Page 49 of Wanted By a King

“Ooh,” she coos while looking down at herself.

There isn’t a full-length mirror in Grayson’s room, so I end up taking a picture of her, using her phone, obviously, so she can see what she looks like.

“I’d totally fuck me,” she gushes.

And she really does look like she wants to makeout with herself.

“Keep it,” I say casually. “It looks fantastic on you.”

Alana’s eyes widen. “No, I couldn’t.”

“Why not?” I ask. “It’s not like I don’t have plenty, and that one looks better on you than it ever did me.”

It takes me almost an hour to unpack the rest, which is the same amount of time needed to talk Alana into keeping the damn dress.

After taking the dress off again, she hugs me hard. “Thank you, Zo. I know it’s just clothes to you. But to me… to me, it’s a dream. I loved dresses like this when I was little.”

I smile softly at her. “Any time you want to borrow some clothes, you only have to ask.”

“Hey, we should totally do a swap.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

Alana grins. “The other Cunts are outside getting their tan on, we should go join them.”

My face falls. “I don’t have a bikini.”

It’s not like it matters. I could just wear my bra and a pair of shorts or something.

“Exactly,” Alana chirps. “I’ll swap one of my bikinis for this dress.”

I shake my head. “No way.” When her face falls, I can’t help laughing. “If we’re swapping, I want a pair of your latex shorts,” I clarify.

Alana might be in awe of my clothes, but I’m downright envious of hers. Until my escape, I’ve never worn anything like it before, but now that I have, I love it.

“Deal,” she laughs before hugging me again.

While she changes back, I change into a pair of denim shorts and check I’m wearing a bra that’s okay to wear while tanning.

We’re just about to leave the room when Alana holds me back. “He really does care about you,” she says.

I just nod.

“Do you want to talk about it? Any of it?” she offers, and when I shake my head, she smiles. “Then let’s go pretend life is good and that our biggest worry is tan lines.”

A lump forms in my throat. It’s not sadness, I’m touched by the way Alana is treating me. She’s giving me space to retreat, while also making sure I’m not alone. One day, I hope to have the words to tell her how much that means.

“Hey Zo,” Rose greets me as soon as Alana and I step onto the grass. “Come join us.”

I look at the sun loungers and the women making themselves comfortable. Most of the Cruz Cunts are here, taking full advantage of the afternoon sun.

Alana leads me over to an empty table that she immediately lies down on.

“Where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you two,” Rose sing-songs.

“Just out,” I answer sheepishly.

I might like her, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to tell her about my trip to the graveyard.

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