That gives me pause, but as nervous as I feel, I know I must trust him.
* * *
I look in the mirror,a lavender floor-length silk dress hugs my subtle curves. There is a high slit up my right thigh. Beckett appears behind me, brushing my hair off my shoulder, laying a light kiss there. “This one.” His free hand grips my ass as he bites down on my shoulder. A small moan breaks free. His eyes flash to mine in the mirror and I feel his hands on the seams of my dress.
“Don’t,” I say sternly.
“Promise I can rip it off your body after.”
I smile teasingly. “Maybe.”
His eyes narrow. “That’s doesn’t work for me.”
I feel him tug on the fabric and I throw my hands up. “Fine.”
He grins, calling a sales associate over. “I need a dress shirt in this color.”
“Do you need a tie?” she asks, looking to her feet instead of at him.
“No, just a handkerchief.”
“Very well, I’ll have everything altered before this evening.”
I frown at her back. “We should have come days ago. That’s horrible to be in a bind like that.”
Beckett looks to his phone. “They’ll be welled paid, I promise. Now, get out of this dress before I remove it for you.”
* * *
I expected to enter a tall,luxurious building, so imagine my surprise when we pull up to a gated, winding road. We pass a massive mansion, continuing around it through the trees until I see what looks like a thousand twinkling lights hanging from more trees. Large tiles placed in the center of the cleared-out area of the forest to create a dance floor. It’s likeAlice in Wonderland. Things that usually belong inside stick out artfully in the forest. Carved tree trunk seats and heavy glass tables line around the dance floor. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. “Where are we?”
Beckett sighs. “My parents’ house, but this is new. I’m positive this used to be a forest, but my mom has somehow transformed this place into a woodsy party area.”
“I love it.” I smile, opening the car door.
Beckett quickly walks around the car, taking my hand. “This is about to be overwhelming. You don’t remember them all, but they all remember you. If you get uncomfortable or overwhelmed, squeeze my hand.”
I nod, my stomach dropping to my feet. Because I wasn’t nervous, not really, but I definitely am now. We walk through the arch of twinkling lights that lead to the opening of the forest. There isn’t as many people as I expected. I know The Misfits are a close-knit group, but I didn’t grasp just how small. From what Beckett has shared, there are different branches all over the country, but this is the original line.
“Primrose looks lonely, why don’t you go say hi to her for a minute.”
I don’t even let him finish as I walk to her at an alarmingly fast pace until I have my arms thrown around her. “Prim, are you okay?” I pull back to look at her. Her black sweetheart neckline dress is beautiful as it flares out at her waist, making her look like a dark princess. “What was the emergency? You left so quickly the day of the Halloween party. I didn’t even know you had left. Is everything okay at home?” I try to keep the hurt from my voice. It’s selfish of me to feel upset that she didn’t let me know, but still, I thought we were closer.
She bites her lip, looking to the ground. “My mother is sick. I… Dad won’t tell me what’s wrong, but she looks really bad.”
“Oh my god, Prim. What can I do to help?”
She shakes her head. “I’m not sure there is anything anyone can do. Once the year is over, I will go home to take care of her over the summer.”
“I can come with you,” I offer. I meant it, I would do anything for Primrose.
“Oh, no.” She sounds alarmed but plays it off with a smile. “I mean… it’s just… you have your own thing going on. Amiyah caught me up on all I’ve missed. I promise,” she squeezes my hand, “I’m fine.”
After the night at Vance’s where he confessed everything, I found Amiyah and I hugged her for so long she became uncomfortable and slightly confused. Until I told her I remembered. We cried for a long time, bodies glued as we held on to each other. I hadn’t gotten a chance to catch Prim up, so I’m glad she did.
“Soulless,” Vance calls, and I turn, swallowing down the knot in my throat as I see him standing with an older couple. Vance walks to me, holding out his arm. He looks to Primrose, his brow furrowing at whatever he sees on her face. “I need to borrow her for a moment.”
I loop my arm through his and nod to Prim. We begin walking and I lean in close to him, “I need you to watch Prim. She’s going through a hard time.”