or-treating, but I refuse to think more about that. I’ll be upstairs getting ready with Riley, suppressing the anxiety spikes every time the doorbell rings.
Lenora picks us up from school after lunch. Most of the girls in the junior and senior classes leave early to get ready for the Fall Ball. It’s actually kind of fun to follow Lenora up to Robert’s classroom. There’s a goofy smile on her lips, and she admits that she wishes she could visit Robert in his ‘natural habitat’ more.
His whole face lights up when she knocks on his door.
A quick peek into his room, a kiss, and then we’re off.
“I booked you a hair appointment,” Lenora tells me in the car. “It’s at the same time as Riley’s.”
My lips part. “What? You didn’t have to?—”
“I want tonight to be great.” She pats my thigh. “So just let me pamper you, dang it.”
“Thank you, Lenora.”
It’s a whirlwind from there. I quickly sift through pictures for the hairstylist and point to something a little more extravagant than I would’ve been able to do myself. When in Rome, right?
The stylist is a master, making a braided crown intertwined with ropes of gold and pearls. Curled ringlets frame my face.
I’m the same, yet different.
Once we’re back at the house, Riley and I lay out our makeup in my bathroom. Our dresses are hanging on the door. I wipe off the day’s makeup and think about a plan. It’s setting in that this is real. This is happening.
The doorbell rings, and luckily, I’m still removing my makeup, because I almost jump out of my skin.
Riley throws me a curious glance, then crosses the hall into my bedroom. She returns and says, “The trick-or-treaters are starting to show up.”
I shudder.
“Do you not like it? Halloween?”
“Just some bad experiences.” After a while, even the association with terrible things was enough to make me want to hide. “No pity, please.”
“Got it. So, music?” She pulls out her phone and opens the music app. “Some fun pop, coming right up!”
Justin Bieber starts playing, and I laugh. “How’d you know I had a crush on him when I was twelve?”
She smirks. “Didn’t every girl?”
We do our makeup in silence, occasionally belting out lyrics. Robert or Lenora must be sitting on the porch, since the doorbell has stopped ringing. In fact, the house is almost too quiet for a while.
I decide to take Caleb’s words to heart, and I don’t pack on the eyeliner like I’m inclined to do. Instead, I fish out my palette of eyeshadows and create a muted, gray-blue smoky eye. It pairs nicely with my amber-brown eye color.
I coat my skin with a light layer of foundation, contour the hell out of my cheeks, and add shimmer to my cheekbones and eyelids.
Riley is done at nearly the same time as me. She gets close to my face and swipes lightly just under my left eye. “Perfect. Want to see my mask?” She puts the finishing touches on her lipstick, which is so dark red it’s almost purple.
“Of course! I can’t believe you didn’t show me before.”
She laughs. “Sometimes surprises are good!”
We go into my room, and she rifles through her bag. She takes out a white box. She lifts the mask to her face, and I grin. It’s perfect .
It’s delicate black lace, patterned like flowers. One side is bigger, sweeping high over her head with black feathers. The other side angles down, ending in dainty lace curls.
I love it.
I tell her as much, and she bursts into giggles.
“Thank you. I think Eli got the white half-mask from Phantom of the Opera .” She pouts behind the mask. “We’ll make a great pair.”
“I know you will,” I say.
Lenora knocks on the door, pushing it open. “Ah, you girls are so pretty! Riley, that mask is gorgeous. We’ve got about fifteen minutes before the boys show up.”
Riley jerks. “Fifteen minutes? Shoot. Len, we didn’t even get to eat anything!” She rushes out the door, down the stairs.
I chuckle. I hate to admit it, but as soon as she mentions food, my stomach growls. The week has been an ongoing saga against food. Or for it, depending on the day.
Lenora’s doctor friend came back with her ultrasound machine after I threw up one morning, but she couldn’t find any internal bleeding. Everything else seemed okay.
Riley returns with a plate of crackers and cheese. “Robert said this was for us?”
Lenora nods. “I bought that yesterday just in case.”
“You’re the best.” I hug her.
Because I’m in a hugging mood? Because I’m overstimulated on emotions? Either way, she hugs me back tightly.
We demolish the plate, then rush into the bathroom to brush our teeth. Riley reapplies her lipstick. When we return to my bedroom, Lenora is in the hallway.
“Anticipation is half of any romance,” Lenora says in a low voice. “The guys are here, but take your time. Come down when you’re ready.”
We’re not even dressed! Makeup and hair, yes. Crackers and cheese, obviously.
Riley and I exchange a look. She’s the first to crack, covering her mouth as laughter sneaks out.
“I have a feeling they’d come up and drag us to the ball…” She clutches her stomach, laughing harder. “Imagine showing up half-dressed!”
“No shoes.” I snort.
“Let’s get dressed.” Riley closes and locks my door, then unwraps her dress from the plastic. “We’re going to dance our butts off.”
