Page 15 of Knotting else Matters

I looked at her, her big, hopeful eyes shining in the warm glow of the closet. Damn it. Sophie had always been my kryptonite.

“Fine,” I grumbled, snatching the dress from her hands. “But if she starts another ‘I’m so disappointed in you’ lecture, I’m chugging the first bottle of wine I can find.”

Sophie’s smile returned, her arms wrapping around me in a tight hug. “Thank you. I promise, it’ll be fine. You’ll see.”

Somehow, I doubted that. But I let her think she’d won, because if anyone deserved a perfect night, it was Sophie. Even if I had to suffer through it.

I held the black dress up in front of me, letting the soft, silky fabric catch the warm light of the closet. It was beautiful—elegant, classy… and not me. Not even close.

“I need something else,” I muttered, letting the dress droop in my hands. “Something more suited to my taste.”

Sophie’s forehead wrinkled, genuine confusion in her wide eyes. “But it’s black.”

“I wear other colors, you know.”

“Really?” Sophie’s voice was a mix of disbelief and amusement. “Because I’ve seen your wardrobe, and except for a few white socks, I don’t recall anything else.”

“I… I have a green scarf,” I mumbled, already feeling the heat of embarrassment creeping up my neck.

“Oh, a scarf. Very colorful. I stand corrected.” Sophie’s laughter was light, and it melted some of the tension in my chest.

“Okay, Miss Fashion Police. Let’s see what else you’ve got.”

Sophie stepped aside, her fingers dancing over the racks of neatly organized dresses, blouses, and skirts—an explosion of soft pastels, elegant blues, and shimmering silvers. I let my fingers brush across the fabrics, trying to ignore the little voice in my head that whispered I didn’t belong here.

Eventually, I settled on a dark emerald green dress—soft, with delicate lace sleeves and a subtle shimmer that caught the light. It was elegant without being too much, classy without turning me into someone else.

Sophie beamed, her eyes practically sparkling. “That’s perfect. Oh, and these.”

She reached for a small jewelry box and pulled out a set of white pearls—delicate, glowing against the soft velvet lining. She stepped behind me, gently fastening them around my neck.

I stared at my reflection, and for a moment, I didn’t recognize the woman in the mirror. The dark green dress hugged my figure in all the right ways, the pearls a soft, elegant touch against my collarbone. My hair fell in loose waves, and Sophie had even dusted a little bit of makeup over my cheeks and eyes, just enough to make me look like I belonged in a place like this.

“I… I can’t remember the last time I looked this nice,” I whispered, my fingers brushing against the pearls. “Or this… elegant.”

Sophie’s smile softened, her hands squeezing my shoulders. “You always look beautiful, Liv. You just don’t see it.”

“Yeah, well… I’m seeing it now.” I forced a smile, trying to ignore the twisting feeling in my chest. I felt like an imposter in my own skin.

“Come on.” Sophie grabbed my hand, her excitement contagious. “Let’s go show off.”

We stepped out of the room, our heels clicking softly against the polished marble floors as we made our way down the grand staircase. The warm light from the chandelier bathed everything in a soft, golden glow, and as we reached the landing, I saw them—Karl and Adrian, standing at the base of the stairs, talking quietly.

Karl’s face lit up the moment he saw Sophie, his usual charming grin widening, his arms opening to welcome her as if she were the only light in the room.

But it was Adrian’s gaze that caught me—dark, intense, and locked on me with a force that sent a shiver down my spine. He wasn’t smiling, his expression unreadable, but his eyes… they moved over me, a slow, assessing sweep that seemed to linger on every detail.

For a split second, something flickered in his expression—surprise? Maybe even… impressed?

But then it was gone, his face settling back into that familiar, unreadable mask.

“Well, don’t you two look stunning,” Karl exclaimed, pulling Sophie into a warm hug.

“Thank you,” Sophie’s voice was bright, a perfect reflection of his joy.

I reached the bottom of the stairs, and for some reason, I didn’t know where to put my hands. I settled for crossing them loosely, trying to channel some of that old, sharp confidence.

Adrian’s eyes were still on me, and I forced myself to meet his gaze, lifting my chin a little higher. “Well? Do I pass your Alpha inspection, or should I go back and grab my old band shirt?”

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