It’s fine by me though. I don’t feel like being anywhere near the man, nor do I feel like talking to anyone or even eating what they’re serving up which is supposed to pass as ‘five star cuisine’.
I look around, only ever expecting to see Krystal, but she’s not here.
Not yet.
There’s the boring, bland meal which is followed by the equally bland speeches.
Once again I notice how obvious it is I’m being ignored, despite plenty of glances and nods from the people I know will be voting in a day’s time.
It’s like having teeth pulled, but finally, there’s the announcement that the ball will begin in a half hour sharp.
I make the silent promise to myself that if Krystal’s a no show at the ball, then dad and I are going for a little drive.
Have a little talk.
Election be damned.
Chapter Thirteen
Krystal
I’ve never driven so carefully. All the way home it feels like the slightest bump or pothole is going to undo everything.
The confident feeling I had at the salon is gradually being replaced by nervous energy rippling across my insides every time I think about James, the masked ball, or my dad.
Trouble is, I have all three racing through my brain and I have a few more hours to kill before I even attempt to try out my newfound disguise-ability.
Once I make it home and realize I won’t crack or melt if I move, I want to relax but the flashing light of the answering machine on my office desk sets my insides spinning all over again.
“Honey, it’s me. I hope you’re just napping or something… Look, I meant what I said about tonight but I’ll make it up to you I promise… Once the election’s done and dusted we can go away for a few weeks, just you and me, okay…?”
There’s a long pause and I’m waiting for dad’s apology, but it doesn’t come.
What’s gotten into him? This is so unlike him it’s almost scary.
“…Well, I guess I’ll see you at home after the… If you’re still up I’ll see you when I get home,” he says firmly before hanging up.
I’d normally feel like crying all over again, but makeup or not, I just can’t anymore.
It’s not worth crying over. I’m an adult now, making grown-up decisions and strangely enough, it’s my dad who’s acting like the spoilt child.
If anything, hearing his message has only made me more determined to not just go to James, but to go to the masked ball and maybe even really enjoy myself for the first time in my life.
Luckily I can slide into my gown feet first so I don’t have to risk upsetting my hair or face. The whole mask thing can wait until I get there, and so can my nerves.
Pacing the house and waiting for Ball o’clock isn’t gonna work either, so with some time to kill I decide to drive around town for a while and convince myself again that I’m doing the right thing.
The streets are empty, but not everyone is at the dinner and ball. Plenty of folks in the area couldn’t care less, so there are loads of houses lit up with people doing what they do every other day.
I find myself gravitating towards James’ place. Switching off the motor and even going to his front door, which makes my heart beat a thousand times faster once I realize it’s unlocked.
Oops, how did that happen?
Before I know it I’m flicking on the lights in his office, and then his bedroom.
His bed looks like it’s never been slept in and all his clothes are laid out as if he’s just unpacked.
The whole place smells of his cologne, of him and I find my own temperature rising in time with my heartbeat as I start to touch his clothes, his things.
Feeling the man through his things, shivering as I bring one of his shirts close enough to smell without covering it in makeup.
He’s not here though, and probably just as well. A part of me wishes he would suddenly turn up, catch me snooping, and then have to punish me somehow.
He could walk in suddenly, catching me pleasuring myself with a pair of his boxers before commanding me to finish myself off in his mouth.
But I know it’s not that simple either. I have to go to the Ball, hope my disguise works and find him.
I have to show him my outfit and hopefully have his satisfaction as my reward for doing as he’s asked by being there in this outfit.
The Town Hall’s parking lot is full and so are most of the streets surrounding it, but I spot a car leaving and manage to pull up behind a large tree that gives me some extra cover.
I don’t know why, but it feels like all the windows of the building are eyes, that my dad’s gonna leap out of the shadows at any moment and expose me as the worst daughter ever for disobeying him.