Page 151 of Scars Like Wings

We visited clothing shop after clothing shop. Thanks to Simone, every shop in town carried every size from straight to mid to deep within the plus size to ensure no one went to a store and couldn’t find something they loved in their size. She also selfishly did it to make sure we could always have a fashion show when we came to get the latest and best in sea-creature fashion. The island had the cutest dresses, lingerie, and tops. After our show for Quinn and the boys, I had tried to pay for what I was getting, but Quinn would beat me to it. After the fourth shop where this happened, Nat nudged me with her elbow.

“You should give that up, honey.”

“I’m sorry! I’m not used to this. I’ve always paid for everything on my own. I don’t want her to think I’m just dating her for her money.”

“Trust me, Quinn doesn’t think that at all. She loves how independent you are. This is just one of her love languages. Quinn likes taking care of her girls. She does this with her mom, with me, with her aunts. She’s a giver.” Nat shrugged.

“Oh?” I smiled at Quinn. In that moment, my heart fluttered. She was so radiant and stunning. I wanted to give her everything to keep that smile on her face, to always feel like this. I adored her. No, I?—

“Are you two talking about me?” Quinn asked as she added the new bags to the other ones she was carrying for me.

“Yeah, I was just telling Byrd about that one mole in that one spot you should get checked,” Nat said, winking at me.

I laughed as they started trading digs at one another. It was laughter all afternoon and into the night. After shopping all day and snacking on some light local treats, we headed back home to prepare for dinner. There was a new restaurant that had opened that Simone had begged us all to try. It was fancy enough to not allow jean shorts or bathing suits but casual enough that us girls could show some skin. As I was making my way to Simone’s room for us to get ready, Nat shyly called out to me from her doorway down the hallway.

“Hey? Do you all mind if I get ready with you? I kind of hate getting dressed alone,” She murmured.

“Oh, my gods, of course! Please! I’m so sorry we didn’t invite you sooner!”

“Well, I also didn’t want to impose or anything?—”

“Oh, hush! You could never! All we do is girl-talk, anyway! Come on over!”

“Okay! Let me get my bags!” Natassa gleefully leaped into her room and returned not a minute later with her makeup bags and an outfit in hand.

As we entered Simone’s room, I announced. “We have an honored guest, ladies!”

Simone squealed. “Oh, my goodness! Stassi!”

“It’s about time.” Maisie smirked.

“I didn’t want to intrude!” Natassa apologized.

“You? There are some things you could intrude on, but this isn’t it.”

“Marceline!” Simone and I said at the same time to her and Nat’s laughter.

We each sat at a mirror in Simone’s room: Simone sitting in front of the standing full-length mirror near her balcony window, Maisie seated at a mirror near the bathroom door, Nat taking the backlit vanity, and I on the bed with a magical lit-up mirror floating in front of me. We chatted while we put on ourmakeup and did our hair. It was just like we were back home in my condo. Nat was a welcome addition, too, bouncing off of Maisie’s snark, Simone’s perkiness, and my general chaotic energy very well. She felt like a younger sister to me, and I’m sure the other girls felt the same..

While the girls were doing their hair, I went ahead and put on my dress. My makeup was already done with shimmering golds and a red fairy blush across my nose and cheeks. I had quickly styled my hair in two small pigtails at the top of my head tied off with yellow ribbons with the rest down. The look was gorgeous. Once I shimmied into the navy blue satin dress, I was blown away. The dress was thin and short, falling just barely below my butt. The cowl neck dipped low into my cleavage, making my necklace’s chain sink into it. The entire thing hugged my curves in just the right ways that I loved. The blue color made my skin and scales sparkle. I twisted my hips to see how the dress flowed around them.

Gods, it wasperfect.

“That dress isinsaneon you. If Quinn doesn’t beg to stay and rip it off you, I’m available as a rebound.” Nat winked.

“Oh, no, you're not.Youaremyrebound, ma’am,” Maisie said, making Nat laugh.

“Isn’t that the dress that Quinn was drooling over?” Simone asked, curling her hair into beachy waves while she turned around to admire the dress.

“You already know it is,” I smiled at my reflection in the mirror, remembering how Quinn had stopped talking mid-sentence when I came out of the dressing room. Her mouth had gone slack, but her eyes were ablaze. I thought she was about to take me back into the dressing room and continue what she started this morning.

“We should do some shots!” Nat bounced in her chair.

“Before dinner?” Simone wrinkled her nose.

“As opposed to when else?” Nat leaped up and opened the door before any of us could protest further. She looked up and down the hallway. Suddenly, there was a door slam before she waved at whoever was there. “Oh, great timing! Can you go get Dorian?—?”

“I’m not your fucking busboy, Natassa.” I heard Cooper’s voice. Immediately, Simone, Maisie, and I made eye contact for a brief moment and ran up to be behind Nat.

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