Page 7 of Reign or Shine

What the—

“I know. I know. I’m the lucky costume winner today. Dressed as a fricken’ chicken.”

“Umm,” I begin, not really sure how to phrase my next question. “Are you, ah, sure you’re at the right party?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“But I thought this was a princess party.”

“And I’m a princess’s sidekick. A special request by the birthday girl. Or, er, can we call her a girl? Should she always be called princess?”

“I was just thinking the same thing about—” I catch myself. Waving that line of thought off, I focus back. Scanning the costume of the woman beside me, I try to figure out what character she is. What princess had a chicken sidekick?

“Wait, are you supposed to be Heihei? From Moana?”

“Ding-ding-ding.”

The laugh that bursts out of me felt good. All the tension I was holding from my earlier encounter with Henry dissipates in a fit of glee.

“Oh my goodness. That’s amazing and yet so cruel at the same time. How did Tallie get you to agree to this?”

“Blackmail.”

I’m expecting her to go into more detail but she leaves it at that. I nod, my smile falling just slightly. She’s scowling, yet I can see some humor behind her eyes.

“Yeah, Tallie does have a way with getting friends to help her against their will.”

“Well, just be glad she made you a princess for a day and not a punchline.”

My eyes flare. Yeah, there was that.

Instinctually, my attention is drawn back across the lawn to where Henry is standing, now with a drink in his hand. One of the men is also looking in my direction, but his eyes appear to be on the chicken beside me.

My elbow prods the woman/chicken but she doesn’t say a word. The padding of her suit is too thick for her to feel my poke.

“God, this thing is hot,” I hear her say a second before a small girl runs up to her and grabs her wing/arm, demanding she dance. Then my newish friend is gone.

I think for a moment about joining them but decide against it. I’ve had my time in the sun. My princess character was liked at the beginning, but as soon as I declined singing any songs, the kids lost interest in me.

Which, fair. The woman who was playing Moana was absolutely killing it. She was even taking other movie song requests. That level of commitment to a character was admirable.

Sweat pebbled along my hairline as I discreetly made my way to the edge of the lawn. As soon as I stepped into the shade, a little out of sight of the party guests, I let out a deep breath and adjusted the bodice of my costume.

Oh man, layers of polyester and a heavy wig did not mix well with the unexpected heat of the day. I had no idea how my chicken friend was surviving under her feathers. I was shaking my head at the thought of roasting alive in that thing when my gaze landed on Henry. Again.

Why did I keep singling him out of the crowd? After the embarrassing case of mistaken identity, I should be trying to avoid meeting his eyes. But no. I can’t seem to stop searching for him.

There’s a look of concentration on his face. It’s not outwardly grumpy, but his brows are drawn together slightly. I can’t help the little giggle that escapes me when he places his hands on his hips, his stance turning stern.

Could he…? No, that’s too crazy to…but maybe. Could he be looking for me?

A wave of heat that has nothing to do with the weather rolls through my body, making me very aware of certain body parts.

Did I dare approach him? Talk to him again and apologize for the mistake? Maybe he’d confess why he didn’t reveal himself to me right away too.

Take the chance.

The words dance across my mind, repeating over and over, getting louder.

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