Chapter Thirty-Six WILLOW

Iris and I eventually leave the pool and boys behind, heading up to our shared room so we can get ready for the twins’ party. Summer let us know when we first entered the house that they’ll be here within the hour and all their little friends will start showing up soon after, which we took as our hint to take a shower and change.

“That was fun,” I tell Iris once we’re inside her room.

“Showing off your hot bod for Rhett? I’m sure it was a blast,” Iris teases, immediately undoing the string at her neck so that her bikini top falls forward, exposing her chest.

I avert my gaze, going into the bathroom and grabbing my brush. My hair is a tangled mess and I can’t just jump in the shower like this. I already called dibs on showering first. “I wasn’t showing off.”

“Whatever you say,” Iris calls, her voice full of doubt.

I peek my head around the open doorway. “He didn’t even notice. He was too busy talking to Brooks once he showed up.”

The satisfied smile on Iris’s face tells me everything I didn’t ask. They disappeared at the same time for at least a half hour, maybe longer, and I assumed they were together. I’m sure I was right.

“He was paying attention to you.”

“No, he wasn’t.”

“Yes, he was. I saw him staring at you. And don’t deny that you look hot because you do. I’m proud of you for wearing the bikini in front of him.”

I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. That’s why I wore it. Plus, there’s something about this bright green two-piece that fills me with confidence every time I wear it. I bought it when we were in Europe, and the first time I wore it on the beach in the South of France, my father demanded I cover myself. Mom had to calm him down and remind him that his daughter isn’t a little girl anymore, which from the look on his face, he hated to hear.

Mom never complaining about the bikini made me feel like a grown-up. Like she was on my side and saw nothing wrong with me wearing it. Ever since that moment, this swimsuit has become a total confidence builder.

And fine, I did notice Rhett looking my way a few times while we were in the pool, but I told myself I was probably overreacting. I wanted him to look at me so badly I took any glance in the pool’s direction as him ogling me.

Maybe he actually was.

“What are you wearing to this party?”

“Something cute and with easy access. A dress.” Iris disappears into her walk-in closet, and I can hear her rifling through her clothes. “What about you?”

“I didn’t bring anything cute enough to wear to the party.” I wasn’t aware there was even going to be a party today. I knew the twins’ birthday was coming up, but normally our family has their party the weekend after the date, not before.

“You have a couple of dresses in here,” Iris tells me.

I abandon my brushing session to go into her closet, checking out my options. One dress is old. A blue floral sundress that I wore a couple of years ago at some sort of formal event that was being held here.

“I don’t think this will fit across my chest anymore.” I pull the dress out and hold it in front of me.

“You’d look like a little girl in it anyway. You need something more sophisticated,” Iris says.

“I don’t own anything sophisticated.”

“Oh, come on now. Of course, you do.” Iris joins me, sifting through the meager options I have hanging in her closet, pausing to pull out a specific dress. “Now this could work.”

It’s pink and short, with straps for sleeves that tie on top of the shoulder and cutouts on either side, right at the rib cage. The skirt is tiered with white ribbon trim and it hits at about mid to upperthigh. One strong breeze and I’d be exposed. Speaking of exposed, the back of the dress is totally open, with a band of pink stretched across mid-back and open both above and below it. I probably can’t wear a bra with it.

“My boobs are probably too big.”

“No way. We can shove them in there.” Iris presses the dress against the front of me, her gaze assessing. “You could borrow my off-white strappy sandals.”

We may not have the same body type, but we share a shoe size, which comes in handy in times like these.

“Isn’t it too … sexy for this party?” I wrinkle my nose, grabbing the dress from her and approaching the full-length mirror hanging on the wall. “My dad might flip.”

“Is he coming?”

I send a quick text to my mom asking if they’re attending Prudence and Paris’s birthday party.

Mama: Unfortunately, we can’t make it this year. There’s an art exposition opening tonight that your father and I RSVP’d to months ago. We don’t want to miss it. We sent the girls presents though! You’ll have to tell me if they like them.

“They’re not coming,” I announce to Iris after reading the text. The relief I feel knowing that my father won’t see me in this dress is monumental.

He’d freak out. I know he would.

She grins. “Perfect. Go take a shower and get ready. I’ll help you with the dress if you have trouble getting your tits in it.”

I burst out laughing. “Gee, thanks.”

