Page 79 of The Biting Bargain

He chuckles.

"I’m not worried about you, little dove. You’ll walk your own path."

Well, how super convenient for you, I want to retort, but bite it off. Instead, I force my lips into a smile and jut my chin out.

"The perks were amazing," I say, more confident than I feel.

The corner of his mouth twitches. And that almost cracks me.

"The perks were amazing, little dove," he says in a raspy voice.

He leans down, and my stupid heart stops when he presses a gentle and bittersweet kiss on my cheek.

That's the last straw.

I tear myself away and walk out of the room as fast as I can, my footsteps echoing in my ears as my vision blurs on my way out.

ChapterThirty-Seven

Polly

"Holy crap, is that Versace?"

Luna performs a pirouette in front of my mirror, her white, sleek hair fanning out as she admires her reflection with wide eyes. She looks about a thousand times better in the overpriced frock than I ever did.

"You're welcome to keep it," I mutter, taking a long sip from my wine glass.

Mae and Kathy, sitting to my right and left on my little couch, shoot me suspicious looks as Luna twirls on my hard-won pair of Manolos, blinking in disbelief.

"What?"

"Are you crazy?"

"And the shoes," I say. "The whole outfit. "

"Honey, that's a few thousand bucks," Luna gushes, smoothing the dress's tight skirt almost lovingly. I can't help but smile, and toast her with my empty glass. I know how much Luna loves fashion. She would probably have enjoyed the luxury vacation in Vincent's Renards universe better than I did, at least as far as clothes are concerned. All of which I got to keep completely. Any other girl would be over the moon to take three big hardshell suitcases full of beautiful couture home.

But I'm a pretty woman gone wrong, apparently.

"I'm giving it to you." I stand up and smile, which doesn't feel forced at all. "In fact, you can all have your pick. Anything at all. I mean, who the hell needs so many clothes?"

"Polly, you can't do that," Luna is still protesting, but I grab her by the elbow, drag her to my closet, and pick out the long and lavish evening gown I was supposed to wear the day after tomorrow.

To the club ceremony.

I hold it in front of Luna's chest and the shimmering fabric cascades down her curves like a pliant waterfall. She swallows. I can see my friend struggling. Luna, like me until recently, never has enough dough left to afford anything nice.

"It's beautiful," she breathes.

"Looks great on you," Mae adds helpfully, suddenly standing next to me and putting an arm around my shoulders.

The touch of one of my best friends is gentle and warm and comforting, and I really have to pull myself together and not burst into utterly pathetic tears again.

"Mae, you take the red one from Ginger Eves," I say in a forced voice, pulling out another beautiful dress. "And Kathy the one with the sparkly hem..."

My girlfriends pounce on the clothes, chattering happily, and I'm glad to distract them a little from me and my doom and gloom.

Ever since I arrived home yesterday, the limo dropped me off, the chauffeur carried my suitcases into my apartment, and the door finally shut behind me, I've felt shellshocked.

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