Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“Well, I feel underdressed,” Lucy said, looking down at her jeans, trainers, and long-sleeved tee featuring a rock band that was secretly made up of werewolves.
“Bride,” Sylvia croaked at Pandora, waving toward the raised platform, wanting her to climb up onto it. What, to be inspected and picked apart?
More so than lying to her family and to Victor, this was the part of the whole charade that bothered her the most. Being the center of attention. Having all eyes on her.
“We should have had some drinks before we came,” Lucy murmured. “If it makes you feel better, she’s probably going to say all sorts of things about me getting my wolf scent all over the gowns.”
“It doesn’t,” Pandora said, sighing, then going up on the platform, trying not to squirm under not only Sylvia’s inspection, but her mother’s, aunt’s, and cousin’s.
The only ones looking at her truly fondly right then were Ravenna and Lucy.
As expected, Sylvia eyed her from all angles before joining her, using a measuring tape to judge every inch of her body. Then she grabbed several styles that “could possibly be suitable” and shoved her into a dressing room.
Blessedly alone, if for just a moment, Pandora sank down on the floor, reaching into her handbag for her mobile and snapping a picture of herself with a background of endless gowns.
Current Status: Drowning in silk, satin, and lace while being told how wrong my body is for every one of these dresses. Tell me you’re doing something more fun.
She shot off the text before she could think better of it, shoving her mobile in her bag after, then stripped out of her dress to slip into the first gown.
That one was, apparently, too tight.
The next made her look too “hippy”.
The third reminded all the women of a nightgown.
She was debating which one to try on next when her mobile started ringing in her bag.
She dug for it, saw Victor’s name, and swiped her finger across the screen.
“Oh, hey,” she said, cringing at how lame an opener that was.
“I tried to text.”
“I was trapped inside a lace dress that didn’t want to let me go,” she said.
“What’s wrong with your body?” Victor asked, sounding impatient for an answer, like the question had been bothering him.
“Oh, it’s not … ‘Vintage’ is the chosen word.”
“What time does yours not fit in with?”
“From the looks of this place, the fifties.”
“So, you look like you’re not starving yourself on grapefruit and yogurt while addicted to legal speed? Think I’d call that a win.”
“Try telling that to the shopkeeper,” Pandora said grumpily.
“Do not tell me we need to cut you out of a dress,” Sylvia called through the door, craggy voice setting Pandora’s nerves on edge.
“Wow,” Victor said, overhearing. “You know what I think you need after this?”
“What?”
“A revenge meal. Something fatty and calorie-dense,” he said. Then, “I know a place. Text me when you’re done.”
On the one hand, she really didn’t care about food.
On the other, she really wanted to see Victor again.
“You’re on,” she said, smiling for the first time in hours.
She emerged a few moments later to wide eyes all around. Clearly, the mermaid-style dress was not the one.
“Who were you speaking to, my dear?” Ravenna asked as she walked a circle around Pandora, giving the dress the fair shake that none of the others had.
“Victor,” Pandora said, feeling her lips curve up once again. “We are going to meet up after this,” she added.
“To do what?” Ophelia asked, tone sharp.
“Spend time together,” Pandora said.
“Where are you two going?” Lucy asked, trying to slice through the tension building in the room.
“We’re going out to a restaurant,” she said, ignoring Sylvia mumbling to herself about “not needing any food”.
“A human restaurant?” Ophelia asked.
“Yes, of course, Mum. What other kind of restaurant would we go to?”
“I’m sure Elias would love to explore your … human interests,” Ophelia said.
Across from Pandora, Lucy’s eyes widened, her lips parted, clearly shocked to find that her friend’s stories about her mother weren’t exaggerated in the least.
“I haven’t had much of an opportunity to explore all London has to offer,” Elias said, dashing Pandora’s hopes that he would read the room and say he had other plans.
“So, go on a guided tour,” Lucy said, shooting daggers at Elias. “Don’t be a third wheel on someone’s date with her fiancé.”
“It would be rude not to show a guest around,” Ophelia said.
“Then we’ll make it a double date!” Lucy said, forcing some cheer into her voice as she shot the fakest smile in Elias’s direction.
“Do you think the restaurant will have dog bowls available?” Elias asked.
“Probably not,” Lucy said through clenched teeth. “But I doubt they’ll have crimson Kool-Aid for you either.”
Pandora took herself back into the fitting room, closing her eyes tight.
This was going to be a nightmare.
But there seemed to be no stopping it now.