Page 274 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
“What do you think, Harlow? With her skin tone and unique eyes, I’m thinking… candy apple red?”
Harlow gasps. “Yes, definitely.” She eyes Peta with as much enthusiasm as I am like we’re about to play Barbie dolls with a real-life Barbie.
By the time another hour passes, we’ve narrowed down Peta and Harlow’s selection to two dresses each, and we’ve consumed another bottle of champagne. Both dresses are unique in their own right, but each has their own defining qualities that make it hard to choose between the two. Alas, at well over five thousand dollars a dress, they can only select one.
My eyes bug when a light bulb switches on in my head. “Can I borrow your phone? I know the perfect person to ask.”
Harlow tosses me her phone, her brow scrunched. I dial a number I have memorized before raising her phone to my face. Hugo’s broad grin fills the screen a few rings later.
“Hey, Isabelle,” he greets me with his familiar drawl.
He was only discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon. Raquel and another nurse, Monica, have been assigned as his home-care nurses in Regan’s apartment until he recovers. Isaac and I have visited him every day since he was admitted. Thankfully, Isaac didn’t mention the ‘cuddling’ incident, although his jaw did tick when I greeted Hugo with a brief hug each day.
“I need a favor.”
Hugo chuckles. “Are you drunk?”
I roll my eyes and poke out my tongue, stunned he could determine that from only hearing me speak four words.
“Youaredrunk,” he chuckles. “Where the hell is Isaac?” His eyes shoot around the phone screen as if he's seeking Isaac in the background.
“I’m not drunk-drunk. I’m just a little bit tipsy.” I impress myself by only slightly slurring.
When Hugo’s vigorous assessment fails to find Isaac, his eyes return to the front of the screen. “Who are you trying to get fired this week, Izzy?”
I screw up my nose. “Ha-ha.”
“I know there's no way in hell Isaac would let you go out unattended, so who’s there with you?” His grin is so wide, my eyes hurt when I stare at it.
“Roger is standing outside.”
His boisterous chuckle barrels down the line. It’s so infectious, I’m soon giggling along with him. “He has as much personality as a wet blanket,” he says between fits of laughter.
“Tell me about it. I swear the only two words he knows is ‘Ms. Brahn.’”
My impersonation of Roger makes Hugo laugh so loud, his heart monitor sounds an alarm. There's nothing more sobering than remembering he's injured and lying in a bed because of me and my stupidity. Any warm fuzziness I was feeling from the alcohol simmers to a dull buzz.
Once Hugo assures Raquel he's fine and not dying, his attention reverts back to the cell phone. “You better tell me what favor you need before Raquel confiscates my phone.”
“I need yourstellarfashion advice.”
His vibrating growl rumbles through the phone. “Just in case you failed to get the memo, I got shot in the shoulder, Izzy, not in my cock.”
I giggle rowdily. “Please,” I shamelessly beg. “You made such a good choice last time. It’ll only take five minutes of your time.”
Hugo rolls his eyes as his jaw muscle tenses.
“Harlow and Peta have their selections down to two dresses, but they can’t pick which one they like the most.”
His eyes widen. “Peta is there with you?”
Smiling, I nod.
His pupils dilate. “I think I should come down there and give my opinion in person. I can’t make an informed decision by looking at distorted images on a phone screen. I have to see the dresses up close andpersonal.”
Any reply I’m planning to give is halted when a box of tissues collides with Hugo’s chest.
“What?” He peers at someone past his phone, his face altering from playful to looking like a child being reprimanded for misbehaving. He mouths a silent apology before his eyes return to the screen. “Tell them to pick the dress that shows the most leg. Guys love legs. The shorter the skirt, the better.”
