Page 72 of The Temptation of Truth
I shake my head, but I don’t fight my smile.
“I know it hurts right now, but I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself. You’ll find your one. I know it. They’re out there.”
More tears flood my eyes, but I nod. “Yeah.”
I drop my arms and step back, then I laugh when I look at Sav. We must look terrifying, what with black eyeliner and mascara pooling under our eyes and streaking down our cheeks. I wave my finger around her face in a circle.
“This would be great for a Halloween show.”
“Noted.” She laughs, and then her smile softens. “Is there anything I can do?”
I purse my lips, consider her question, then give her a half smile. “We could go dancing?”
Sav smirks and arches an eyebrow.
I arch a brow back. “What did you do?”
“Oh, nothing much...” She shrugs, then turns back to the dressing room. “Just had Ham rent out part of a club downtown for us. We should be good to go after the show.”
I roll my eyes with a laugh. “Of course you did.”
“I have this new wig I want to try out.” Sav threads her fingers through mine and squeezes. “And I know my sister.”
I squeeze back. She’s right, and I’m so fucking grateful. We walk hand in hand back to the dressing room, and when we enter, it’s empty.
“Claire and Aurora went back to the lodge.” Sav plops in front of the vanity mirror and takes a makeup wipe to her face. “They’ll be with us tonight. Callie, too, but I told the boys they have to stay home.”
“Cool.”
I grab one of her makeup wipes and start on my own mess of a face, ignoring the flicker of excitement that’s ignited in my chest. I tell myself it’s for a night of dancing with my friends. A night where I don’t have to worry about my girlfriend getting angry that I went out, or about her guilt trips built precariously atop her double standards. That’s all. I’m excited for dancing and laughter and friendship andfreedom.
It has nothing to do with Aurora. Of course it doesn’t. I just broke up with my girlfriend and Aurora ismarried. A crush would be fucking stupid, and I’m done being stupid with my heart.
Absolutelydone.
16
AURORA
“Nervous?”
I glance up at Callie and stick my hands under my thighs to halt my fidgeting fingers. She’s wearing this skin-tight green dress that I could never pull off, and her red hair is falling in waves around her face. Add in her dark red lipstick and shimmering gold eyeshadow, and she looks like someone straight off a Hollywood red carpet.
I swallow back a laugh.
Of course she does. They all do. They’re celebrities. They practicallyarestraight off a Hollywood red carpet.
I smile and nod. “A little. I haven’t been out like this in...well...ever, actually.”
Her eyes widen. “Really? Never been out clubbing with girlfriends?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Never.”
“And here I thought that’s what all college kids did.” She grins. “I never went, though, so all of my knowledge comes from shows and movies.”
“The closest I’ve been to going out with girlfriends was homecoming dances and bonfires in high school.” I shrug. “I wasn’t very social in college.”
“Well, we don’t go out much either, so this is a rare experience.” Callie waggles her eyebrows. “Things might get a little wild.”
