Page 3 of Trick or Threat
“What the fuck?” I laugh at all her choices.
“I figured if you have to suffer through the marriage, the least these bastards can do is suffer through the party. I’m decorating the entire mansion.” She lets out an evil laugh and kicks her legs in the air.
“Oh god. Is this going to be a repeat of my thirtieth birthday?” The memory floods my mind, and I smile.
I had been fresh out of chemo and officially in remission. No one was stopping her from throwing me my first birthday party. Alfie let her turn our staircase into a slide, just like in the movie The Princess Diaries. We mattress surfed until we broke the grandfather clock and got so hopped up on sugar we didn’t sleep for two days.
“WORSE! Because now we have booze!” She dives for a bag near my feet and pulls out two huge bottles of champagne.
“Relax, you’re bridesmaids will be here soon, so it’ll feel like a real party.” I frown.
“I have bridesmaids?” I hadn’t wanted to have anything to do with the wedding planning.
Other than picking the dress and agreeing to attend the fucking thing, I was completely oblivious.
“Yes, apparently your soon-to-be husband has a sister and cousins who volunteered. As your maid of dishonor, I took the liberty of inviting them tonight. We can get them drunk and see who the real bitches are.” I shake my head, but can’t help but laugh at how truly diabolical Val can be.
“Have you seen him?” I cringe at the thought.
“Yup, he’s handsome. But he’s a fucking asshole. You’re gonna hate me. You’ll make cute babies, though.” I slap her arm.
We’ve joked about it for years, but now that it’s here, it doesn’t seem all that funny.
“Get dressed. You’re outfit is in the garment bag.” She grabs some bags and starts yelling for maids to help her on her way out.
I hang the bag in my walk-in closet and unzip it.
“Woozer,” I whistle at the tight form-fitting dress.
It’s stunning, but I have never ever dreamed of wearing something like this. It’s so not me, and I love it so fucking much. I pull it off the hanger and frown.
“How the fuck do you wear underwear with this?” I jump out of my skin when Val answers from behind me.
“You don’t. That’s the point. When you wear a dress like that, you’re making a statement.” I raise an eyebrow.
“Oh? And what statement is that? Throw me on the floor and fuck me?” She beams at me.
“Exactly! You learn quickly. Now drop the robe. I’ll help with your zipper.” I take a deep breath and do as she says.
Five minutes later, after a lot of pulling, tugging, twisting, and bitching about sucking it in, I’m in the damn dress that came with matching high heels. My hair has dried into perfect ringlet curls, and all I need is a little makeup to complete the look.
“Smokey eye, nude lip,” Val says as she escapes to check that her instructions are being followed to the letter.
I start applying the shadows, and I’m buffing them out when she returns.
“Wooo raccoon eyes, hold on.” She takes the brush from me and tilts my face.
“THERE!” She turns me to the mirror with a flourish.
“Damn, you were always so much better at that than I was.” She winks at me in the mirror.
“Practice makes perfect. Now come on. The strippers will be here any minute.” I gasp at her.
“WHAT STRIPPERS!”
Chapter
Two
