Page 97 of Violet

“Are you sure?”

It’s the next day and Rue hasn’t shut up about me being a changed Omega. From girl to woman to full-blown sex goddess is her idea of it all. And it both makes me want to groan and laugh.

“I’m not now, nor will I ever be, a sex goddess.”

She waves her phone in front of me. “Eyes on me. The QB is throwing out so many theories. I could just die. If I knew how to contact her…them…him?” She sighs. “I would.”

“You can.” The moment the words are out I regret them, but Rue doesn’t notice as she eyes the boxes on my bed.

“No, I’m not posting on her site. If I’m to give her dirt, then I’d want an exclusive Stitch of my own.” She cuts her eyes to me. “Do you have dirt for me?”

“No.”

She pulls at the white ribbon on the glossy box. “Can we open them? The tiny violet spray is adorbs, and I think Asher could work on his card writing skills?—”

“His aunt probably wrote it.”

“Oh.” She bites her lip. “Maybe he got his people to send them to you? You know movie stars…they have people for everything.”

She says this like she knows.

But I can’t deny the thrill. Even if Stephan didn’t buy it himself or pick it out, he still thought of me and?—

He can’t have children.

I blink, gostill. A big family has always been part of my future. And this will take getting used to. But we can adopt, and it’s not like I wanted a child immediately. I push it all out, and Rue’s still talking but her words aren’t registering. I pull the ribbon, lift the lid, and part the tissue paper.

Oh. My.

“Isowant to be you.” Rue starts touching the dress.

I let her take it out and hang it because it makes her happy.

“What do you think of the dress, Vi?”

The violet-black asymmetrical number is long at the back and on the left side, with enough leg on display on the right to border the line of comfort for me.

“It’s pretty and it shimmers.”

Rue sighs. “Gorgeous. Breathtaking. It’s the very latest, too. It’s your size! How’d he know? Put it on! Look at that low back and the strapless bodice! And he got you shoes! The latest purse! Oooh, a mask! Mari!” Rue cries out. “Verylatest, Vi. As in hot off the latest runway. As incouture. No trends here—this is timeless.”

She does a swoon as Mari comes in, who nods. “Very nice.”

“Stephan sent it to her, with the shoes and the mask and the cutest little bag. To die for, right? She won’t tell me how he knows her size, and I’m trying to get her to model it for us before the party. Why do you think he didn’t send me one? I need a new dress. Something sophisticated…” Then she stops, sucks in air, and rushes out the door. “Iris, Quinn, wait. Let’s get Heath to buy me a dress!”

Mari and I stare at the dress. It’s utterly gorgeous. I haven’t tried it on yet, but I suspect it’s my size. He mighthave guessed, and Iris might have told him. I don’t care. I’ve never owned something this expensive, this up-to-the-minute.

It’s frivolous, and guilt hits me.

“You’ll look good, Vi. You always do,” she says with a laugh. “But try to be more relaxed. Now, go put it on.”

With a sigh, I figure I’d better start getting ready. I shower, and then when I get out, I notice something else in the box, under another layer. Lingerie.

Not underwear,lingerie. Violet-tinted to wear beneath the violet-black shimmer of the dress, violet scraps of lace. I pull everything on and pin up my hair, right as the doorbell rings again and Rue lets out a wild squeal.

I don’t even want to know.

There’s a knock, and Iris stomps in.

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