by Parker Grey
There are footsteps down the marble staircase, and the three of us turn to see Livia.
Wearing a blood-red ball gown, her hair up and makeup done.
“Mom, come on,” Slade says, barely glancing at her mother.
I frown.
“You’re going to the ball?” I ask.
Livia struts down the rest of the stairs, barely glancing my way. It’s a chilly night, and she’s got a fur stole around her shoulders.
“Of course I’m going,” she says, her voice pure ice. “I’m eligible, aren’t I?”
Her eyes meet mine, and an involuntary shiver moves through me.
“By the way, Ella,” she says, turning toward the door. “Thank you for doing all those chores this week. Since you were so busy, I thought I’d help out by starting a load of laundry. There’s a load of white sheets bleaching in the machine right now, along with those cleaning rags you had on that mannequin in your room.”
Livia smiles with just her lips, and I’m shocked into silence. My dress was on the mannequin, the one I’m wearing tonight, and she just...
...My dress...
My mouth falls open, my vision blurring. I try to say something but I can’t get any sound out of my mouth, but it doesn’t matter because the three of them are sweeping out the door, and it closes behind them with an ominous thud.
On autopilot, I walk to my room. Tears are rolling down my cheeks, but I barely even feel them as I rush towards the servants’ wing, even though I already know what I’m going to find.
My hands are shaking as I open the washing machine.
There, on top, is my dress. Or what was my dress.
She bleached it into an ugly, mottled gray-blue, but that’s not all. My dress is a horrible color, but even worse, it’s cut into pieces. Little strips, about an inch wide.
I just stare. After this last week, of getting almost no sleep and working my fingers to the bone all for this one tiny spark of hope, all I can do is stare.
How could I think she was actually going to be nice to me? I wonder numbly. How could I be so gullible?
Slowly, I shut the lid of the washing machine. I walk back into my room.
And then I lay on my bed and cry.
Fifteen minutes later, my phone buzzes.
Flynn: How’s the ball?
I take a deep breath and wonder if I should just lie, because I don’t feel like going into it with Flynn. But he’ll get the truth out of me eventually anyway, so there’s no point.
Me: I’m not there.
Flynn: What?
Me: She didn’t let me go.
Almost instantly, my phone rings. It’s Flynn, and before I’ve even said anything he’s yelling.
“What do you mean she didn’t let you? You did everything she asked! You made that dress! You refinished the floors and cleaned out the garage!”
I take a deep breath, try not to cry, and tell him the story. When I finish, there’s a long, long pause on the other end of the line, so long I think he’s gone.
“Flynn?” I ask.
“I’m here,” he says, his voice sounding far away. “And you know what? Ella, I got this.”
“You’ve got what?”
“This fucked-up situation. Fuck Livia and fuck her bitch-ass daughters, you held up your end of the bargain.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I sigh.
“Like hell it doesn’t. Ella, go take a shower and grab your best foundation garments, because I’m gonna be there in twenty minutes.”
Flynn hangs up without waiting for a response, and I’m left lying on my bed, staring at my phone.
Slowly, I sit up. I dry my eyes.
And, wondering what the hell Flynn thinks he’s doing, I head into the shower.
Chapter Twelve
Grayson
I hate these damned things.
I’ve never liked balls. Not for a second, not even because they usually afford me a chance at a veritable buffet of women. They’re too straight-laced for me, too formal. There are tons of social rules and guidelines that I have to follow, and I’ve learned the hard way what happens when I don’t follow them.
My father happens is what.
A dance ends. I bow to the girl I was dancing with, and she curtsies. There’s a hopeful look in her eyes but I’m already glancing away as the music fades, scanning the crowd at the edges of the dance floor for the waitress.
She’s not there. I’ve been looking for her all night, but I haven’t seen her, and since this ball is being thrown in my honor, it’s been hard for me to escape the dance floor.
“Thank you,” I tell my dance partner, but before she can even open her mouth to respond, I’m gone, walking briskly from the dance floor and toward a hallway. I don’t care if it’s just to the bathroom, I need to get out of here for five minutes and catch my breath.
“Your Highness,” an older man says, stepping into my path. He’s got steel-gray hair and he’s holding both his hands out, palms up, like he’s showing off a jewelry case full of expensive watches.
“Lord Graviston,” I answer, slowing without stopping.
“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of introducing you to my daughter and my niece,” he begins, but I smile and hold up one hand.
“I’m so sorry, you’ve caught me in a moment of need,” I say. It would be more polite to simply stay and chat to the daughters — both kind of pretty, but plain — but I don’t think I can handle one more courteous statement right now.
He smiles beseechingly.
“Apologies, Your Highness,” he says. “Perhaps I can introduce you later.”
I nod, then keep walking away, toward the VIP restrooms. Of course we have them. It’s a palace, and my family and I aren’t about to wait in a line to pee.
I walk through a hall, open a door, and nod at a guard who opens the door into the VIP bathroom lounge for me.
And I stop dead in my tracks.
My sister and Declan are sitting on a couch together, and she’s laughing. Clearly, it’s at something he’s said, because she’s got one hand over her mouth, her cheeks bright pink and her eyes dancing.
