42. Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Two

Sage

I let out another squeal before pulling my brothers in for a hug, and they fill the room with their laugh. They arrived in Italy two days ago, but I'm still excited that they're here. I knew they would be here, especially since my first show as an official Moore Girl is tonight, but I missed them so much.

"Can I please get a sneak peek at what you're wearing tonight?" August begs once again.

"No!" I let out a laugh at how persistent he is. The minute I told him I'd be in this show, he wanted to know the theme, what color I'd be wearing, what I'd be wearing. August is hands down my biggest supporter, and I usually always give him hints as to what I'm modeling, but I want tonight to be a surprise.

Sire laughs when his shoulders slouch. "It'd be better not knowing," he reassures August.

"Let's place bets on what color she's going to be in!"

We turn to Lis on the bed, and I shake my head at her with a smile. I don't say it, but I'm certain she also has a gambling addiction.

"Five thousand dollars; she's in white."

I am.

"You don't have five thousand dollars." Sire covers his word with a cough, and when Lis throws a pillow at him, it hits him dead in the face, and we all break into a laugh.

I flop next to Vidia on the couch before leaning my head on her shoulder, and she wraps an arm around me. She and Hazel, of course, came with my brothers, and I realize how much I also missed them.

When someone knocks on my door, August rushes to get it, and I don't exaggerate, he actually runs, and I'm not sure why he does, but I burst into a laugh watching him race against no one.

He opens the door wider and two people walk in with our crates of food. We didn't have time to go to the restaurant downstairs since the girls are still getting ready so we ordered room service and a part of me is glad we did.

With my first show as a Moore Girl being tonight, I really didn't want to eat, mainly because of nerves, but I had to force myself to eat breakfast this morning. I wanted to throw it all up but refused to. Everyone in the room with me has been such a great distraction, though.

August brings my plate to me, and Lisette flops on the floor in front of us. They dig into their plates, and I move my food around silently.

"Want to try some of mine?"

I look up at the sound of Sire's voice and smile as he holds his fork out to Vidia. She tries it and clearly likes his pasta. When she looks down at her plate, I silently laugh because I know she wants his food, and he said she would, but we all know she's too stubborn to admit it.

I take a bite of my food as I watch them, and Sire smiles down at her before eating more of his pasta.

"Admit it, and I'll let you have it." He teases, and I bite back a laugh before trying some of my chicken.

"Shut up." Vidia rolls her eyes at him and eats her food but she looks so unsatisfied, I start to feel bad.

"Don't be stubborn, my love. Just say I'm right."

She ignores him and only flips him off. My brother shakes with a laugh before swapping their plates, and when Vidia smiles to herself, he steals a quick kiss before she digs into his pasta.

My watch buzzes, and when I glance at it, I see it's Liam.

Lee 3

Try to eat something and good luck on your show tonight, pretty girl. I'll see you later. Enjoy the day with your annoying brothers.

I let out a quiet laugh as love the message before exiting it.

When I look back up, August is smiling down at me. "I can't believe that's really a thing."

"I can't believe you guys have been in contact all month and trying to get Sire on board."

August laughs before Sire turns to me. "The only reason I'm on board is because August said you really love him, but I still think he brainwashed your ass, so I'm keeping a close eye," Sire grumbles, and I bite back a laugh.

"What'd Liam say to you?" I ask what I've been dying to know.

"He called me every day for nearly twenty-eight days and said let your sister be happy and accept that she loves me. "

I wait for him to add more but he doesn't. "That's it?" I look between August and Sire, and they both nod before Sire goes on.

"Well, he also threatened to kidnap you, which was bullshit, but yes, he said that every day, sometimes twice a day, and when I blocked him, he used apps to call me. I finally gave in because August joined in and showed up at my house every day, but I still don't like the guy, so if he breaks your heart, I'm breaking his neck." He eats a spoonful of food as August smiles proudly beside me for winning that fight.

"Thank you." I nudge his arm, and he nods.

"Are you nervous about today?" August nudges me back, and when he glances down at my plate, he only smiles at how much I ate, and it makes me feel better.

"Insanely nervous. Us new girls are lining up at the end of the show, and I had a dream I trip, and we all fell like a freaking domino effect." I cringe at the reminder of last night's nightmare. We've been practicing so much for this show, and if I ruin it, I will actually disappear from the world.

"Is that the worst-case scenario?"

"Is the worst of the worst." I shake my head at the thought of it.

"So if you don't trip and knock over everyone like a domino effect, then the show went perfectly. Right?"

I smile over at August before nodding and remind myself that it'll be fine and if the worst-case scenario doesn't happen, it was perfect, no matter the other hiccups.

After a few more bites of my food, I glance at how much is left, and I can finish it.

"Don't think about it."

I glance up at Lis and she's watching me with a pretty smile. "You can push some aside if you want." She extends her plate out to me. " Only a little."

I smile down at her, and when my eyes start burning, she rolls her eyes at me. "Oh my God, please don't cry." She quickly pulls her plate back like my food is suddenly contagious from my tears.

I break into a laugh, but then Sire throws something at her before telling her not to be an asshole, and I only laugh harder.

