Page 112 of Late Nights & Love Lines
“I didn’t call you in here to give me commentary on the dress, I asked you to help me get the heck out of it. Find the zipper before I hyperventilate.”
“How did you lose the zipper?” Tabby asks, running her hands around the fabric.
“I had to zipper it in front because I couldn’t reach the top, and then twist the dress around,” I grumble.
“Found it,” Tabby cheers. Her fingers graze the bottom of my ass cheeks. Freaking great. “I can’t wait to tell Seb I felt you up.” She laughs.
“Gross, Miss Tabby. Please don’t.” Seren gags and is quick to reclaim her seat on the sofa. When she’s seated, I wink at her.
Free from the dress, I hold it to my chest and shut the door.
As soon as the silky yellow-and-gold gown glides down my skin, I know Seren has an eye that none of us have. The cut is perfect and hugs every curve and indent of my body, and she’s right, it does give off very big Kate Hudson vibes.
Once it’s zipped, I spin in the mirror and am mesmerized by how the body of the dress appears to shimmer in the lights. I can’t stop staring at myself.
I’ve never looked this way before.
“Rowan?” Stella asks, gently knocking on the door. “Everything all right in there? You’ve been quiet for a few minutes.”
“C—” My throat is thick and constricting with all the insecurities other people have thrown at me over my life. It’s liketrying to swallow the spiky edge of a razor. “Can you send Seren in, please?”
A moment later, there’s another gentle knock. The door opens and Seren slips in. “Holy crap, Row,” she exclaims so loudly the door bursts open again with Tabby and Stella standing in the doorway.
All eyes are on me, and tears dampen my eyelashes.
“That dress was made for you,” Tabby gasps.
“Seren, honey. In case you didn’t know it, you’ve found your calling,” Stella says in awe.
“Holy hell. Sebastian will shit his pants when you walk out in this.” Tabby twirls her finger in the air, and I follow the silent command to spin.
My entire back is on display. The dress dips so low in the back it’s almost obscene, but somehow, the cut holds it in place and never exposes anything inappropriate.
“It’s perfect.” Seren grins. “It’s even better than a princess.”
“Yeah, kiddo.” My gaze meets hers. “I think it is.”
27
YOU’RE GONNA LOVE IT HERE
SEBASTIAN
“I’m going to apologize in advance,” Leo says as he enters my kitchen through the sliding glass doors that lead to the deck.
“What the hell, Leo? I didn’t even know you were here.”
He tilts his head to stare at me, but before he can say anything, the glass door opens again, and Beck walks in with his older kids in tow.
“What is this, an intervention? I literally left your house thirty minutes ago.”
“So?” Beck shrugs, and Leo’s face morphs into a triumphant smile.
“I forgot you’ve been a city boy your whole life.” Leo’s grin suggests he’s having the time of his life at my expense.
“Oh, that’s right,” Beck says, untangling himself from the forty different bags he has hanging from his forearms. “Where’s Kade?”
My brows reach my hairline. “He’s in the bunk room with Miles, getting their swimsuits on.”
