Maxim (Carolina Reapers 10)

14

EVIE

“What’s this?” I asked Bristol as she handed me a bright red box wrapped in a black bow.

“Just a little something for you,” she said, smiling at me.

“Wait, is getting ready for a gala together a gift-giving situation?” I asked, panic streaking through me. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?” I glanced at Fiona accusingly where she was perched in front of her bathroom mirror, doing her makeup. The girls had texted me yesterday asking if I wanted to get ready with them over at Brogan’s house, and of course I’d agreed. I loved hanging out with them. But I hadn’t known I was supposed to bring presents.

“No, of course not,” Fiona said.

Bristol nodded. “I just wanted to give you something,” she said. “If you don’t like it, you don’t have to wear it.”

I glanced down at the robe Fiona had loaned me—she’d thrust it and a champagne flute in my hand the second I’d arrived on her doorstep. We’d been slowly getting ready ever since, in between champagne sips and impromptu dance parties.

“I thought I was borrowing one of Fiona’s dresses?” I asked. Sure, we weren’t the same size, but she’d assured me she had a stretchy material gown that would do wonders for my curves.

“Open it,” Bristol encouraged, and Fiona stopped lining her eyes and padded over to watch.

I took the box and sat with it on the chaise in Fiona and Brogan’s bedroom. I hurried to untie the bow, curiosity overcoming my panic, and I popped the lid off the box.

“Omigod,” I gasped as I fingered the material in the box, then lifted the dress out entirely. “This is…” I struggled for words. “This is…”

“Your color,” Bristol said confidently.

I stood, holding the dress up to me and sliding my hand down the luxurious fabric.

“It’s time to get dressed anyway,” Bristol said. “Why don’t you try it on?”

I nodded, rushing to take ownership of the bathroom and shucked off the robe. I slipped on the dress, utterly speechless as I looked at myself in the mirror.

Hunter green velvet hugged all of my curves in just the right way, the off-the-shoulder top accentuating my cleavage while also remaining elegant. It was a wrap waist and had a slit from where it pooled around my ankles all the way up to my upper thigh. Paired with the makeup Fiona had helped me apply—a smoky dark green eye that matched the dress perfectly—and the updo Bristol had fashioned my curls into, and I looked like I was ready for the red carpet.

Holy shit. I was ready for the red carpet. I’d even opted for contacts tonight over my glasses. I gave myself another look, this time through a photographer’s eye, and I couldn’t deny that the dress looked like it had been made for me.

Wait.

I swung the door open, and Bristol and Fiona gasped as they took in my appearance. They were all smiles and compliments as I walked toward them.

“Bristol, did you make this dress for me?” I asked, my eyes wide.

Fiona clapped as Bristol grinned at me and walked around me in a circle. “Maybe,” she said, and my heart climbed up my throat.

“You…I can’t repay you for this,” I said, my hands over my chest like I could keep my heart from falling out of my chest. It wasn’t every day a celebrity designer crafted something for me…okay, it wasn’t any day that happened. Not until I’d fallen into this world, apparently. When would I wake up from this dream?

“I didn’t make it for payment,” Bristol said, rounding me to look me in the eyes. “That night at Scythe, what you said about struggling to find items suitable for your body type struck something inside me,” she explained. “You’re an inspiration, Evie. I’ve had a creative revelation and the gala was a perfect time to test out that creativity.”

I blinked at her, holding back tears of gratitude in order to not destroy the work Fiona had done on my face. “Thank you,” I said. “Honestly, I have no idea what I did to be so lucky to have friends like you.” I glanced at Fiona, encompassing her in that statement. Then I was hit with a pang of longing for my best friend, because Mila would be beyond in love with this night.

They both waved me off.

“You’re part of the Reaper family now,” Bristol said.

“It’s kind of this sacred circle of trust and loyalty,” Fiona added. “No getting rid of us now.”

“Like I’d ever try,” I said.

After another hour of finishing touches, all three of us were glammed out and ready to go. Brogan had left to drop Skye off with Langley and Axel’s nanny, who’d graciously agreed to watch both her and Collin tonight so the whole team could be together at the gala. And, according to the text I’d just gotten from Maxim, he was already waiting outside Brogan’s house to pick me up.