Page 96 of Hateful Prince

“That’s the one,” Myrtle said.

“Yes, this is the one,” I agreed. Although Kiki thought I was agreeing with her, and I wasn’t going to change that.

Keeks leaned back in her chair and sighed. “God, I’m good. I should moonlight as a stylist.”

“With all your spare time?”

“Exactly. Spare time and monopoly money, two of a girl’s best friends.”

“In other words, made-up things that let us pretend we can do and buy things we cannot in fact afford or have time for.”

“That’s what I said.”

I sat on the bed, happy the dress was easy to move in, and looked at the mess of fabric strewn about my room. “I need to get this cleaned up.”

“And I need to get the chapter you sent me cleaned up so we can keep making epic things happen for you.” Kiki stretched and took another sip of her coffee. “Just package the rest of those back up and send them off with the return label. If you don’t send me a photo of you in that dress with all of those beefcakes looking dapper as fuck, I might never forgive you.”

“Seems like a fair trade.”

“Damn straight. All right, babes, it’s time for me to get bendy and stick my ass in the air. Who knows, maybe today’s the day someone will take me up on all my advertising.”

“You are absurd.”

“Love you too! Byeee,” she sang as she hung up.

I laughed and shook my head, reaching back to unhook the back of the dress. Only the little hooks didn’t want to play along. “Dammit,” I growled, sweat building beneath my arms and down my spine as I struggled to get myself free without destroying the delicate fabric in the process.

“How the fuck did I put this on if I can’t get it off?” I glanced behind me at the ghost. “A little help here?”

She shrugged. “I can’t touch anything. Sorry.” Then she fucked off and left.

“Great.” This was my nightmare. Fear of being trapped in my clothes might seem like something irrational, but tell me that when you were in a fitting room with a shirt stuck halfway over your head.

“And this is how you die, Dahlia. Congratulations. At least you’ll look pretty when they find your body.”

I was in a full-blown panic now, my shaking hands not faring any better at working the little hooks. One must be crooked or something, which explained why I could get it in, but not easily get it out.

A decisive knock on my door had me equal parts elated and mortified. But the truth was, I didn’t care who was at my door as long as they could unhook the fastenings on my dress so I could get back to my regularly scheduled leggings and sweatshirt.

Pulling open the door, I gasped at the sight before me. Four handsome men, all looking like my fantasy come to life and all staring at me like they wanted to eat me for dessert.

Caspian’s approving gaze was the first to return to mine. “Well, well, well, looks like we’re just in time for the party. What do you say we get you out of that dress and into bed, darling?”

A relieved sigh left me. He had no idea how perfect his response had been. “Yes, please.”

Chapter

Thirty

HOOK

If I said Dahlia had a hot body, would she hold it against me? But seriously, her in that fucking dress with those big eyes and flushed cheeks? Fuck me. I was a goner, and I hadn’t even walked through the door yet.

When Kai had come door-to-door collecting us like a holiday caroling team, I have to admit I was dubious. But hearing his story about how Dahlia was struggling and needed a good distraction, well, that was my bread and butter.

Far be it from me to let her down. I’d done that once before. Never again. And now, I intended to prove just how reliable I was. Pulling on my most piratey persona, I gave her a solid leer.

“Well, well, well, looks like we’re just in time for the party. What do you say we get you out of that dress and into bed, darling?”

---