-Caspien
I laughed, and she frowned, grabbing it from my hand. She rolled her eyes after reading it but was smiling.
“I never said he wouldn’t get the girl. I’m just saying that he's a bit broody. But I don’t appreciate that he put ‘best’ in quotation marks.” She scoffed, popping a bottle. “Your glass selection is dismal, by the way.”
I had mostly coffee mugs, a few plastic cups for Emmett, and some random mismatched glasses my mom found at a charity shop or garage sale.
“Let’s finish getting you ready.” She pushed me back towards the bathroom. “We have about five minutes before the kids smell the pizza,” she whispered the last part as we walked past Emmett’s bedroom, where they were playing.
I let her do her thing, and what I saw in the mirror was someone I didn’t recognize. Well, I recognized her as the future Luna of Blue Ridge. The girl that wore confidence even if it was fake, the one that dressed up for every dinner and party that she herself helped plan. I saw a doll, a beautiful one, but it reminded me of when I was nothing more than an accessory—a glorified party planner with a fancy title.
“You don’t like it?” Cali frowned. “Is it too much? I thought a soft smokey eye and just a little glitter would bring out your eyes. I think you look absolutely stunning."
“No, it's not that.” I came back to the present, trying to give her a smile. “I just haven’t been this done up in ages, and it brought back some memories that I didn’t think it would,” I admitted.
Her lips formed a thin line, but she didn’t ask anything else. I liked that about her. I knew she would always be there, but she didn’t push it. She seemed to know when to ask questions, like about Lola, and when I wasn’t ready to open up and she would drop it.
“Well, let's make you some new memories then.” She helped pull me up from a kitchen chair we dragged in here.
“Thank you for helping with Emmett and me.” I gestured to my face, and she grabbed my hand.
“Don’t thank me, that’s what friends are for, right?”
“Right,” I agreed.
I asked Caspien what the dress code was, and he just said, ‘come as you are’ so that was no help. I didn’t want to be underdressed or overdressed, and I couldn’t decide which would be worse.
“Simple but elegant.” Cali leaned on my bedroom door frame, reading my thoughts. “A long black dress maybe? Something comfortable so it doesn’t look like you’re going to a wedding.”
“Or a funeral,” I added, turning to my closet. I hadn’t updated it in years, and I left behind everything nice at Blue Ridge. Even though Nolan had my things packed up, I didn’t want the reminder of the clothes he purchased for me..Not like a ballgown would have worked well in the cabin anyway.
“I should have brought you something,” Cali crossed her arms, coming up next to me, frowning at the sweaters, flannels, and jeans.
“I don’t even know where we’re going.” I flopped back on my bed.
“Probably somewhere fancy,” Cali responded. That I already could have guessed.
She went rummaging through a box of things that I still hadn’t unpacked. I added that to my mental list of things I needed to do.
“This could work,” She pulled out something dark green, a dress I hadn’t seen since high school.
“I doubt that will fit me,” I propped up on my elbows.
Cali threw it to me, “Try it.” She went back to rummaging through the box.
I sighed, slipping off my clothes and tugging over the soft fabric, careful not to mess up my makeup.
“We also need to get you a full-length mirror,” Cali stated, “But wow, yes, no other options.” She looked me up and down approvingly.
“Not like I have any other options.” I gave her a blank stare.
I looked down at the simple emerald green dress. The fabric was stretchy, thankfully. This dress was from ages ago. I think I wore it to some menial dance in high school Lola dragged me to. It didn’t fit me the way it used to. I was skinnier back then, but this fabric was forgiving and hugged my new curves.
I have no idea why my mom packed it, or maybe I did it for some reason when we went to the cabin. Those days before we left were still blurry.
“It's not too dressy?” I asked.
Cali shook her head. “It's perfect, elegant but simple, exactly what I was looking for.”
“Fine.” But I didn’t feel fine, my head felt light, and nerves coursed through me. I didn’t want to be overdressed or presume that we were going somewhere nice.
“You look like a princess.” Emmett stopped in his tracks as he ran into my room.
“A fairy,” Loreli said, almost bumping into Emmett's back. “I’m hungry,” Her attention turned to her mom.
“Lucky for you, I ordered pizza.” Cali winked at me, and I ushered her and Emmett to the kitchen.
“Wow, this is enough pizza to feed an entire dinosaur!” Emmett’s eyes were wide.
“Something like that.” I smiled at him, grabbing plates from the kitchen before I took a seat next to him.
“Emmett?” I asked him, but he was half distracted by the pizza. “Baby?” I touched his arm.
“Yes, Mama?” His green eyes turned to me.
“Mama is going out for a little bit, but Cali will be here and Loreli. Is that okay?” He nodded.
“Take care of them, will you?” I winked at him. “Help Cali and show her where everything is.”
“Yes, Mama, are you coming back tonight?” A small frown crossed his face.
“Yes.” I ruffled his hair. “We’re all having a sleepover.”
“Do your finishing touches. I got it from here,” Cali said, swatting my hand away where I tried to grab a piece of pepperoni from Emmett's pizza. “You’re about to eat, probably.” She glared at me.
I rolled my eyes and left the table. I slipped on some ankle boots, which were the only thing I had that had a little heel on them, and bought a light jacket but left it. It was warm, but I wanted to cover myself for some reason, especially if I ended up in an almost floor-length dress at a burger joint. I really couldn't imagine him at a burger place though, but he did frequent diners, apparently.
“Okay, I think I’m good.” I went back to the table.
“Better than good. You are a goddess.” Cali smiled at me.
A sharp knock reverberated through the hall, and I jumped. Cali nodded towards the door. I didn’t expect him to come up here; I thought he would have texted me when he was downstairs.
I f.orced myself toward the door. I felt out of breath and tried to take deep breaths as I stood in front of the door.
“Protocol is to actually open the door,” Cali shouted. I was glad that the dining room table was out of view. I wasn’t ready for him to meet Emmett yet, or for Emmett to meet him.
He knocked again.
I wiped my hands on my dress, and thankfully, my body remembered how to open the lock. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw in front of me.
Caspien stood in the doorframe, taking up almost the entire space. He was wearing a dark shirt and gray pants. His jacket was slung over his shoulder, and he looked somehow casual but still radiated that authority and effortless confidence I’d only ever seen in movies.
I’d seen him dress up before. I actually haven’t seen him in anything besides a suit, but in this, he was mouthwatering.
His shirt was perfectly fitted like he had it tailored, and I’m sure he did. It clung to his body, showing the mass of his arms and that he was a trained warrior, and Alpha, under perfectly tailored suits. I felt heat course through me and curl deep inside me at just the thought of seeing what was beneath.
When my eyes finally made it to his, he was looking at me hungrily. His gaze raked up and down me, and it made me feel good.
“You look, Goddess, Willa. You are incredible.” A lump formed in my throat as his icy eyes met mine. They were filled with something I hoped was l.ust, but it was more than that. There was an affection deeper than the hunger, something I rarely saw with Nolan in the year we were together.