Maybe her mother was right. Maybe he could do something about it.
Nodding, she hiccupped, deciding to talk to him about it soon.
Vin came to her soon after sunset, his body tall and strong and nothing like his old chubby self, holding a package in his hands.
“Have you been crying?” he asked, his eyes knowing her too well.
“I’m aging now,” Amara rolled her eyes, taking the package from him. “What’s this?”
Vin smiled, shaking his head. “Just get dressed. I have orders to get you out in 30 minutes.”
Amara frowned at that, taking the package to her room, tearing it open. It was a dress, a gorgeous dress. Quickly stripping down to her underwear, Amara slipped into the dress, looking at her reflection in the full-length mirror. The dress was forest color, shimmering in greens if she turned one way and metallic if she twisted another. It had a high neck and full sleeves, coming down to her wrists, the hem falling down to her ankles, with one slit on the right that came mid-thigh.
Taking a deep breath, she tied her hair in a high ponytail that would show off the shape of her neck without showing off the skin and swiped a little red lipstick over her mouth.
She couldn’t see a single of her scars in the dress. Just like that, she looked like a genetically blessed woman with slightly heavy breasts and ass that was balanced out by her height. She looked beautiful. And for one night, she could pretend.
Sliding her feet into flats that didn’t really go with the entire outfit, she exited the room to see her mother and Vin look up. Vin grinned, giving her a little whistle that boosted her shaky confidence. Her mother tried to smile, her eyes still pained from what she’d told her.
No. Tonight she would pretend.
Giving her ma a little kiss on her cheek, Amara smiled and let Vin escort her up to the waiting car.
“Thanks for the dress,” she told him as they neared the car.
Vin chuckled. “Not my gift.”
Amara frowned. “What do you mean?”
He just chuckled and got in the car. Amara buckled herself in as they drove out of the property towards the city. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
Accepting that he wouldn’t say anything else, Amara let herself enjoy the ride, watching the lights of the city as they twinkled closer and closer. The possibility of having to leave that place, of losing the city she had come to love had Amara drinking in the sights even more.
Not tonight.
Vin drove to a deserted street, towards an empty multi-story building near Dr. Das’s house, stopping the car right outside the entrance.
“He’s waiting for you.”
Amara looked at her friend, her heart starting to pound as it dawned on her.
Dante.
“He asked you to drive me here?” she asked, her voice low, slightly rough.
He nodded. “For your safety. Go up to the top floor. Happy birthday, ‘Mara.”
Amara leaned across the console to hug him tightly, her chest heavy. “I love you, Vinnie.”
Vin pat her back. “Love you too, ‘Mara. Though if you tell anyone I got mushy, we’re gonna have a problem.”
She choked on a laugh and jumped out of the car. Inhaling deeply, she entered the dark building, spotting the elevator on the right, and took it to the top floor, her stomach in knots. No music came on and Amara exhaled.
“Relax,” she told herself softly. “It’s just Dante.”
After moments, the elevator dinged and the door parted to reveal a huge, open, dimly lit space. Amara took a step inside, looking around the single, huge room, seeing beautiful sculptures displayed around the room. She spotted different variations – from mythology-inspired sculptures to custom art she had never seen before.