“And where did Caleb say we’re going after?”
She rolls her eyes. “The school hosts an after-party. They lock us all in a building with games and stuff. It’s very… well, lame. No alcohol or anything.”
“When do we get let out?”
“Hypothetically, seven in the morning.”
My lips part. “They’d keep us there until seven? A full, what, eight hours?”
She laughs. “Yeah. It’s ridiculous. Hence why we’re not going…”
She turns away from me and strips, quickly sliding her dress on. “Zip me up?”
I venture closer. She has a tattoo on her shoulder blade. It’s the outline of a bird.
I tap it, not bothering to ask, because she immediately sighs.
“Long story.”
“Okay.” I zip her dress and finagle the eyehook clasp at the top.
She smooths the fabric and spins around.
I love it just as much as when she tried it in the store.
“Your turn.”
What I didn’t think of—that I definitely should’ve—is that this dress is backless. Backless means no bra. My breasts are pretty small, so that isn’t a concern. What is a concern is the fact that Riley brought sticky circles for my nipples.
It’s embarrassing, but I guess I’d prefer them to showing everyone how cold I am…
I roll my eyes. “I’m gonna need to figure this out in private.”
She tosses me the pack. “Have fun.”
I take my dress and the stickies into the bathroom, staring at myself for a minute. I still don’t know what my mask looks like. The anticipation of finding out is almost unbearable.
Once the stickies are on and everything is situated, I slide my dress up over my hips. It has a higher neckline, like a shallow crew neck, and the straps over my shoulders are wide. The whole thing dips low in the back, cutting just inches above my tailbone.
It’s dangerous, but I secretly love it. And the beading . I run my fingers over the intricate swirls along my waist. They curl up toward my breasts and down lower, onto the skirt. The dress is seriously perfect.
“Ready?” I ask Riley.
Time is picking up speed, hurtling us toward… Social anxiety.
“We got this.” She hands me a matte red lipstick from my tiny collection. “Put this lipstick on, and let’s dazzle them.”
I smile. I swore Riley to secrecy about my dress, just in case Caleb decided to interrogate her while I wasn’t around. I’m not too worried about matching him. Something tells me he’ll have that handled. But something tells me she’s seen my mask.
After my lipstick is in place, Riley and I strap on our heels. She picks up her mask. And… off we go.
“I’m suddenly nervous,” I admit.
She nods. “Want me to go first?”
“Please.”
At the top of the stairs, I lean against the wall and take a few deep breaths. Riley heads down, and the conversation below screeches to a halt.
“Wow.” Eli’s voice has a way of carrying. “You… that’s beautiful.”
I imagine her raising the mask, pouting like she did in my room.
“Where’s Margo?” Caleb asks.
“Oh, she’s coming,” Riley answers.
He grunts.
“Okay, Margo.” I shake out my arms and remind myself to keep breathing.
The heels—gold—aren’t tall enough that I’m going to have trouble. But I still feel off balance as I grip the banister and walk down the stairs.
I hit the landing, round the corner, and my eyes lock onto Caleb.
I go closer, and he holds out his hand to me. There’s fire in his eyes, and I break out in goosebumps. I can’t focus on anyone else—just him and the sudden tension between us.
I slip my hand into his.
His typical smirk is in place. He squeezes my fingers, and I get the chance to really examine him.
His suit is dark, dark blue. And his tie? Spun through with muted gold and royal blue. It’s subtle enough to escape attention at first glance. But I have a feeling that the two of us together will bring the color out.
It’ll send a message that we’re a pair, him and me.
Someone gasps, and his spell is broken.
I blink and realize he and I have crept closer and closer. My chest almost brushes his. I take a step back, but his hand tightens on mine, keeping me from retreating too far.
Fair enough.
Lenora and Robert are by the kitchen, arms wrapped around each other. And Riley and Eli are staring at us like we’re crazy.
“You’re stunning,” Caleb says in my ear.
I blush.
“And later,” he continues, his voice lowering, “I’m going to fuck you senseless in your dress.”
I shake my head. He’s so inappropriate. Yet, my whole body hurts from the way my muscles clench.
“Would you like to see your mask now?” He grins.
Anticipation floods through me. “Yes.”
He presents a familiar box.
Carefully, I undo the tape on each side and lift the lid.
Damn .
The mask is shining gold, with negative space cut in a similar pattern to the beads on my dress. It’s inlaid with pearls, highlighting the eye space. There are tiny gold chains that loop along the bottom of the mask, made to drip down my cheeks.
It’s stunning—the same word Caleb used to describe me. A word that is much better suited to this accessory than me.
“And yours?” I ask.
He opens his own box and shows me a matching gold mask. It’s masculine, though: the cutout spaces are smaller, more of a honeycomb pattern, with a single crystal between the brows. It covers the entire upper half of his face.
