Page 73 of Isabella and the Slipper

“He kissed Five.”

“You’reFive.”

“But he doesn’t know that. He kissed a mystery woman. And while he was kissing me, he tried to take my mask off.”

“Oh, no he didn’t!”

“Yes, he did. And that’s when it dawned on me. He was just kissing me to distract me, so he could tear that mask off and see who I really was. Which was a low thing to do.”

“Are you sure that’s what he was doing?” Savannah pulled the car into her driveway and cut the engine. She twisted in her seat to face Isabella. “He could have just been really into the kissing.”

“He was. But that’s not why he wanted the mask off. He wants to know who Five is. That’s what he’s wanted all along.” Pain bubbled up again, and she swallowed it down.

Savannah crossed her arms. “I don’t know ...”

“Come on. I need to change and get back to the Vibrant Hue before they pack up. Hopefully Elenore was too busy to notice I’ve been gone.”

“I don’t know how you stand her. I keep telling you to run away.”

“I know.”

They raced inside Savannah’s house, and Isabella changed back into her black outfit, taking off the wig. She pulled pins out of her hair as Savannah drove her back to the gallery.

When they pulled up in front, Isabella’s breath caught, and she clutched the door handle. All the lights were off. The sign was dark. No cars were left in the parking area.

“I’m so dead,” she whispered.

Chapter 23

Chase clutched the teal slipper in his hand and watched the red taillights fade into the distance. He’d totally messed up the whole night. How could he have been so stupid? He knew Five was determined to remain anonymous. Why had he tried to reveal her identity?

And then Delilah had to show up and make everything worse. The big reveal at the end of the dance didn’t help at all. And now he wasn’t sure if Five would ever text him again.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket, wondering if he should text her now or give her time to get over the evening.

Delilah came running up to him. “Chase!”

He sighed. “What do you want, Delilah?”

“Why were you calling her Five?”

He shrugged.

“Who was that? Why’d she freak about the stupid mask?”

There was no way he was going to tell her anything. “I don’t know who it was.” He stuffed the teal slipper in his pocket.

Delilah gave him a quizzical look but then smiled. “Guess she decided she didn’t want to be with you after all.”

“I guess so,” he said, turning toward the parking lot. “Good night, Delilah.”

She beamed and then waved at him. “See you Monday.”

He climbed into his car and drove home, his chest numb. He readied for bed and then sat at his desk, remembering how Isabella had shoved the Skittles in his mouth, falling on top of him. He stared at his phone. He missed her.

Five? Are you there?

He waited two minutes for a response, but nothing came.

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