"You don't have to finish it, Sage, but you'll be fine if you do, and we know you can." Sire gives me an encouraging smile, and I nod in response. We all get lost in another conversation, and I'm grateful no one pushes me, but I eat more, and when I finish my plate, I get a group hug. Even Lis and Hazel join, which they never do willingly. They all squeeze me a bit tighter, and I'm reminded of how grateful I am for all of them.

Before I know it, I need to meet up with my team and get ready for the show. I hug everyone goodbye, and they head to where the event is taking place.

My hair is already ready, so we do my makeup, and my nerves start to settle in.

"You're going to be great." Cara voices, and I nod in response before pulling in a deep breath. "Someone put her playlist on."

A smile touches my lips and I love how well she knows me. Someone puts my pre-show playlist on and I think of the worst-case scenario speech August gave me. I keep telling myself that if that doesn't happen, it was a great show.

"Okay," Cara says after a few songs before putting my setting spray on. "Are you ready?"

"No?" I laugh nervously, and someone is knocking on the door. Angie lets them in, and when I see it's someone with a headset and clipboard I know I have to go soon.

"Mr. Moore wants you dressed."

I nod in response, and my outfit crew starts rushing around to get all of my things. This is it.

I get in my first outfit, and I'm sure I dissociate as they work my jewelry and shoes on because I'm suddenly walking backstage with the other girls.

"There she is!"

I look up at the sound of Jess's voice, and after all this time, I'm still a little shocked that I'm friends with her. She's Vincent's best model, and the second time I modeled for him, I was shocked she even knew my name, but since I came to Italy, she's been by my side the entire time.

"I think Vincent is favoring you." She crosses her arms playfully as she shakes her head and looks down at my dress. She laughs softly and pulls me over to take a picture with me.

"Hey, I want in!" Allie rushes over, and I wrap my arms around them as we pose for a picture.

I turn at the sound of a gasp and go still. "Have we been… replaced?"

I break into a laugh and rush over to Quinn and Coral for a hug. "Oh my God! What are you guys doing here?!" When I see the rest of The Eight behind them, I physically have to hold back a scream so the Moore Girls don't think I'm completely insane.

"Oh my God !" They break into a laugh before joining in on our hug. "You guys are going to make me cry!"

"Don't!" They all yell in sync before bursting into a laugh. "You know we wouldn't miss this for the world, Loana." Royal voices, and I pull her in for another hug. I love my girls.

"I'm sorry," We turn at the sound of Jess's voice. "We need a video, like right now."

I laugh softly, and all of us do an outfit check. We're literally all wearing Vincent, but Jess was right, and it came out so cute.

"We're on in twenty! Essential personnel only!" The girls say goodbye, and I feel ten times better about going out there.

Liam

"There she is!" A girl from beside me whispers to the girl she's with, and it's as if the entire world stops when Sage walks on stage. She modeled a few different outfits tonight, and every time she came out I was somehow more amazed by the way she so gracefully walks the stage like she owns the world.

She lines up with a few of the other new girls, but Sage has my undivided attention. She stands in the middle, and they clearly saved the best for last because she's stunning. I can't tell if it's just the lighting and the material of her dress, but she physically shines, and I think it solely has to do with her smile.

This is the same dress they fucked up, and she thought she looked horrible when it didn't fit her, but it certainly fits her like a glove now, and I can't see how she'd ever think she'd look anything resembling bad.

I find myself standing as I applaud her, and after a beat, a few people around me stand with me. Before I know it my entire section is standing as Sage walks down the stage one last time, and then the entire stadium rises for her. As she walks back up the stage, she glances at the crowd, and she keeps her face stone cold, but I can see the shock in her eyes as the crowd gives her a standing ovation before the show even ends.

The other girls disappeared sometime between the time I was watching Sage and when she disappears last, the lights go out, and the crowd is still roaring for her.

"Yeah, Sage!"

I glance at the front of the stage, and when a few people start cheering her name, I have no doubt in my mind that those are her siblings up there.

I shake my head but can't help but feel good knowing how supportive they are. The designer makes his way out, and the crowd cheers for him, but I disappear to find Sage's room.

I had to bribe some girls and reassure them a hundred times that we're dating and I'm not a crazy stalker but after a while, I get in her fitting room and it's scary how much money can buy you but I chose to believe the pictures I showed her as proof is what got her to open the door and not the stack of cash she counts as she walks off.

After a few minutes of waiting, the door swings open and I rise to my feet. She's frozen for a second but then a smile touches her lips and I waste no time closing the distance between us. "How did you get in here?"

I wrap my arms around her waist as I rise to my full height again. "Some possible illegal ways but I wanted to see you." I feel her smile into the crease of my neck and the ache I've somehow developed in all of my bones from not seeing her all day, disappear.

"To say you were amazing on that stage would be disrespectful to you."

She pulls away to take her flowers and a beautiful smile is on her face. "I was so nervous, Lee."

If I didn't know her, I wouldn't have believed that. "You didn't look nervous at all." I look between her green eyes and I'll do anything to keep the happy look in them. "You were perfect, beloved. I'm so proud of you."

Her smile somehow widens and I swear the whole room seems brighter. My eyes are glued to her smile and I couldn't look away even if you put a gun to my head.