“Pictures,” Lenora says, stepping forward. “We’ll do a few with and without the masks.”
I don’t have time to react to his mask—to him —other than a smile. Lenora ushers us over to the fireplace, and the four of us strike a pose. And then another. She gets a few of just Riley and Eli, who matches her in his all-black attire.
“Masks on,” Robert suggests.
Caleb gestures for me to turn around, and he ties the mask’s ribbons behind my head. He secures his own, and then his finger trails up my spine. It’s quick, probably unnoticed by anyone else.
It’s weird only seeing his eyes, the quirk of his lips.
We pose for pictures, and I’m too aware of him at my back.
“We should go,” Caleb finally says.
Lenora lowers her camera. “I’m sorry, I think I got carried away.”
Robert wraps his arms around her shoulders.
“It’s just, our daughter would’ve loved this.” Tears fill Lenora’s eyes.
My heart skips. I feel the urge to go over and hug her, but I don’t dare move.
She waves in front of her face.
“I’m so sorry.” She rushes away.
Robert rubs his hands together. “Sorry about that. She’s happy for you, Margo. It’s just a little overwhelming.”
I nod.
Caleb frowns. “We’re going to head to the dance.”
“Have a great time,” my foster dad tells us. “Text me when you get to the after-party. And then we’ll see you home in the morning.”
“Will do!”
On our way out, Riley loops her arm in mine. “Do you think he’s going to check the log? For who signed in?”
I pause. “Oh God.”
“Already taken care of,” Caleb says. “I’ve got someone who will add our names to the list.”
We pile into Eli’s truck. Riley starts to get in the backseat with me, but Caleb stops her. He slides in next to me, his hand on my thigh. We have a whole bench, but we’re pressed close together. Our legs touch, hip to knee, and I lean into him.
“I have something for you,” he says.
I raise my head. Our masks are on our laps. My phone and ID are in a clutch that I totally plan on leaving in the car, because it doesn’t match anything. But being maskless means he sees my eyes widen.
“Nothing bad,” he promises.
I grimace. “I hope not.”
“Just close your eyes.”
I watch him for a moment, but he doesn’t move. Slowly, I close my eyes. He shifts, then takes my hand and turns it so my palm is up. He puts something hard and flat on it, supporting my hand with his underneath it.
“Open.”
I do. My gaze falls to the kind of box you’d put a necklace in. About the size of my palm, square, shallow. At least it isn’t a ring.
“Buying me jewelry already?” I quip.
“Open it.”
Eli pulls into the hotel parking lot. The dance is in one of their ballrooms—and I’d bet our room is in the same building. He hasn’t said as much, though.
“Dude,” Eli says. “Quit staring at your girl. We’re here.”
Caleb doesn’t tear his gaze away from me. “Leave us. We’ll be there in a minute.”
Riley and Eli get out. I’m not sure why I’m nervous, but my heart rate has spiked.
I flip it open, and it feels like Ian’s kicking me in the stomach all over again.
There’s no oxygen in here.
Sitting on a bed of foam is a bracelet. The hand-woven strip is encased in a cage of sterling silver. I lean closer to get a better look at the work, because it’s familiar. Like a dream or a long-lost memory.
It’s blue with a single thread of gold. In the fading light, it’s hard to make it out, but the gold glitters.
“I… I made this,” I whisper. “A version of it anyway.”
“You did.” He lifts the bracelet. It’s been lengthened by chain. Altered. There’s no way it’ll fall off now, not unless the metal clasp breaks. “Do you remember when?”
“I made two.” It is a memory. One I’ve dreamed about recently. Still, it seems to be coming at me from a long way off.
We’re married until these fall off.
He shows me his wrist. There’s the other one, also fortified with metal. Half gold and half blue. I remember—I remember making those. Presenting them.
Kissing him in a flower girl dress, while he wore his father’s suit jacket.
I wasn’t wrong when I said he was my first kiss… but I was wrong about when. It wasn’t this year; it was when we were eight.
“I remember.” His eyes are dark. “Do you?”
God, I used to hate him. And now—I’m pretty sure I just fell in love with him.
Again.
I nod. There’s a lump in my throat I can’t swallow around.
“You fixed them?” My voice trembles.
He fastens it to my wrist. Surprisingly—or maybe not, since this seemed to be his color scheme all along—it matches everything. The dress, the masks, my shoes.
He meets my gaze. “I didn’t want them to fall off.”
There goes my heart.
“Let’s have fun, yeah?”
I exhale. “And then sneak away early?”
His eyes dance. “If you’re persuasive enough.”
“Oh, I see how it is.”
He opens the door, taking my thin clutch from my hands and tucking it into a pocket in his jacket. He helps me down and carefully ties on my mask. He lets me do the same for him.
Once we’re ready, he offers his arm.
I take a deep breath. The bracelet is all I can concentrate on. That, and what it might mean.
Does Caleb love me, too?