Page 177 of Wicked Dreams

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’sperfect.

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 fromPhantom 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?”

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