Page 175 of Wild Card

“Thank God for that.” She glares at me in the mirror.

“I didn’t mark you.”

Her glare flickers, and fuck if my dick doesn’t lurch again.

We need to leave this bathroom or we’ll never greet my parents. “Hurry up.” I go to the bedroom, texting my dad we’ll be right out.

It doesn’t take long for Willow to hustle in, hopping on one foot as she slides the other into a heel.

“I think I’m ready.” Her nerves from earlier are gone but she’s still worried.

“Not yet, something isn’t right.”

“Oh no, my lip gloss.”

“Not your lip gloss.” I cup my chin and pretend to do a once-over.

“Yeah, not working.” I take the bag from the side of the bed and hand it over.

She glances at it skeptically. When she removes the box from inside, she inhales. “Talon, you didn’t.”

“Open it.”

She places the box on the dresser and gently lifts the lid. “Oh my God, Talon… I can’t… these are…”

“Do you remember that first day in the clinic when I called you firefly?”

“You referred to me as a beetle.”

“Hope, love, passion, inspiration, transformation… Fireflies represent many meanings in different cultures. But one thing is common, their shining light. Some refer to it as enchanting. That’s why I called you firefly.”

“You never used it again.”

“You are all those things and more. Princess isn’t the most original, but I knew you were meant to be my princess. And my princess is enchanting and deserves to sparkle. The salesman said the crystals are effervescent.”

Her eyes shine as she focuses back on the box.

When Rowan sent me the picture with a not-so-subtle hint, ‘These slingbacks scream Willow’s name’,I didn’t know what the fuck a slingback was.

But I trusted her.

An hour later, I was leaving Neiman Marcus with a pair of shoes and a highly amused Ace, who invited himself.

Willow kicks off her shoes and slips on the new pair with shaky hands. “They are exquisite.”

My debt of gratitude to Rowan keeps racking up.

Jesus, fuck, her legs… those shoes…

“I can’t believe you bought these. They cost… They’re Amina Muaddi.”

I’m not an expert in women’s designer wear, but I’ll become one if it puts that air of marvel on her face.

“Tonight is a huge step in our relationship,” she whispers. “I desperately want your parents to approve of me.”

Fuck, we’re back to vulnerability. “Baby.”

“Let me finish. Meeting parents didn’t bother me in the past. But this time is different because we are different. You’re my mystical unicorn.”

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