Hell no. Hell fucking goddamn no, Declan can’t be in here alone making my little sister laugh. I know what Declan got up to last weekend — the phrase “could suck a golf ball through a garden hose” was used in a text — and there is no way he’s getting anywhere near Aurora.
“Grayson!” my sister exclaims, still laughing. “You never told me that Declan has an amazing impression of Lord Whiffleboff.”
The guard, who’s still holding the door, clears his throat politely. I step forward and he lets the door swing closed, leaving the three of us alone.
“I didn’t know Declan had an amazing impression of Lord Whiffleboff,” I say, keeping my voice as neutral and even as I possibly can.
“It’s really good,” she says, still laughing, but neither of us are really paying attention to her. I’m glaring daggers at Declan, and he’s glaring right back.
If you touch her I’ll murder you, I think, hoping he gets the message.
I don’t care what kingdom you’re heir to, if you so much as touch my little sister I’ll hunt you down and murder you.
“Come on, show Grayson,” Aurora says, lightly resting her fingertips on Declan’s shoulder.
I nearly explode. Yeah, I’m a fucking hypocrite, given that I behave just as badly as he does, but I don’t care.
If I find his filthy paws on my sister, I’ll kill him. I will.
“I don’t know if I can do it on command,” Declan says, finally breaking our glare-off and looking over at Aurora. “If it’s going to be any good it needs to be spontaneous.”
“Please?” Aurora asks, tilting her head just a little.
Declan shakes his head.
“Fine,” she says, rolling her eyes teasingly. “Well, if you get the urge to spontaneously make fun of any of my father’s other cranky old advisors, you’ll come find me, won’t you?”
&n
bsp; “Of course,” Declan responds.
Aurora smiles at him, then stands.
“Mother is probably searching for me right now,” she says. “You know how she is, ‘Never too early to start considering a match,’ like, jeez Mom, can I be old enough to legally drink first? Bye!”
With that, my little sister practically bounces from the room, a ray of sunshine just like her name.
I snap my head back toward Declan, who holds up both palms.
“I didn’t touch her,” he says. “She was in here when I came in, we chatted for a little while, that’s it. You know your whole family is practically my family too, Aurora’s like my little sister.”
I almost say sure, your little sister who just got back from boarding school all grown up, but I don’t. Declan may not respect very many rules, but I’m pretty sure he’ll respect this one.
“Anyone but my sister,” I say, leveling one finger at him. “Seriously, Declan. One hand on her and I’ll light you on fire.”
“As far as I’m concerned, Aurora’s still got cooties,” he says.
“Good.”
“See you out on the dance floor?” he asks, and I nod. Declan leaves, and now I’ve got the whole lounge to myself.
I’m not stupid. I’ve got eyes, and I’ve noticed that not only is my little sister gorgeous, she attracts her fair share of male attention.
But fucking Declan. He’s my best friend, but that means I know exactly what he’s been up to. He doesn’t date or fall in love. The most he does is fuck women twice before he gets tired of them.
And I want better for my little sister. Way fucking better.
I sigh, push my hand through my hair, and go into the men’s to take a piss.
Maybe the waitress will be there when I get back.
Chapter Thirteen
Ella
“All right, here we are,” Flynn says, and the car stops.
I pull the cooling mask he brought me off my eyes and look through the windshield, but it doesn’t clear much up. All I see is a big, windowless building that says Hot Lips on the side in screamingly pink neon.
“Where’s here?” I ask, totally baffled. “Is being a stripper really my only option if I can’t go to the ball?”
“The Hot Lips Lounge is a classy establishment, thank you very much,” he says. “And congratulations, girl, after weeks of asking you’re finally about to meet Thomas.”
And now it all makes sense. Flynn’s new boyfriend Thomas moonlights as Charlize LaCroix, one of the most in-demand drag performers in the kingdom. Or, at least, that’s what Flynn says. I’m not really up on the drag scene, to be honest.
“Wait,” I say. “Am I borrowing a dress from Thomas? I thought you said he was six feet tall and a former linebacker.”
Flynn grins at me, opening his car door.
“He is, and every inch of that body is glorious,” he says. “But if I know one person who can work his magic and get you looking right for this ball, it’s him. You coming, or what?”
I follow Flynn into the Hot Lips Lounge without another word. The bouncer at the door nods at Flynn, and then we’re inside.
On stage, there’s a woman — well, a drag queen — strutting back and forth and lip synching to a song I’ve never heard before, but the crowd is going absolutely insane for her.
And honestly, it’s impressive. I think I’d die of stage fright if I had to do anything like that, and this queen not only has stage presence, but she’s an amazing dancer. In five-inch heels.
Flynn leans over to me.
“That’s my boo,” he says proudly, and my mouth drops open.
“She can do anything she wants to me!” I say.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m sitting on an overturned milk crate backstage, and Charlize LaCroix is leaning one elbow on a vanity, looking at me.
“She cut your dress up and bleached it?” she says, her red lips an O of astonishment. “That’s not just overkill, she sounds like a straight-up psychopath. What on earth are you still doing there, girl?”