After I take a shower—where I carefully shaved everything because you just never know—I lather on the expensive lotion Iris’s mom gave me last Christmas, then slip on a pair of lacy white panties before I pull on the dress. It’s a struggle to get the top over my boobs, but I make it work without Iris’s assistance. The only issue I have is being able to reach to pull up the zipper that rests on my lower spine. I call her in for help and she zips it up with ease, our gazes meeting in the mirror.

“He’s going to die.”

“I hope so,” is my response, making us smile.

I still feel guilty about last night, and that we never got a chance to talk so far today. Maybe after the party? I have no idea what Summer wants us to do, but I’m sure she’ll keep us busy for hours.

I blow dry and style my hair while Iris is in the shower, and once she’s out, she slicks her hair back into a sleek bun, adding thin gold hoop earrings to complement the look. “I’m keeping things simple,” she tells me after she’s slipped into a body-hugging black knit dress that’s similar to the cream-colored one she wore this morning. “Less is more.”

I think of how she piled on the makeup just last night for the game, but I keep those thoughts to myself.

We head downstairs after we’re done, and Summer puts us right to work. Despite all of the servants bustling around and the event planner’s staff, we don’t mind helping out. She puts us in charge of answering the door to the parents dropping off their children to the party, and we greet the other guests as well. Some of our family members show up, including Charlotte and Perry, who have their own daughter close to Pru and Paris’s age, though Juliette just turned twelve.

It’s fun, greeting everyone, especially the older relatives. My grandma eventually shows up, accompanied by her much younger “companion” as she calls him, Geoffrey. My grandfather died when I was little, and I’ve heard enough stories over the years to know he doesn’t sound like a very nice man. Once he passed though, my grandmother became much kinder, according to Mom.

“My darling girl, look at you,” my grandma says when she sees me. She stops in front of me, grabbing both of my hands and stretching my arms out wide as she turns to look at Geoffrey. “Isn’t she a delight?”

“It’s nice to see you, Willow,” Geoffrey says, inclining his head toward me. He’s in his fifties with a full head of hair and his gaze is always admiring when he stares at my grandmother.

“Grandma, you’re making me self-conscious.” I pull her in for a hug and her gentle hands pat at my bare back, exposed thanks to the dress. “But thank you.”

“Is your father here?” The amusement on her face is obvious. “Has he seen you in this dress yet?”

“No and no. He’s unable to make it,” I tell her with a mock sad face.

“Lucky for you,” she murmurs as she goes to embrace Iris.

Once everyone has arrived, Iris and I make our way outside where the festivities are being held. Pru and Paris are truly the spotlight, their friends surrounding them as they move about the terrace like a swarm of bees, buzzing and talking and laughing. I spot the boys sitting at a nearby table. Row and Callahan both look like they’d rather be anywhere but here, while Beau and Vaughn sit on the edge of their seats, watching the girls with stars in their eyes.

It’s kind of amusing.

I don’t see the older boys yet, which only makes me nervous. Iris is fidgety too, her head whipping this way and that as she scans the area, trying to play it cool while I know she’s in search of Brooks.

“Girls, come have your fortune told.” Summer appears in front of us, holding her arm out toward where the lip print reader has set up her little booth. “The younger girls are scared to do it. They want you to go first.”

“No problem.” Iris shrugs and we both head over to the area where the woman has set up. The three tables are set up in a Ushape, and they’re covered in vivid red, gauzy tablecloths. On one of the tables is a stack of white card stock accompanied by a display full of various shades of lipsticks.

“Welcome,” the woman says, a friendly smile on her face. Her lips are full and slicked with red. “Care to have your lips read?”

“Yes,” Iris says, stepping forward. I already told her she should go first. “What shall we do? I’m wearing clear gloss.”

The woman plucks a tissue from the box on her table and hands it to Iris. “Wipe your lips clean and choose a lipstick shade. Whichever one you want. Please hand it to me when you’re done and grab a blank card. I’ll need you to kiss it twice.”

Iris does as she’s instructed, choosing the darkest red she could find and smearing it on her lips in an extra thick coat. I choose my shade as well, going for a soft but obvious pink, studying myself in one of the mirrors that sits on the table as I carefully apply it. I grab a piece of card stock and kiss it twice, taking my time while Iris is already seated in front of the woman, who introduces herself as Linda, eager to hear what she has to say.

“Do you mind if your friend listens in?” Linda asks Iris, referring to me.

“She’s my best friend and my cousin. We have no secrets,” Iris tells her.

Hmm, not so sure about that, but I keep my mouth shut.

“Very well, then.” Linda takes the kiss-covered card from Iris and sets it in front of her, dropping her head to examine it carefully. She even pulls out a small magnifying glass, squinting into it as she scans it over the first lipstick print, then the second one. “Hmm.”

