Page 119 of Crossing Lines

“You made a joke?” Elodie stares at Evren like she’s never seen him. “And a funny one at that. Are you really Evren? Or did you switch places with a twin I don’t know about?”

“Ha, ha,” Evren says dryly. “I’m going for a swim tocool off while you two catch up.” He kisses me slowly, as if showing me everything I’m missing out on.

“Wow.” Elodie whistles. “Just so you know, this has surpassed awkward and moved on to ‘I need the witness protection program’ level of uncomfortable.”

“Good.” I grin and slap Evren on the ass as he turns to head upstairs.

“You’re going to regret that,” Evren says, and my thighs clench at the promise in his words.

Once he disappears up the stairs, Elodie passes me a glass of champagne and sits on one of the puke-green beanbags that Zeki left here.

“Please tell me,” Elodie says, “that you didn’t have sex on one of these.”

“Yikes, no, the color makes me want to vomit every time I see it.”

“True, that’d really ruin the mood.”

“So what’s up?” I ask. “How have you been?”

“Besides missing you? I’m doing well. My new cake-decorating class is really tough but surprisingly fun. How about you?”

“I’m good. Really busy with the new line, but there’s a lot that we need to catch up on.” Like everything that happened with Mick and Quincy. Quincy who it turns out isn’t interested in Nova.

“I agree,” she says, “but first, I actually came over to talk to you about something.”

“Okay?”

“Sssssooo, I know you offered to make my dress,but I also know you’re going through a lot and it’s totally okay if you’ve changed your mind. I just kind of need to know so I can go buy one if you aren’t able to do it anymore.”

“Shit, I’m so sorry. I’ve been a horrible friend and completely dropped the ball on that.”

“It’s okay. I really don’t mind buying something. I’m sure Hunter would love to bring me somewhere fancy to try on dresses.”

“No friend of mine is going to celebrate her post-elopement party in a design that isn’t mine.”

Elodie grins. “You know, that’s the first time you’ve called yourself a designer.”

Her words slide through me, like stepping into sunlight after days of shadow. My breath catches, and I feel it—the strange, sudden jolt of hearing myself say it out loud. My fingers twitch as if trying to grasp the moment, hold it still, and keep it forever in my hands.

Designer.

My shoulders pull back, like my body is finally catching up to the truth. Yeah. I am a designer, and a fucking good one at that.

“I guess it is,” I say softly.

“I’m so proud of you.” Elodie not so discreetly wipes some tears away from her eyes.

“What’s with the tears?”

“Oh, I don’t know, my best friend finally sees how amazing she is? That’s nothing to be emotional about.” She grins. “So, you’ll do it?”

“Yes, I’ll work on it now and finish it in afew days.”

“We still have a little time before the party.”

“So?” I say. “I want to make sure it’s perfect for you.”

“Now you’re going to make me cry again.”

---