I open my mouth to go into the whole ‘legal custodian’ thing, but Flynn cuts me off.
“I’ll explain it later, but I’m with you there,” he says, standing behind me, arms crossed. “I’ve told her a thousand times, she can come sleep on my couch until she figures something out instead of babysitting two grown-ass morons and living with the Wicked Witch herself. But right now, we’ve got to get her to this ball. She’s already an hour late.”
Charlize looks at me thoughtfully, tapping one long fake red nail against the countertop.
“I’ll have to see if I can borrow a few things,” she says. “You’re not exactly my size or my skin tone, sweetheart.”
“If you can’t, it’s no big—”
Charlize just laughs.
“Who said can’t?” she says, standing. “You’re gonna leave here looking like the finest piece of princess-to-be ass that Prince Grayson has seen in his damn life. Let me change outta this mess and I’ll get started on you.”
Charlize takes her wig off and plops it onto a mannequin head, then grabs a pile of clothes and walks behind a screen.
“By the way, when the wig is on I’m Charlize, but when it’s off I’m Thomas,” he says. “Plan your statements accordingly.”
Flynn chuckles as Thomas’s sparkly red dress flops over the top of the screen, followed shortly by hose, a bra, garters, a corset, and undergarments I don’t even recognize.
After a moment, Thomas walks out in basketball shorts and a Tremaine’s Diner t-shirt, pulling his fake eyelashes off. It’s a little strange to see a huge, in-shape guy still wearing lipstick, blush, and more eyeshadow than I’ve owned in my entire life, but I go with it.
“All right,” he says, eyeing me up and down. “Stand up, give us a twirl, and tell me your measurements.”
There’s a pinprick in my back, and I gasp.
“Sorry, sweetie,” Thomas murmurs. “Almost done. Flynn, can you hold this any tighter?”
My new dress tightens around me, and I hold my breath. It’s a surprisingly understated dress for one I got from a drag show, but it’s blue, shimmery, and when it moves it catches the light in a way that makes my breath catch.
They haven’t let me look in the mirror yet, though, so I’ve got no clue whether I look normal or like I’ve been dressed by a drag queen.
“All right,” Thomas finally says, releasing my dress and stepping back. “Time to turn around.”
I do.
Then I gasp, both my hands flying to my mouth, because I look amazing in this dress. I don’t know whose it is or where Thomas found it, but it fits me perfectly — or at least it does now, with a line of safety pins going up my back.
It’s shimmery blue, the front low cut enough to show just a hint of cleavage without going overboard. It hugs my waist, dips low in the back, and somehow makes my butt look incredible.
I just stand there, open-mouthed, staring at myself.
“Well, how fabulous am I?” Thomas asks, grinning, arms crossed over his chest.
“So fabulous,” I breathe. “How did you do this?”
“I told you he was magic,” Flynn says.
“Baby, you said that?” Thomas asks.
“You know I did.”
They kiss quickly while I stare at myself, still blown away. As someone who hardly ever wears make up and only owns two skirts, I can’t believe I’m actually looking at myself in the mirror.
“The prince ain’t gonna know what hit him,” Thomas says. “But there’s one more thing.”
Panic stabs through my heart. My makeup’s done, my hair is up, and I look way better than I ever have in my life.
Thomas disappears again, and I trade a glance with Flynn.
“What’s the one more thing?” I ask.
He looks me up and down.
“Shoes, girl,” he says. “You can’t go in there barefoot.”
Thomas comes back into the dressing room, then steps up to me and h
olds out a pair of shoes.
Shoes is an understatement. These are something more than shoes, because every millimeter except the sole is totally covered in sparkling white crystal. Every time they move they shine like a disco ball, and my mouth drops open yet again.
“These are all I could find that might fit you,” he says. “Women’s size seven isn’t too common among drag queens.”
He’s got a point. I take the shoes, put them on the ground, and step into them, praying.
They fit. Perfectly. They’re not even too high, and they stay on my feet even after I take a few steps, carefully holding my skirt up.
“I think we did great,” Flynn says to Thomas.
“I think maybe we should get to go to the ball just to see how great we did,” Thomas says. “Give me ninety minutes and Charlize LaCroix can be in attendance. Though she’d probably steal the prince away for her very own, so scratch that.”
He winks at me. I’m just grinning like an idiot, because even though this ball is probably stupid and the prince won’t look at me twice, I’m really excited to get my way despite Livia.
“Thanks, guys,” I say. “I don’t know how I can return the favor.”
“Return it by leaving that witch behind and sleeping on my couch,” Flynn says.
Chapter Fourteen
Grayson
Every time I turn around at this damned ball, there’s another eligible bachelorette standing there, looking at me with big does eyes, like she’s just waiting for me to lose my mind and fall in love with her.
They’re not all ugly. They’re not even all bad-looking. Some are pretty hot, exactly the kind of girl I’d have gone after a few weeks ago.
But they’re never the waitress. Not even once.
And it’s a little past ten, meaning no new guests are arriving at this ball.
She’s not here. She’s not coming. This ball has been the talk of the entire kingdom for a week now, so the only way she didn’t come is if she didn’t want to.
