Page 36 of Protecting Bianca

‘Maybe he’s changed.’

‘Yeah. Or maybe not. I don’t know. But when I look at him…’

‘Yeah?’

‘I can’t breathe.’

Ruby didn’t respond. There wasn’t anything to say on her end. ‘Thanks for listening,’ I texted. ‘I’ve got to get ready. It's almost six. Bye, babe.’

‘Bye, babe.’

With some pep in my step, I shot out of bed and ran to my closet. I knew I would wear the red dress tonight. It was the fanciest thing I owned. It was long with a slit up the leg to the top of my thigh. I bought it for a work gala once and hadn’t worn it since.

I curled my hair and added a red lip to my makeup. Picking up the perfume bottle on my vanity, I sprayed some on my neck and wrists. My chest rose and fell as I stared at myself in the mirror. I nearly didn’t recognize the woman standing there. She looked happy and excited. I hadn’t felt that way before a family function in a very long time.

“Bianca, are you ready? It’s time to go,” River called from the hallway.

When I opened the door, he and Lizzie stood there, waiting. Lizzie wore a tight black dress and white pearls. Her hair pulled into a messy bun. “You look very pretty, Lizzie.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

River looked me up and down. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

I smirked. “Thanks, River.”

“All right. Let’s go. I don’t want to miss any of the hors d’oeuvres.”

“You two go on ahead. My date will be here soon.”

“I thought Stewart couldn’t make it,” said River, helping Lizzie with her coat.

“He couldn’t. I’m going with someone else.”

“Who?”

“Jager.”

River stood still, his hands on top of Lizzie’s shoulders. “Jager?”

“Yes.”

“How? Why?” His voice was harsh. I knew he was angry at how Jager left because he held me as I cried for days.

“Well, I needed someone, and he offered.”

“If you were desperate, I could have asked someone for you.”

The word ‘desperate’ stung. “Thanks, but I’m good. It was nice of Jager to offer, and I was more than happy to accept. You know how I hate going to these things alone.”

He sighed. “Just don’t let this become more than it is. All right? I don’t want to see you hurt again.”

“I get it.” I walked up to my brother and patted his shoulder. “I won’t let myself get caught up. I promise.”

“Good.”

“Now, go on or you’ll miss the tiny sausage rolls.”

That was enough incentive to get River moving. I closed the door behind him and pressed my back against it. My heart raced, and I smiled before turning around and searching for my heels in the hallway closet.

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