His Every Need

Bry

Allie followed Bry

“Dad wants you home tonight.” Allie winced as Bry

“What? That’s not fair. I want to stay here.”

Well, Bry

“So Monica gets to stay here, but I have to go? Why? Why does she do the bad stuff and I get punished? I’m making straight As, you know. Maybe I didn’t mention that?”

“You did mention it, and you’re not being punished, Bry

“At least I go to school. What does Monica do all day? She’ll get to lounge around by the pool and take tea with you and Trevor. I want to take tea.”

“There’ll be no tea taking, okay? I have a feeling Mon’s not going to be here for long.”

Bry

“I know, honey. If I could keep you here with me, I would.”

She frowned at Allie. “Really?”

Allie pulled her into a hug. “Really.” When she kissed the top of her sister’s head, Bry

“Uh, yeah,” she mumbled against Allie’s shoulder.

“Mags wants to leave in twenty minutes.”

Bry

Chapter 17

“What about this one?” Bry

“I think it’s amazing. If you were thirty.” Allie took the dress and hung it back on the rack.

“Darlings, how about this?” Mags held up a red satin dress by the hanger. It was ruched on one side and would barely cover Bry

“Absolutely not. That’s totally inappropriate. Bry

“No, sweetest, it’s for me.”

It was totally inappropriate for someone Mags’s age as well. Allie took the dress and handed it to the hovering saleswoman. “We are shopping for Bry

“You’re a spoilsport, Allison.” Mags jutted her lower lip.

“Yeah, I’m a real buzzkill. Now, let’s try to remember why we’re here, ladies. Bry

“Allison, my pet, don’t be ridiculous. You’re not paying.” Mags whisked up a glass of sparkling cider from the tray. “Nigel is.”

Bry

Bry

Mags grabbed dresses left and right while Allie made herself comfortable in what was becoming a very familiar chair. Then Mags thrust an armful of garments at the saleslady. “Fashion show time. Try them all on, Bry

A few minutes later when Bry

“No, I don’t like the red. Allison?”

Allie reined in her thoughts. She stared at Bry

“Next,” Mags said and sipped her sparkling cider. She winced slightly. “Not the same as Dom, is it darling?”

“Thanks for doing all this, Mags. Bry

“Well, I never had any daughters of my own. Unless you count my three stepdaughters, and I don’t. This is quite fun.”

A few hours later, Bry

Mags raised her brows. “No, it’s quite impossible. We should just get them all.”

“Mags, no,” Allie protested.

But she couldn’t be heard over Bry

“No, Mags, it’s too much,” Allie said.

“Nonsense. I’ve decided to wear seven dresses on the big day. Four seems almost paltry.” She smiled at the saleswoman. “Ring them up, dearest.” Then she walked to the front of the store, leaving Allie and Bry

“I can’t believe I get four dresses.” Bry

“And ready for your next dance. Or three.”

“She’s so nice, Allie. When you and Trevor get married—”

Allie held up her hand. “Whoa, what? Trevor and I aren’t getting married, Bry

“Sorry, Al. I didn’t mean anything.” Bry

“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. But Trevor and I aren’t a couple.”

“You guys live together. I know you don’t really work for him, Al.”

Allie scrambled to come up with something. “But I do. I’m his assistant.” It sounded false to her ears, but she was sticking with it.

Bry

Allie glanced up and saw her reflection in the three-way mirror. She was such a liar. But how could she admit the truth when she could hardly look herself in the eye?

“Darling, come along,” Mags called from the front of the shop.

In the limo, Allie rode to the mansion in silence as Bry

“You’re very quiet, dearest.”

Allie pasted on her best customer service smile. “No, I’m fine. Now, we have to think about shoes for Bry

Mags slapped a hand over her chest. “How silly of me to have forgotten.” And she was off, discussing the merits of various designer shoes.

Allie stared out the window once more.

As soon as they reached the house and stepped inside, Monica, who’d been gripping the rail on the second floor, pounced on Allie. “Where have you been?” Her hair flew back as she jogged down the stairs. “I’ve been waiting for you for like, hours.”

Mags patted Allie’s arm as she left the foyer.

“Hello to you too.” Allie glanced at Bry

“Seriously, Al,” Monica said. “I need to talk to you.”

“So talk.” She watched Bry

Monica threw her hands up in the air. “My life is shit, Al.”

Yeah, this was familiar. Crisis time. She turned her attention to Mon. “Tell me what happened.”

“Never mind. You don’t care. You’re too busy hanging out with Mags.” She reached out and tapped on the suit of armor, causing the hollow ring to fill the room. “This is your life now.”