Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
“Okay.” I forced a smile. “I’ll wait.”
Imust have looked like the Beast after dolling up for dinner with Belle.
Overdressed.
Hair curled to submission.
Utterly ridiculous.
A puffy, pale-pink ballgown draped over my limbs. I felt like a pavlova.
“I bought it last week, but I can’t wear it, because…” Dallas gestured to her stomach, sighing. “Isn’t it so glitzy yet understated?”
So is a meringue cake, which is exactly what I look like.
But I grinned, because even though I felt absurd, I also felt… happy.
My new friend fluttered around me, placing butterfly clips in my hair and squeezing so much gloss on my lips that it looked like a beehive exploded on my mouth.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d worn makeup. I didn’t even own mascara.
Dallas trapped another tight curl behind a clip and stepped back, dusting her hands as she admired her handiwork. “Girl, you look like Candice Swanepoel.”
I tapered my eyes. “Was that in English?”
She laughed. “The Victoria’s Secret model?”
“I don’t watch TV,” I mumbled.
She laughed harder. This was why Ari was my only female friend.
Dallas tugged at my hands, dragging me out of the guest room with a proud grin. “Come.”
We both still wore our ridiculous bracelets.
“I want everyone in the ballroom to see that you’re hot shit. And then I want someone to hit on you and for Zach to go all possessive on your ass. The way he sliced that idiot…” She plastered the back of her hand to her forehead and pretended to faint. “Swoon.”
“I still don’t know how he got away with it.” I gathered the many skirts of my ballgown to avoid breaking a leg.
This shit was heavy.
Dallas pressed her hand to her lips. “Oh, my sweet summer child. Zachary Sun is bigger than the law.”
Fan-fucking-tastic.
Where does that put me if I piss him off?
I descended each stair slowly, gripping both the wall and Dallas’ arm to keep us upright. How did women wear heels? I’d have an easier time balancing on circus crutches.
She laced her arm in mine. “So… do you have many friends in Seoul?”
It must’ve been nice being the sun personified. Chatty. Sweet. A complete natural at this whole peopling thing.
I could see why Romeo was obsessed with her. She possessed the uncanny ability to make anyone feel seen. Important. Worthy.
“Not many, but some. My best friend Ari is getting married in a few months. I can’t wait to see her.”
In fact, I’d saved up for over a year to afford the plane ticket and a small off-registry gift.
Dallas nodded. “Ari’s such a pretty name.”
“It’s short for Arirang. She hates it, because she’s named after this ancient folk song that played in the hotel room next door when her parents conceived her. The song is stunning, by the way. But every time she has to explain that her parents smashed to it, she turns pinker than a Barbie doll.” I giggled into my palm. “She’s gorgeous, funny, and just the best. A fencer, too. I wish you could meet her.”
“I’m sure I will, one day.”
We reached the ballroom. It felt forbidden to be here, almost, even though the woman beside me practically held the keys to the city. Not to mention I’d literally scrubbed this room wall-to-wall yesterday.
I hesitated, fingering the glossy fabric of my gown.
Two suited staff members opened the door, and just like that, we were sucked into the vortex of the dazzling soirée.
Pastel dresses swept the floor as couples waltzed. Servers weaved in and out of the crowd like black floss spinning around diamonds.
Women leaned in, whispering in each other’s ears as soon as we stepped inside.
Dallas’ spine tensed. She burrowed closer to me, almost hugging me.
In that moment, I realized Dallas and I were actually more similar than I’d ever expected.
She was too colorful—too brave to fit in.
And I was too poor—too unruly to want to.
“Don’t mind them. Only people without love in their lives become haters.” Her hand slipped into mine, tugging me inside. “I’ll teach you how to waltz.”
My knee-jerk reaction was to protest, but then I thought—why the heck not? It was my birthday. I deserved to dance in a pretty dress.
Dallas gathered me in her arms, one hand on my upper back, the other clasping my free palm. It felt ridiculous. I was so much taller than her, and a stomach full of baby separated us. Still, I rolled with it.
“Forward with your left foot, side with the right, close them together, then… yup.” She guided me with her feet. “Backwards with your right foot. You’re getting the hang of it. I forgot you’re a fencer. Quick on your feet.”
The music caressed the bare skin of my arms as I swayed and twirled. I closed my eyes, ignoring the heavy stares we got.
Incognito, my ass.
We flew under the radar like a marching band in a library.