Page 60 of Darn Knit All

“Believe it,” I told her, grinning. “You’re making a dress for Bea’s Oscar appearance. I’m so fucking proud of you, Mai.”

She jumped in my arms for another hug, beaming up at me. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

I squeezed tight. “You did itdespiteme.”

Mai slowly let me go and shook her head as the elevator doors slid open. “We did it together. Honestly, I’m in shock. This is so far beyond anything I could have ever imagined.”

I pretended to hold a microphone. “Ms. Bellinger! Ms. Bellinger! Who are you dressed by tonight?”

I turned, switching the pretend microphone to my other hand, speaking in falsetto. “Only the winner ofPerfect Fit,Ms. Mai Sakamoto, of course.”

“Of course,” Mai said, cackling. “There’s no ‘of course’ about this. This is beyond my wildest dreams.”

It hadn’t surprised me that Mai’s design would be chosen. One look at Beatrix Bellinger, and I’d known that our dress would look stunning on the actress—and I didn’t even have formal training.

I pressed the key card against the door and sighed gratefully when it opened.

“Thank God they brought our bags up for us,” I said, shoving the door open and holding it for Mai. “I’m ready to devour some greasy room service then hit the?—”

I stumbled into her when she stopped dead.

“What are you—oh.” I coughed. “I see.”

A single queen bed stood in the middle of the hotel room, the pristine white bedding mocking us.

“Looks like the universe has a twisted sense of humour,” I quipped.

“It’s a couples competition,” Mai said, her voice strangled. “They must have….” She glanced at me, and I relaxed seeing the amusement dancing in her eyes.

“I never even….” She giggled. “I can’t—we?—”

Belly-jiggling laughter burst from her, turning her into a silent clapping seal. Tears began to stream down her face as she bent over, gasping for air.

And, if I’m honest, I wasn’t much better. The laughter exploded until I couldn’t stand. Falling onto the bed, I dragged her down with me, setting off a new round of hilarity.

We were exhausted and pushed so far beyond our limits that at this point it seemed we were choosing to laugh rather than cry.

“I needed that,” Mai said, swiping at her face between chuckles as she rolled onto her side beside me. “Do we ask for another room?”

I shook my head. “Don’t want to inspire closer scrutiny.”

“True.” Mai sighed, her eyelids fluttering shut. “I’m too exhausted to think straight.”

I brushed the hair back from her face. “How about I order us some room service while you hit the shower.”

She sighed again. “But I want to sleep….”

“You know you’ll never sleep if you don’t wash your feet.”

She chuckled. “True. I also can’t remember how you know that.”

“Our camping trip. You refused to get in a sleeping bag until you’d washed every inch of your toes.”

“Some of us care about our hygiene.” Groaning, Mai lifted into a sitting position. “Fine. But whatever you order, make sure there’s a lot of it. I could eat an elephant.”

I reached for the in-room phone as she kicked off her shoes and straightened them by the door.

The light in the bathroom switched on as I turned away, ordering us two giant pizzas, some garlic bread, and a side salad—I could be healthy when I wanted.

---