Eden

“I’m so mad at you,” she whispers in my ear. “But I’m so damn proud of you, and I love you so much. Remember that, okay?”

I nod, sucking in a breath of air to keep my tears at bay.

“I love you too, Carley.”

When we break apart, she holds my shoulders and gazes into my eyes with a bright smile.

“Enjoy tonight,” she says. “Whatever else there is for us to deal with, we will, but don’t think about any of that stuff tonight, okay? Just have fun.”

“I will. I promise.” My heart flutters, and even though she hasn’t forgiven me, I feel like we’ve taken a step in the right direction.

Carley stays a short time after that, choosing to leave before Saint arrives because she doesn’t want to cause any tension.

“Call me tomorrow,” she says as she’s stepping out my door. “We’ll figure out what to do then.”

I release a breath of relief. “I promise.”

She nods, then winks. “Have fun tonight, but … you know. Not too much fun.”

I groan. “Please stop while you’re ahead.”

I’m so relieved we’ve reached an impasse of sorts. I hate being at odds with her, and I’m so happy she came to be with me. Now all that there’s left to do is wait for Saint to show up to take me to his house.

At seven sharp, there’s a knock on my door. My heart races as I cross the room, but I take a moment to smooth the skirt of my dress and make sure everything is perfectly in place before I open it.

My breath leaves me in a rush as I take him in. He looks amazing in his tux. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him dressed up before, and he looks powerful, like everything his rabid fangirls have built him up to be.

To my satisfaction, he seems to be just as impressed with my appearance. “You should pick your jaw up off the floor before we’re late,” I tease.

His mouth, which had been hanging open, snaps shut.

“You look beautiful, little masochist,” he murmurs. “I mean that.”

“Perfectly normal,” I reply, doing a little spin like I’m Katniss-fucking-Everdeen before I stop and grin up at him. I expect the flip to switch in him at any moment and for him to turn into his usual asshole self, barking orders and overpowering me with his sheer masculine appeal, but to my surprise he doesn’t say anything rude. In fact, he gives me a corsage and offers me his arm, like an actual gentleman.

“Ready?” he asks as he escorts me down the hallway.

“I think so,” I answer. “I just hope no one has pig’s blood on them.”

“Don’t worry,” he says in a dry tone. “Rich kids don’t bother with pig’s blood. It’s thoroughbred stallion or nothing.”

A laugh bursts from my lips before I can stop it, and I smile up at him. I want to hold onto this feeling and never let it go, even though I know that’s impossible. I feel like Cinderella going to her ball, with the time ticking against me.

Tonight will be my fantasy.

But I know tomorrow, reality will find me again.