“I think little pearls along here would suit you. You have a skin tone that would tie in great, and pearls have an understated beauty.” I add them to the drawing, and she nods with excitement.
“I honestly thought I’d be here for hours, but you’ve nailed it.”
Reaching into my side drawer, I pull out a batch of material swatches. “We’re not totally done. Now, the fun starts.”
“So, was she everything you expected from your arch nemesis?” asks Nyx, smirking.
I run my fingers over the engraved letters of Mum’s name like I always do when I sit here pondering the state of my life. “What did you do today?” I ask.
“Huh?”
I look over to where he’s resting with his head tipped up to the sky. “I don’t know anything about you.”
“Your life is so complicated, you don’t have room for my bullshit.”
“What job do you do?”
He sniggers. “The less you know about that, the better.”
“What other family have you got? I know you lived with your Grandpa Jack, but I don’t ever see anyone else visiting here.”
“You look tired. You didn’t sleep last night?”
I shake my head. “Do you have siblings?”
“Maybe I’ll call by later.” It’s the first time he’s acknowledged his night visits.
“How do you get in?”
“That’s your only concern?”
“If you’re some kind of criminal, I need to start locking up better.”
He grins. “Bit late to push me out, Andi.”
Sue is waiting for me when I get home. She peers over the fence. “Dinner, now,” she says firmly. I sigh heavily, knowing she won’t let me get away with an excuse to get out of it. I turn back around and head next door. “You look exhausted. Are you sleeping?”
“I have been, but I didn’t last night.”
Inside, Bill, Beth, Nathan, and Rebecca are already at the table talking over each other. My heart squeezes. I miss having Beck here to witness this. I take my usual seat beside Nate, and he smiles. “Bug, nice to have you here.”
“Rebecca said you designed the perfect dress,” says Sue, and I nod. “Cruella doesn’t know what she’s got. You’re amazing at your job.”
“Aren’t you sleeping?” Bill asks, and Sue shakes her head on my behalf.
“I already asked her that. She didn’t sleep last night.”
“Why?” asks Beth.
I shrug, then smile. “Actually, I met someone.” The table falls silent, and I feel all eyes on me. “And he wasn’t around last night, so I didn’t sleep.”
“You met someone?” Beth repeats. “Since when?”
“I told you about him. Nyx.”
“Graveyard guy?” she practically yells. “He’s creepy!”
“You haven’t even met him,” I say defensively.