Iris and I share a look, Iris appearing like she might burst out laughing, and I send her a quick headshake. I don’t want her disrespecting the poor woman who seems to take her job very seriously.

“See how close your lips are?” Linda taps the thin slide of open space between the kiss print. “You tend to be closed off—mysterious.”

“Accurate,” Iris says with a laugh.

“And the diamond shape.” Linda traces the shape between Iris’s lips on the card. “While you’re mysterious, you also crave attention. You want everyone to notice how you sparkle and shine.”

“It’s true. Right, Willow?” Iris looks to me for confirmation.

“Very true,” I say, glancing down at my own kiss card, which looks nothing like Iris’s.

Linda goes on to feed into Iris’s assumptions about herself, and I wonder if Linda is telling the truth, or if she’s done her research before arriving and figured out Iris’s personality just from her social media profiles. I start to tune out what they’re saying, watching the younger girls move closer to us in a pack. Spotting Beau and Vaughn in the near distance following after them.

My gaze stops on Rhett, who’s standing on the edge of the terrace with Brooks and Row on either side of him. All three of them are wearing khakis and button-up shirts that are open at the collar. Rhett’s shirt is white while Brooks’s is pale blue, and Row’s is a darker blue. I wonder if Rhett borrowed that shirt from one of them because how did he know to bring something a little dressier?

It doesn’t matter. He looks amazing. His hair is relatively tame, though the ends flare up as the breeze ruffles through it. He’s got his shirt sleeves already rolled up, exposing those sexy forearms of his, and my mouth goes dry when our gazes meet.

His lips curl into the faintest smile, but he looks away when Brooks speaks to him, breaking our connection. I return my attention to the lip print reader and realize Iris is rising from the chair, a big smile on her face when she faces me.

“Your turn!”

I settle into the chair, my stomach churning with nerves as I hand over the kiss card. Linda immediately examines it, holding it up in the air, squinting at it.

“What’s your name?”

“Willow,” I answer, clearing my throat.

She offers me a gentle smile. “Are you nervous?”

“A little.” I twist my hands together.

“Don’t be. This is for fun. Nothing too serious.” She sets the kiss card on the table and picks up the magnifying glass, carefully scanning both of my lipstick prints. “I like your choice of color. Very pink and soft. I take it you’re a quiet person.”

“Quieter than Iris,” I quip.

Linda offers a polite smile. “Indeed.”

She’s silent as she continues to study my lip prints, her brows drawing together as she leans in closer. I fidget in my seat, wishing I’d never done this, almost afraid of what she might say. I’m taking this far too seriously.

“The space here.” She taps at the white space between my lips. “Your cousin’s was narrower, while yours is more open. This means you’re friendly and you value the relationships you have with those you’re closest to. You’re close to your family?”

“Yes,” I admit.

“I can tell. But you’re also shy. A bit reserved. It’s in the depth of your kiss. See how light the pigmentation is?” She points at the pale pink on the cardstock. “The lighter the color, the shier you are, but you also have strict boundaries. Look at the outer edges of the print. They’re firmly defined. No one can take advantage of you.”

“Okay.” I nod, liking how everything she says sounds.

“And the lines in your lips. These?” She drags her finger along each tiny line in my upper lip print. “Mean you’re a creative soul. You think outside the box.”

I’m not sure how accurate that is but I’ll go along with it.

“Your lips are very balanced too. They’re almost the same size. This means you’re a balanced person in real life as well. And that you’re looking for a partner who’s the same. Do you have a boyfriend?” I shake my head. “Someone you’re casually seeing or that you’re interested in?”

“Well … yes.” I may as well be truthful.

“You’ll want him to be the same.” Her gaze dances with mischief when it meets mine. “Think any of the young men in attendance will participate in this little activity?”

Laughing, I shake my head. “Doubtful. You probably wouldn’t catch any of them dead in lipstick. Even for a few seconds to kiss a piece of paper.”

“That’s a shame,” Linda says with a sigh, leaning back in her chair. “I get the sense that the boy you’re interested in is here this afternoon.”

“He is,” I admit.

“A great romance is in your future.” Linda’s gaze locks with mine, as sincere as the sound of her voice. “I can also read people’s energy. You are on the cusp of falling in love.”

“I am?” My voice squeaks and I clear my throat, feeling foolish.

“You are,” Linda says firmly. “He’s here. I can feel his energy too. Something monumental is going to happen tonight.”

I swallow hard at her words.

“I can feel it.”