28. Florence

Chapter twenty-eight

Florence

"Cece!" My sister shouts and flings herself into my arms. I hug her back so hard, I'm afraid I might bruise her ribs. Dede knows how much I need this touch so she doubles down and squeezes harder.

No matter how hard I try, it's impossible to stop the tears from coming. I let them run freely down my face, unwilling to let go of my sister.

Everett sent his plane for us the day after the meadow incident. Adelbert and I were polite to each other as we took seats on opposite sides and I pretended to instantly fall asleep. Lindsey offered to feed Sir Purrington while we're gone and to send updates, but we'll only be here for a night before we have to go back again.

"I missed you," I say into Dede's neck, wetting her hair with my tears. Lowering my voice, I add, "You guys totally just fucked before we got here, didn't you?"

"Shh. You can't call a girl out like that right when you arrive," Sadie says in mock outrage, tears still thick in her voice. "At least give me some conversation foreplay first."

I hold her shoulders and lean back so I can look at her face. "Sorry I ruined your makeup." I try to fix it by wiping some of the mascara under her eyes.

Dede shrugs. "It might have been ruined before you got here," she says with a devilish smirk and a quick glance to Everett. "Either way, worth it." Dede winks at me and I laugh as she wipes my tears away. It feels good to laugh and to be reunited with my sister.

"Hi, Cece," Everett says and holds out his arms for me.

"Hi, Ev." I easily step into my brother-in-law's friendly embrace and hug him back. It's the first time I have physically touched a male in over two months. Despite the kindness of the gesture, I can't help but wish it were Adelbert's arms instead.

From the corner of my eye, I notice the muscle jumping in Adelbert's jaw and the way he crosses his arms over his chest as he pretends not to watch us.

I know Adelbert is attracted to me, and I acknowledge that he won't let it go anywhere, but I don't want to hurt him either.

I step back from Everett's platonic embrace and turn to Dede. "Tour?"

"Yes!" Over my shoulder, Dede says to the males, "It's sister time now. You boys play nice on that side of the store. Try not to listen in so we can gossip freely, please. Thank you," she singsongs the last word and blows a kiss to Everett, then takes my hand and practically skips in her stilettos to the far side of the store.

The store's opening party is tomorrow and everyone from the island will be traveling to celebrate with Dede and Everett. We arrived a day early so we could hang out with them alone. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Adelbert explained that he's not in a good headspace to see all of his friends and their bonded partners, but he wants to make the trip for me.

I'm just happy to be here and get whatever time I can get with my sister.

Dede leads me by the hand toward a giant display of glittery shoes arranged in a rainbow. It's so pretty and the most Sadie-thing I've ever seen. She talks me through the arrangement, the store's layout, and shows me the luxurious dressing rooms—with one conspicuously closed curtain. We settle on a velvet bench on the far side of the store and look out at Sadie's Sweethearts.

"Your dream came true," I say wistfully, my eyes misting again with happiness for my sister. I take Dede's hands in mine and squeeze them. "I'm so proud of you."

Dede gives me a watery smile. "Everett helped. A lot."

"I know how much he did, especially financially and I don't want to take away from that. But, don't let his involvement diminish your accomplishments. This is your dream. Your talent. Your vision. Your mate just… facilitated it," I say, gently determined to make her acknowledge how much she has achieved in such a short amount of time.

"That's putting it mildly, but I get what you're saying. He's been so supportive. We make a really good team," Dede sighs out dreamily with a goofy grin on her face.

"I know. The fates really got it right with you two. Perfect match." I really mean it. There is not one person who has ever understood my sister the way Everett does, who indulges all of her whims.

"Talking about the fates and matches…" Dede gives me a pointed look and inclines her head toward the door where the males are deep in conversation. "What's the latest with you and Adelbert? You two are giving me major Beauty and the Beast vibes."

"What do you mean?"

"Tale as old as time," Dede sings. "You two… up there in the house… secluded in the middle of the forest… You're sweet Beauty, and Adelbert—obviously—is the Beast," she explains like I should have connected the dots easily.

I shake my head and laugh at the notion. "Only difference is there's nothing beastly about him, unless you're counting his grouchiness."

"Well, I thought Everett looked human enough, but let me tell you, there's nothing human about my mate."

I pretend to cover my ears. "Too much information." Lowering my hands, I sigh and continue more somberly, "There's not much to report about me and Adelbert."

Dede raises her eyebrows and asks slowly, "Do you want there to be something to report?"

"I don't know, Dede," I admit with a sad grimace and slump back against the seat.

Dede shifts and twists her body toward me, tucking a leg under her to give me her undivided attention.

Studying my face, she says more than asks, "You like him, don't you?"

My heart aches at the question and my mouth turns down. I lift my hands to cover my face, mumbling out my admission from behind my fingers, "How could I not?"

Dede reaches for my hands and lowers them. I expect to find sadness in her eyes, compassion even. Instead, my sister arches one brow and smirks at me.

"Ever thought about just jumping him one day? Or waiting for him in the kitchen with nothing but an apron on? Some women might have used their wily ways to convince him about how right the fates are."

I choke out a laugh and bat a hand at her. "Ha! That might work for you and Ev, but it's not like that for us."

Dede turns serious and rubs a soothing thumb on top of my hand.

"What's it like?" Her voice is soft and earnest, her eyes filled with empathy.

I don't want her to be unnecessarily hard on Adelbert, so I explain to her the best I can why he won't take me as a mate.

"Do you know what Adelbert's job is?" I ask.

"I know he's an academic, and one day he'll take over at Alberad," Dede answers.

I nod. "And where's his house?"

"In the Black Forest, next to Alberad." This time her statement sounds more like a question.

"Which of those things did he choose for himself?"

Dede narrows her eyes as she considers the question. "I'm assuming neither. But, isn't he happy?"

"I don't think he's brave enough to answer that question," I say sadly. "The point is, he's never made a decision for his own life. His lineage dictates his future. And now, I'm just another thing that the fates have dictated for him too."

Dede's eyes widen and a breath whooshes out of her. "Oh. That's complicated." She scrunches up her nose and adds haughtily, "I still think he's dumb for not worshiping at your feet already. But I get where you're coming from."

I sigh deeply. A tiny part deep within me agrees with her, but I'd never do something against Adelbert's wishes.

My eyes drift to the males on the opposite side of the store, valiantly pretending we're not here with them.

Taking in Adelbert's tall frame, the way he crosses his arms across his chest and tilts his head to concentrate diligently on whatever Everett is telling him, I tell my sister, "There's so much more to him than what he shows the world. So much depth. Warmth. Kindness. Strength. He notices things about me that others don't. He leaves me sweaters to wear every morning. He makes me tea. He appreciates my art. He cooks dinner for me. Every night. I can always count on him."

Dede whispers the question I have not allowed myself to consider, "What if he chooses you?"

I turn to look at my sister. Hope brims in her eyes but I squash it when I answer, "I can't allow myself to dream, Dede. We're checking if the bond might dissipate with this trip. If it's gone by tomorrow then I'll go back to Kentucky. Otherwise, I'll be back in Germany again tomorrow evening."

"Do you want the bond to break?"

My smile is wan. "Show me a dress I should get."

Dede narrows her eyes and points a playful finger at me. "I see what you did there, but I'm going to let it slide. Come on, I've already picked one out for you."

I try not to pay any attention to Adelbert, but a strange tether keeps me aware of his position in the building at all times as Everett shows him around.