“No more viewing the goods until you sample them.”
“I have another question.”
The water licked at our toes. Carter scooped me up in one smooth move. I put my arms around his neck as we ventured into the waves.
“How do we come back from this, Carter?”
“It’s too soon to ask that question. This isn’t over yet.”
He stopped where the water reached my toes. I stretched out, letting go for the sea and Carter to capture me. He moved me in time, lifting with the waves, and lowering me back to him.
“It’s already gone too far,” I said.
“It went too far seven years ago. Now you and I have to play this out to the end.”
“Even if it destroys us?”
“Even then.”
Carter twisted, using me to draw circles in the water. I let my head fall back. Gazing up at that sky while Carter floated me close to him, it was another perfect scene that we were obligated to ruin.
“Then we’ll be destroyed. Draw the battle lines. Stockpile the ammo. I can’t give you what you want and I can’t marry you.”
“Shh,” he whispered. “See those five bright ones over there? That’s Cassiopeia.” I followed his tracing finger. “Next to her is her husband, Cepheus. They were twisted by love, vanity, duty, and obsession. In the end, Cepheus was willing to sacrifice their daughter to save his wife. There are casualties in every love story, Belle. I’m ready to sacrifice for ours.”
“Are we a love story?” I asked. My question was light. Curious.
“You say you did what you did to me out of love. My reasons are the same. One way or another, I’ll find out what happened to my real Brinley Dylan, and I’ll get her back.”
I didn’t reply. I couldn’t even if I wanted to.
“What’s this?” Owen splashed over to us. “Can anyone take Belle for a spin?”
“No.” Carter’s grip tightened on me, hoisting me out of the water and snapping me to his chest. I blinked up at him in surprise. “Keep swimming, Newman.”
“Come on. We’re doing truth or dare. Play with us, Belle.” Owen tugged me from his grip and twisted to join the others.
A wave came on us, smacking us in the face with a wall of seawater. It freed us gasping and sputtering, and I searched for Carter in the confusion.
I found him on the beach, snatching up his clothes and walking off.
FRIDAY NIGHT ARRIVED in a flurry of excitement. The first party of the summer and a whole day of activities and sessions had to be canceled, so everyone could get ready. Ivy and Delilah marched around the ballroom in red and black gowns, barking orders.
They were stressing about nothing in my opinion. Our plans came together spectacularly. Kelli came through with the decorations that fell off the fence of cheesy and landed square on bold and elegant.
Black and red were our colors, and they came through in the red and black rose centerpieces atop checkered tabletops. A photo area made of a heart-shaped vine arch was near the entrance. Hanging from the ceiling were club, diamond, heart, and spade lanterns. The last items to handle were setting out the name cards and food.
Hazel delivered on her part. The buffet table would hold sun-dried tomato risotto, lemon chicken, grilled steak, and all their accompaniments. For dessert she came up with chocolate and red velvet cupcakes. Our signature drink was a Silver Autumn Blossom we renamed Painted Roses. The underage had to drink them without the gin.
“We really pulled this off,” I said. Kelli and I were circling the tables, dropping name cards and making sure everything was perfect. “Sorry I couldn’t help out the last few days.”
“You don’t have to apologize. You didn’t plan for a Neandertal to throw you in a pool. You got us a great band despite what happened. I listened to Purely Pink last night and fell down a two-hour-long rabbit hole. How did you get them?”
“I searched the best local bands and found out they played an event at the villa two years ago. I called and they jumped at the chance to play for us again. The first time was great exposure. They’re hoping to wrangle more gigs out of the community.”
“They’ve got me as a fan.”
“Belle? Belle,” Ivy called. “The band is calling from the front gate. Show them in and help them set up.”
“Ma’am, yes, ma’am.”
I saw her eye roll from across the room. She told me she was glad I was okay along with everyone else, but a concussion didn’t mean she suddenly liked me.
I carried out my orders and rescued the band members from security. They got to work setting up while I helped put the final touches on the buffet. At the strike of nine, guests began trickling in. Being fashionably late didn’t work when your room was upstairs and there was nothing else to occupy your time.
“Welcome, everyone, to our Wonderland.” Delilah towered above us in her natural place on stage. “Find your seats, help yourself to the buffet, and enjoy.” The band kicked off with her final word as cue. I chose Purely Pink for their fun island sound and the entire song they sang devoted to oranges. From the head-bobbing and hip-shaking, I chose well.
The trickle became a stream. Twenty minutes after nine and the ballroom was full, plates were heaped with food, and my fellow captives searched out their tables.
I had it on good authority—Kelli’s—that Delilah placed my seat at the back nearest the photo op. I switched it on the spot, bouncing Lukas and Tyra, and putting me and Zion with her, Carter, Nathan, Preston, Mila, and Hazel.
Zion and I joined them, earning a glare from Delilah that peeled me like a grape, and appreciative looks from Nathan and Preston that had me as naked as one.
I didn’t have my usual setup to make my own dress, but that was no excuse to settle for ordinary. My black halter gown had a red collar and long back skirt that showed off the short, white pants trimmed in red. Down the back of my skirt was a cascading shower of hearts, and for my stockings, I special-ordered one covered with little axes.
Off with their heads.
Nathan whistled. “Damn, girl. Is it your solemn duty to make every person in each room you walk into feel like they’re wearing a trash bag?”
I sat where I placed my card—between him and Preston. “Nope. It’s my solemn duty to get everyone wondering who my designer is, so I can collect potential buyers as I tell them it’s me. Never too early to build my fan base.”
“Smart.”
On Nathan’s right was Carter, Hazel, and Zion. On Preston’s left was Delilah and Mila. I thought it was a pretty good arrangement, but Delilah kept looking around, shooting me suspicious looks.
“I didn’t approve this seating chart,” she said. “Adler, did you change it?”
“From my sickbed? How would I have done that?”
“I think we’re all where we’re supposed to be.” Preston found my hand under the table and linked our pinkies. A happy shiver ricocheted up my spine.
“No, Delilah is right,” Carter said. “I should be seated next to my wife-to-be. You look amazing, baby.”
“Blow it out your shorts.”
He laughed uproariously over Hazel choking on her sip of Painted Roses. “All the couples that last say the key is never losing your sense of humor.”