Page 61 of Gathered Sparkle

I turn in my seat to look at him, raising an eyebrow. “Why would you do that?”

“Because you’re staying with me.” His grin is utterly shameless. “At least for a while, until you’re feeling better.”

“Stop that shit,” I grumble, shooting him a glare, but there’s no real heat in it. “I’m fine.”

“For me?” he asks pleadingly, his pout too tender to fight against.

I sigh as my resistance crumbles. “I need a lot of fucking shit,” I admit. “For that god-awful dinner, I’ll need my makeup, and… shit, I don’t even know what to wear to a fancy-ass place like that.”

Koen snorts. “It’s a trap, not a dinner.”

“I still want to look appropriate for thetrap,” I argue, ignoring his answering smirk. “Can I wear one of the dresses you bought me?”

“No, the fuck?” Levi cuts in. “Of course not. We’re not wearing the same dress twice. What are we? Peasants?”

“Yeah, well, not everybody has the money to buy a new dress for every occasion,” I say bitingly, glaring at him.

“Good thing we’re not everybody, then.” Levi gives me an incredulous look. “Can you give me free rein to go get you a better wardrobe? Trust me. You’ll thank me.”

“What?No. I just need something to wear for that dinner. Otherwise, I’m fine, Dove.”

I frown, realizing his nickname feels strange after our blow-up yesterday. He doesn’t seem mad anymore, but there’s still a nagging doubt in the back of my mind. Maybe he’s looking for an excuse to buy me something ridiculous out of spite.

Iwouldn’t put it past him.

Crossing my arms over my chest as a last line of defense, I sigh. “I’ll wear the black dress from your birthday again.”

Koen raises an eyebrow. “That’s way too much for a simple dinner, even if it is a nice restaurant.”

“Oh, nowyou’recritiquingmywardrobe?” I shoot back. “Big talk coming from you.”

Koen chuckles at my sass, and damn if it doesn’t do things to my heart. “Let him get you a dress. He’s good at it.” He turns his pretty face to his brother with a pointed look. “And one dress, Dove. Justone.”

“Perfect!” Levi claps his hands excitedly, waking Pebble up before standing and grabbing Ezra’s wrist, pulling him to his feet. “Come on, Ezy baby, we’re going shopping.”

Ezra looks at me with a mixture of dread and pleading, and I have to suppress a laugh at the sheer misery in his eyes as Levi drags him toward the door.

I’m still watching them go when Sylus catches my face in his hands and kisses me. It’s playful at first with light brushes against my lips, then it suddenly deepens into something that sends sparks racing through me. When he finally pulls back, I’m a little breathless, and his grin is utterly smug as he asks, “Anything else you need?”

I blink, taking a moment to recover and process his question. “I don’t know… casual stuff.” I look down at the sweatpants and a shirt I’m wearing of his again. “And if you’re okay with me wearing your stuff to sleep—”

“Baby,” Sylus chuckles, cutting me off. “You can have all of my stuff, but honestly, sleep naked. Makes shit easier.”

Koen makes a disgruntled noise as he shoots Sylus a look full of silent reprimand.

“Ha-ha, fucker,” I mutter, making Sylus laugh harder.

“I’ll bring a little of everything,” he promises, stepping back. “And if I miss something, I’ll go again.”

“I can go get my stuff,” I protest. “I’m not bedridden or anything.”

Sylus shakes his head. “Nope. But you are hurt.”

“It’s agraze,” I argue. “It’s not that bad.”

He leans in again, brushing his lips against my forehead this time. “You stay here and relax for today, okay? I’ll be back, Sparkle.” There’s so much care wrapped in his words that it’s hard to keep arguing with him.

I watch him leave, then I turn to Koen. “And you?” I ask, raising a brow. “Are you going to mother hen me too?”

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